“Valley of flowers” is a sobriquet given to Yumthang Valley a beautiful grazing pasture in Sikkim. This valley is located at an altitude of 3,564 meters above sea level. This region has over twenty-four types i.e. species of rhododendron flowers. Skiing is popular in this valley. It is also rapidly developing into a popular tourist destination. Additionally, this valley is popular for its hot springs and scenic beauty. So if you are genuine nature lover or an avid skier then “Yumthang Valley” is the ideal destination for you to visit.
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How to reach Yumthang Valley?
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Yumthang Valley Map
By train:
The closest station to Yumthang Valley is in New Jalpaiguri. The New JalpaiguriRaiiway Station is connected to many of the major cities and towns in the country.
By road:
There is a number of bus and taxi services available from places such as Gangtok, Silliguri and Kolkata to Lachung i.e. nearest village where accommodation is available. From Lachung it takes about two hours to reach the valley. It is not possible to travel directly to the valley due to foggy conditions as also it gets dark in this region as early as 05.30 pm.
By flight:
The closest airport to Yumthang Valley is in Bagdogra in West Bengal. The Bagdogra Airport is well connected to many of the major cities and towns in the country. There are taxi services available from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok.
Climate and the best time to visit Yumthang Valley
The climate in Yumthang valley can best be described as ranging from “pleasant to extremely cold”. The summer in this region which begins in March and ends in June is pleasant with the temperature ranging from 14 degrees to 20 degrees. The rainfall received during the monsoons that begin in late June and extends to September is heavy with strong winds. During this period landslides are observed often. The winters from December to February are extreme with temperature ranging from 10 degrees to -15 degrees. The best time to visit this scenic valley is during autumn i.e. October to November.
Places To Visit Around Yumthang Valley
- Lachung Monastery: Is a Nyingma Buddhist Gompa monastery established in 1880. This monastery is famous for its “Mask Dance” which is an annual event.
- Chungthang: Is a beautiful town located at a point where the two rivers Lachen and Lachung Chu converge. This town is elevated at an altitude of 1,790 above sea level. According to folklore Guru Nanak is supposed to have visited this place while on his way to China and Tibet.
- Yumthang River: Is a major tourist attraction in this valley. This river is also known as Yumthang Chu. This river is famous for its hot springs. This river flows through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary which is popular for its Rhododendron trees and shrubs.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden: Is a garden that is located in close proximity to Rumtek Monastery. This garden is famous for a variety of its flora. This garden includes rare plants and trees along with forest filled with Oak trees.
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