Lachen in January
Sikkim, India
Road to Gurudongmar closes in January, cutting off the main draw
January Lachen is a frozen village at 2750m where the only tourists are the ones who got their dates wrong. The silence is absolute.
The January story
Homestays are cheap and the hosts have time to talk. Bring a good book and better thermals.
Why January scores 4.0/10
Weather
Deep winter
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
- ✓solitude seekers
- ✓cultural travelers
- ✓budget travelers
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗families
- ✗anyone expecting activities
- ✗altitude-sensitive travelers
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 4.0/10 | Deep winter |
| February | 4.0/10 | Deep winter continues |
| March | 4.0/10 | Late winter thaw |
| April | 8.0/10 | Season opens properly |
| May | 8.0/10 | May Lachen is a staging ground buzzing with jeeps headed to 5425m. |
| June | 8.0/10 | June Lachen catches the last reliable weather before monsoon shuts the curtain. |
| July | 2.0/10 | Monsoon |
| August | 2.0/10 | Peak monsoon |
| September | 4.0/10 | Monsoon receding |
| October | 6.0/10 | October Lachen shakes off the monsoon and the mountains reappear. |
| November | 8.0/10 | November Lachen is the photographer's month. |
| December | 4.0/10 | Winter sets in |
How to reach Lachen
Airport
Bagdogra (210 km)
Rail
NJP (220 km)
Access in January
Road to Gurudongmar closes in January, cutting off the main draw
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