Sikkim Reopens Remote Himalayan Lake
After being closed for 887 days due to flooding, North Sikkim’s Gurudongmar Lake and Lachen have reopened to tourists. A newly restored road now provides access to this remote, scenic, high-altitude destination, offering new opportunities for technical hiking and cultural exploration.
Gurudongmar Lake, situated at 17,800 feet (5,430 meters) near the Indo-China border, is one of the highest lakes in the world and is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus. The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism who visited the lake in the 8th century. Sikh beliefs also associate the lake with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who is believed to have blessed the lake during his travels to Tibet, and a memorial has been built nearby to honor him. Legend says that Guru Padmasambhava blessed a portion of the lake, ensuring it never freezes completely, providing water to locals year-round. Another belief is that worshipping the lake grants the wishes of couples who cannot have children. The lake is the source of a stream that joins the Tso Lahmu, forming the source of the Teesta River. The journey to Gurudongmar Lake typically starts from Gangtok, with a drive to Lachen, which serves as a base camp. Due to the high altitude, the oxygen level at Gurudongmar Lake is lower than at sea level, around 60-65%, making acclimatization crucial to prevent altitude sickness. Symptoms of altitude sickness include headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Tourism in Sikkim contributes nearly 10% of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). In 2024, Sikkim recorded 15,40,421 domestic visitors and 46,591 foreign travelers until September 2025. However, increasing tourism poses environmental concerns, including waste accumulation and pollution, threatening the fragile high-altitude ecosystems. Lachen was the first village to ban plastic water bottles in India in an effort to minimize the negative impacts of tourism.
