Lake Tsomgo Lake

Address: Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, near Gangtok, East Sikkim, India

Admission: Permit required for foreign visitors via Sikkim tourism authority and usually obtainable through local operators.

Lake Tsomgo (also Changu Lake) is a high-altitude glacial lake in East Sikkim, India, situated at roughly 3,753 metres above sea level. It is one of the best-known mountain lakes in Sikkim and lies on the road toward the Indo-China border.

High-altitude scenery and panoramic mountain views make the lake a common day-trip from Gangtok. The lake sits amid rocky slopes and alpine meadows; on clear days the surrounding ridges are visible and seasonal birdlife and small herds of yaks are often present.

The lake is of glacial-karst origin and has long been regarded as sacred in local Sikkimese tradition. Over the 20th and 21st centuries it became a staged tourist stop on the route from Gangtok toward the Nathu La border pass.

Located on the Gangtok-Nathu La road in East Sikkim, the lake lies about 38 km east of Gangtok near the Sikkim-Tibet/China frontier.

• Permits: Non-Indian nationals usually need a permit to visit; there is an army checkpost on the road to the lake.
• Altitude and seasonality: Sits at high altitude so temperatures can fall below freezing; the surface often freezes in winter months (December-February).

Tsomgo is about 38 km east of Gangtok. Tourists must travel in a government-authorised vehicle with permits (often arranged by hotels or tour operators). The road from Gangtok is paved but can be steep and affected by weather-allow 1.5-2 hours.

• Acclimatize before visiting-Changu Tsomgo sits at about 3,780 m (12,400 ft).
• Hire a local Sikkimese guide or take a licensed vehicle from Gangtok; independent travel without permits is not permitted.
• Bring warm clothing and sunglasses-the sun is strong at altitude and wind can chill quickly.