Treks and walks · Tumling
Ridge walk from Tumling to Tonglu
A short walk along the ridge from Tumling to the Indian top of Tonglu, about 3,070 m, gives wider views over Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal than the lodges below. Do it in the afternoon light or for sunrise.
Tonglu sits a little above and to the east of Tumling, on the Indian side of the border, with the GTA trekkers' hut and a wide grassy top. The path between them is short and only moderately steep. From the top you look east to Darjeeling, north to Kanchenjunga and west into the forested valleys of Ilam.
This is the hill Joseph Hooker climbed from Darjeeling in 1848 to collect rhododendrons. In April and May the slopes still flower, with smaller shrub rhododendrons and primulas on the open ground. In autumn the grass turns gold and the light at 4 pm is long and soft.
If you are sleeping at Tumling, make it your afternoon walk; if at Tonglu, walk down to Tumling for tea. Either way, go with your guide, keep to the path, and turn back before dark, as the temperature drops quickly once the sun has gone.
Cost: Included in your guide fee
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Tonglu from Tumling?
Only about 1–1.5 km by the ridge path, 20–40 minutes one way with a short climb. Many trekkers walk between them for the view. Tonglu is on the Indian side, Tumling in Nepal, and both are used as first-night stops.
Is Tonglu or Tumling better for the view?
Tonglu, being higher and more open, gives a wider panorama, including a better look east to Darjeeling. Tumling's lodges are more comfortable and have the Kanchenjunga view from the terraces. Stay at Tumling and walk up to Tonglu for the best of both.
Can I see the sunset from Tonglu?
Yes. The western horizon over Nepal is open from Tonglu, and on clear evenings the sun sets beyond the Ilam hills while Kanchenjunga turns pink. Bring a torch for the walk back to Tumling, and leave as soon as the colour fades.
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