Good Time
Gurudongmar Lake in April
Sikkim, India
April cracks Gurudongmar open. The lake sits half-frozen at 5425m — turquoise water meeting white ice under a sky so blue it hurts.
The April story
Acclimatize in Lachen for a full day before attempting. Start at 3am from Lachen, reach by sunrise. No heroics at this altitude.
Why April scores 4/5
Weather
April cracks Gurudongmar open. The lake sits half-frozen at 5425m — turquoise water meeting white ice under a sky so blue it hurts.
Roads & Access
note: From Lachen — 65km, 3-4 hrs on rough army road. From Gangtok — 195km via Lachen. Permit required.. from nearest city: Lachen 65km, 3-4 hrs
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. note: No medical facility at lake. Army camp nearby may help. Lachen PHC 65km. Gangtok for serious cases.. rescue: Indian Army. ambulance: None at lake. nearest hospital: PHC Lachen (65km)
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: No, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. No signal at lake. BSNL in Lachen only.
Kids
Not ideal for kids —
Elevation
5,425m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
- ✓acclimatized trekkers
- ✓altitude-experienced travelers
- ✓photographers
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗children under 12
- ✗heart/lung conditions
- ✗unacclimatized travelers
- ✗first-time altitude visitors
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/5 | Frozen and closed |
| February | 1/5 | Frozen and closed |
| March | 1/5 | Still closed |
| Aprilviewing | 4/5 | April cracks Gurudongmar open. The lake sits half-frozen at 5425m — turquoise water meeting white ice under a sky so blue it hurts. |
| May | 5/5 | May is the month Gurudongmar was made for. |
| June | 4/5 | June gives you Gurudongmar with a ticking clock — the monsoon is coming and every clear morning feels borrowed. |
| July | 1/5 | Monsoon — dangerous |
| August | 1/5 | Monsoon continues |
| September | 1/5 | Late monsoon |
| October | 3/5 | October is a coin flip at Gurudongmar. The views when it works are the best of the year — sharp, cold, electric. |
| November | 1/5 | Closing for winter |
| December | 1/5 | Closed |
Practical Details
How to reach
Lachen 65km, 3-4 hrs
Elevation
5,425m
Difficulty
extreme
Budget tier
mid-range
Nearby in Sikkim scoring high in April
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