Monasteries · Chitrey
Walk on to Meghma and its cloud monastery
From Chitrey the trail runs gently past Lamaydhura to Meghma, a hamlet at about 2,600 m that is in cloud more often than not, with a monastery that local accounts date to the early 1950s. Tea at Meghma and a look inside the gompa make a good lunch stop.
After the steep start, the path from Chitrey to Meghma is a relief: about 3–4 km of rolling trail and jeep track, passing a few farmhouses and the hamlet of Lamaydhura, where tea shops sell noodles and boiled eggs. Fields of potato and cabbage alternate with patches of forest, and on clear days the ridge ahead shows the way to Tonglu.
Meghma's name is often linked to megh, cloud, and it lives up to it: mist often drifts through by late morning. The monastery here is the most substantial on the lower trail, and local accounts say it dates from the early 1950s and holds a large number of Buddha images. There is also an SSB border post; keep your ID handy.
From Meghma the trail splits. The left fork climbs to Tonglu and its trekkers' hut; the right goes to Tumling in Nepal. Your guide will choose based on where you are sleeping. Either way, it is about 1–1.5 hours more, and the gompa is a good place to pause first.
Cost: Free · donation welcome
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Meghma from Chitrey?
About 3–4 km, usually 1.5–2 hours on foot along a gentle path and parts of the jeep track. From Meghma it is another 1–1.5 hours to Tumling or to Tonglu. Meghma has tea shops and is a natural lunch stop on the first day.
Is there a monastery at Meghma?
Yes. Meghma has a Buddhist monastery that local accounts date to the early 1950s, larger than the gompa at Chitrey. It is usually open in the daytime. Remove shoes, walk clockwise and ask before taking photographs inside.
Do I need ID at Meghma?
Yes, there is an SSB border post at Meghma and staff may check names and ID. Indians should carry a passport or voter ID; foreigners need their passport with an Indian visa. Keep them in an easy pocket rather than at the bottom of your pack.
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