Treks and walks · Kaluk
Village trail from Kaluk up to Rinchenpong
Walk from your Kaluk homestay up the ridge to Rinchenpong on village paths and quiet road, visiting the 1730 monastery and the poison lake, then ride a jeep back down. A gentle half day that ties the two neighbouring villages together and shows you how the farms work.
Kaluk and Rinchenpong sit on the same ridge, a few kilometres apart, and the best way to understand them is on foot. Leave after breakfast, once the dawn view has faded, and follow your host's directions onto the farm paths and the road climbing towards Rinchenpong. The route passes houses with marigolds and drying maize, terraces of ginger and vegetables, and dark, damp plots of large cardamom under alder trees. Expect a steady uphill of an hour or more, depending on the path and your pace.
At the top, visit Rinchenpong Monastery, built in 1730, and ask the caretaker to show you its statue of Adi Buddha in yab-yum, a rare image in Sikkim. Then find Bishey Pokhari, the poison lake, tied to the local story that Lepcha fighters poisoned the water during the British campaign of 1860–61. The campaign is recorded history; the poisoning is folklore. Rinchenpong has a few shops and tea stalls where you can rest before heading back.
Most people take a jeep or car back down to Kaluk rather than retracing their steps, so ask your host for a driver's number before you set out. Carry water, a light snack and a warm layer. Paths can be muddy and full of leeches from June to September, so this is a dry-season walk. If you have more time, stay a night at Yangsum Heritage Farm in Rinchenpong and walk back the next morning.
Cost: Free · donation at the monastery
Questions people ask
Good to know
How long is the walk from Kaluk to Rinchenpong?
The villages are a few kilometres apart on the same ridge. Most walkers take an hour or more uphill, depending on which paths they use and how often they stop. Allow three to four hours for the whole outing, including the monastery, the poison lake and a tea break, and take a jeep back down.
Do we need a guide for the Kaluk to Rinchenpong walk?
No. It is a village walk on farm paths and road, not a mountain trek. Ask your homestay host to explain the route or send someone with you for the first stretch, since paths branch between farms. Carry a phone with your host's number in case you take a wrong turn.
Can we do the walk during the monsoon?
We do not recommend it. From June to September the paths turn muddy and slippery, leeches are common, and views are usually hidden. Landslides can also affect the road. If you are here in the monsoon, take a jeep up to Rinchenpong instead and check current status before you travel.
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