Tshangu Lake

Tshangu Lake

I had visited Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim, in the year 1998. This city is situated at an height of 4,700 feet and the memories of the place which is still fresh in my mind is the Tshangu Lake, which is located at the Indo-China border at an height of 12,400 feet.  

On the day of our visit to Tshangu Lake, we all got up early and got ready by 8’ o’ clock. After having breakfast we all boarded the taxi, which was waiting patiently for us outside the hotel. The driver started immediately, and the taxi zoomed towards Tamand Gompa Road, crossing the busy streets of Gangtok.

 It was the month of May and to my surprise the streets were busy with school going children with their heavy bags on their back and the school buses plying on the road, when most of the schools of India have Summer Vacation. To clarify my doubt, I asked the driver “how come these children are having school in the month of May”? Driver answered me that there the schools run in full swing in the summer months, as the weather is very pleasant in these months, but the schools have winter vacation in the peak winter months, which is unbearable there.

Coming out of the city, we headed for Tshangu Lake through the winding roads of Ghat. A journey through this road is really an unforgettable experience, with natural beauty all around. Initially everyone in the group were very energetic and happy, but slowly the energy level became feeble as we moved higher and higher as some of the members from our group started feeling sick, due to continuous twist and turns of the vehicle.  I carried some Domstal tablets with me to prevent vomiting, so the sick ones gulped the tablets to be alright at least when they reach Tshangu Lake. But by the grace of God, all throughout the journey, I was very energetic and enthusiastic, so I went on clicking photographs of the picturesque surroundings through the window pane or sometimes getting down at certain points. As we were ascending the heights, the clouds started ushering us with open arms. Opening the window panes we could even touch and feel the clouds. I would have certainly gone out and got wet by these clouds in any other place but the temperature being very low there, I could not dare to get wet by the clouds.

While getting up the Ghat Road we could only see some tourist cars and more of army Shaktiman trucks going up and down the hill road. The roads were bordered with many army camps with army jawans moving on the roads. Halfway to the lake, we came across Kyongnosla Waterfall, the view of which was so appealing that we told our driver to stop the vehicle there. We all got down to get closer view of the waterfall and my brother-in-law went towards the fall with two pet bottles to grab this clean and clear water in them, as it was told by our elders that water from waterfall coming through the rocks is very good for digestion and tasty. But this water was used less for drinking and more for washing as three members from our group started vomiting while going up. After moving up for some distance, our driver stopped the vehicle for the astonishing view of famous snow-clad mountains known as Kanchanjangha, seemed to be very close from there.

 Kyongnosla Waterfall

Kanchanjangha Mountain

 After short stops at different points the vehicle stopped at small shopping spot at a height of 10,400 feet, where most of the tourists were sipping hot cup of tea or coffee as the temperature fell down drastically, with two sweaters on, I was feeling very cold. There were some shops selling woolen garments and some traditional dresses of Sikkim with some handicrafts too. To keep the body warm there were some wine shops too.

After sipping a cup of coffee we all started for the final lap of the journey to Tshangu Lake, which was still 2000 feet above. Finally at around 12.30 pm we reached our destination the Tshangu Lake, after travelling for about 40 Km. We all hurriedly got down the taxi with lots of enthusiasm. We all were mesmerized by the view of the lake and the mountain covered with snow in some pockets standing just in front of us.

Tshangu Lake

Seeing us, the small boys from 2 to 3 shops came to us, for marketing their stuffs. With the help of one of these boys we all headed for the shop where they were hiring gum boots to climb the snow laden mountain easily. Putting on gum boots we all moved towards the mountain. After climbing few yards my husband and co-sister felt tired and were scared to move up more. I, my two year old daughter and brother-in-law continued moving up and we reached the peak where we played with ice lying beneath us, we threw ice balls on each other. Just beneath this mountain there is a lake named Tshangu lake, which is deep blue colored water body of nearly 1 Km long. It was so thrilling and exciting that we spent around an hour there. Here we took many photographs. We climbed down after being called down by my husband and co-sister who were waiting for us down there.

Getting down the hill my daughter took a ride on Yak. After this we headed for some snacks or food from the stalls put up there. We had some light snacks as we had to descend down by about 8000 feet through the same winding roads around the mountains. But then also some of our group members started vomiting on the way which was cleaned by Bisleri drinking water and waterfall water. 

Yak Ride

On the whole the trip was very exciting which can never be forgotten.