Aritar / Rhenock / Jelep La Pass / Mememcho Lake – This region can be reached from either via Kalimpong, Pedong, Reshi or via Rangpo and Rorathang. This route is part of the old silk route to India from China, Tibet during historic age.

Aritar - Aritar / Arhitar is a settlement in East Sikkim of India under Rongli Sub - Division. The place is known for its natural and scenic beauty. It is situated about four hours drive from Gangtok via either Pakyong or Rangpo. This place is isolated from the rest of Sikkim and is bounded by Mount Kanchendzonga. The region has dense forest mountains and rivers. The main attraction is Aritar Lake or Ghati - Tso.  Nearby attraction are traditional villages and monasteries such as Lingsay. Visitors may also stay in a British-built bungalow of 1895 located half kilometres below the lake. Places to visit are many some of them are Lampokhari one of the oldest natural lake at an altitude of 4600 feet / 1400 meters with boating. Dak Bungalow or the Ari - Bangla it is an old British built bungalow built by Sir James Claude White in the year 1895. Aritar Gumpa is a monastery of the Kagyuapa order, Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir with picturesque splendour is a holy pilgrimage site, Mankhim or Mangkhim is a Temple at an height of 6500 feet,  Hattipailay is a village where one can see elephant footprints on rock, Nirmal Dham  about 5 kilometres from Rhenock Bazaar is known for Kopchey Baba, known for his magical healing power, Ever green nursery & Ram Gauri Sangrhalaya close by have nursery and museum is privately owned and has drift wood collections, botanical & other varieties of flowers. Kali Khola falls is 100 meters in height in Rorathang - Rongli road Changey water fall nearly 50 meters in height near Lampokhari and Lungchok valley known for trekking are some of the places of interest nearby. Offbeat destinations have limited hotels, resorts or home stay hence early bookings are solicited. Vehicle for sightseeing, Stay and Transfer are all arranged by us hence to avoid disappointment.

 

Rhenock - Rhenock is a small settlement in the east district of Sikkim. It is situated 65 kilometres east of Gangtok on the way to Jelep La Pass at an altitude of 1,040. Rhe nock in Lepcha dialect means Black Hill. Rhenock was earlier covered with dense forest in and around 13th century. The Lepchas settled about 550 years ago. Places of interest are many a few of them are Aritar Lake, Wood Land Nursery, Aritar monastery, Lonely falls or Kali Khola, Ramgauri Sangralaya with the view of the history of Sikkim along with Pangulakha Wild Life Sanctuary, Lampokhari Lake, Mangkhim, etc are worth visiting. Staying in any one of the places of interest like Aritar or Zuluk or Reshi or even Pedong one can have this excursion to Jelep La Pass and visit all the places of interest in a five to six day tour. One can stay in Zuluk while it’s not snowing i.e. except December, January. The road will be blocked and the sightseeing higher up from Zuluk might not be possible but its always better in April and May. Heavy woolen is required throughout the year. Offbeat destinations have limited hotels, resorts or home stay hence early bookings are solicited. Vehicle for sightseeing, Stay and Transfer are all arranged by us hence to avoid disappointment.

Jelep La Pass - Jelep La / Jelepla pass is situated at an altitude of 4267 meters or 14000 feet is a high mountain pass between India and Tibet in Sikkim. Memencho Lake lies just below the Jelep La Pass. Jelep-la is a Tibetan name and literally means the lovely level pass as it is the easiest and most level of all the passes between Tibet and Sikkim. The pass is in Sikkim and the route connects Lhasa to India. The pass is 46 meters / 151 feet in length. On the Indian side there are two routes to Jelep La, one through Gangtok and the other through Kalimpong. The Kalimpong route is an ancient one used for trading of wool and furs early last century. The pass was closed after the Sino-Indian War in 1962. It passes through the towns of Kupup, Rhenok and Pedong. The route from Gangtok passes through the towns of Sherathang nearby Changu / Tsomgo Lake and alongside Nathu La and through Kupup.

 

The routes are scenic with forests of rhododendrons blooming in spring. Numerous hamlets dot the surroundings and it’s an out of the world feeling when travelling through the way. The road on the Tibetan side of the pass passes through Chumbi Valley of the Tibetan Plateau. Offbeat destinations have limited hotels, resorts or home stay hence early bookings are solicited. Vehicle for sightseeing, Stay and Transfer are all arranged by us hence to avoid disappointment.

 

Memencho Lake – Memencho Lake and Tsomgo Lake are two major lake near Nathu La Pass and Jelep La Pass.  Jelep La / Jelepla pass is situated at an altitude of 4267 meters or 14000 feet and Memencho Lake lies just below the Jelep La Pass. Memencho Lake is a mountain lake located in Sikkim. It lies on the way to the Jelep La Pass and is situated at a distance of 20 kilometres or 12 miles ahead of the Tsomgo Lake. It is the source of the river Rangpo Chu, a tributary of the River Teesta. The waters of the lake are sourced by melting snow in summer and in the monsoons. Sunrise point (Ganek) near Zuluk, Nag Temple, Thambi Valley View point, Lungthung at about 12400 feet, Gnathang Valley, Adi Baba Mandir, Golf Course, Kalpokhori Lake, Tukla Valley, Memencho Lake and Tsomgo Lake are the major sightseeing point