Culture and history · Yuksom
Norbugang throne and Kathok Lake at dusk
Walk from the bazaar to the stone throne where Sikkim's first Chogyal was consecrated in 1642, then down to Kathok Lake, whose water is used in consecration rites. A short, flat stroll that holds the whole founding story of Sikkim.
Norbugang is about ten minutes' walk from the Yuksom bazaar along a lane signposted from the main street. The site sits in a small park among old trees: a raised stone throne, a chorten and a tall pine. Here, according to the traditional account, the three Tibetan lamas, Lhatsun Chempo, Kathok Kuntu Zangpo and Ngadak Sempa Chempo, consecrated Phuntsog Namgyal as the first Chogyal of Sikkim in 1642. The dynasty founded that day ruled until 1975, when Sikkim became a state of India.
Take time to read the plaques and look at the throne itself, which is surprisingly small and plain. Local people walk clockwise around the chorten, and you should do the same. Photographs of the throne are fine, but do not sit or climb on it. In the late afternoon the light comes through the pines at a low angle and the park is usually empty except for a few village children and a caretaker sweeping leaves.
From Norbugang, walk down to Kathok Lake, a few minutes away. It is a small, still pond ringed with prayer flags and named after Kathok Kuntu Zangpo, one of the three lamas. Its water is traditionally used in consecration and other rites, which is why it is kept clean and quiet. Sit on the bank as the light goes. Then walk back through the village for dinner, past houses where you can often smell cardamom drying in season.
Cost: Free or a small fee (check)
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Norbugang from Yuksom bazaar?
It is about ten minutes on foot along a signposted lane from the main street, on a gentle slope. Kathok Lake is a few minutes further on. Both can be seen in an hour at an easy pace, which makes this the best first outing on the evening you arrive. No car or guide is needed.
Is there an entry fee at Norbugang?
Entry has usually been free or a token amount, though small fees for heritage sites in Sikkim change from time to time. Carry ₹50 in change in case. The park is open in daylight hours; arrive before about 5 pm in winter so you see the throne and the lake before dark.
Why is Kathok Lake considered sacred?
The lake is linked to Kathok Kuntu Zangpo, one of the three lamas who crowned the first Chogyal in 1642, and its water is traditionally used in consecration rites. Visitors are asked not to wash, swim, throw coins or litter there. Walk quietly, keep to the path around it and leave the prayer flags untouched.
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