Treks and walks · Namchi
Walk up Tendong, the Lepcha flood hill
A forest walk from Damthang to the top of Tendong Hill, about 2,600 m, the sacred hill that Lepcha elders say rose to save their people from a great flood. At the top a watchtower gives one of the widest views in South Sikkim on a clear morning.
Tendong Hill rises between Namchi, Damthang and Ravangla to about 2,600 m. For the Lepcha people it is sacred. Lepcha elders tell that in a great flood the people climbed Tendong and the hill rose above the water to save them, until prayers made the flood recede. The name is usually translated as "upraised horn". Every 8 August Lepcha communities mark Tendong Lho Rum Faat with prayers to the hill, and some families still climb it that day.
Most walkers start from Damthang, on the hill road above Namchi towards Ravangla and Temi, about 45 minutes from Namchi by car. A forest trail of about 6 km climbs through oak, rhododendron, magnolia and bamboo; it is steady and mostly well defined, with a few steep stretches, and takes about 3 hours up and 2 down. Birds are plentiful in the early morning. On top is a clearing with a watchtower and prayer flags, and on clear days the view stretches across Sikkim to the Kanchenjunga range.
Start by 7 am from Damthang so you reach the top before cloud rises. Carry 2 litres of water, food, a rain layer and a warm top; there are no shops on the trail. A local guide, roughly ₹1,500–2,000 for the day, is helpful where paths branch, and a small forest fee may apply. Ask about current trail conditions before you travel. A reserved car Namchi–Damthang and back costs roughly ₹1,500–2,500 with waiting.
Cost: Small forest fee; guide ₹1,500–2,000 optional
Questions people ask
Good to know
How long is the Tendong Hill trek?
From Damthang the trail is about 6 km one way and climbs to the top at about 2,600 m. Most walkers take about 3 hours up and 2 hours down, so plan for 5–6 hours including a rest at the top. It is a moderate day walk on a forest path; fit families with teenagers can manage it with an early start.
Where does the Tendong Hill trek start?
Most people start at Damthang, a small settlement on the hill road above Namchi towards Ravangla and Temi, about 45 minutes by car from Namchi. Shared jeeps between Namchi and Ravangla or Gangtok pass through Damthang, but a reserved car is easier for an early start. Ask locally for the trailhead, which is near the roadside.
What is the legend of Tendong Hill?
Lepcha elders tell that long ago a great flood covered the land, and the Lepcha people took refuge on Tendong Hill. As the waters rose, the hill rose with them and saved the people, until prayers and offerings made the flood go down. Lepcha communities remember this every 8 August with the festival of Tendong Lho Rum Faat.
Also in Namchi
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