1/16/2019 Nathula Pass - A Day Trip From Gangtok

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Nathula Pass
A Day Trip From Gangtok

Located at an altitude of 14,140 feet and 56kms from Gangtok, Nathula Pass
was the place through which the famous Silk Route used to operate until
1962. This used to be the silk trade route between India and Tibet. Lines of
mules used to carry silk, gold and many other items from Tibet to India and
take daily essentials back to Tibet.

The route in Tibet goes down the Chumbi Valley to Yathung, a place about
30kms away which once used to be a major trading township (no longer so).
In fact on a clear day you can see this route winding down the valley. If you
look at the eastern horizon, you can see the magnificent peak of Chomolhari
of Bhutan.

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The fenced Indo-China border is also few meters away and you can see both
Indian and Chinese soldiers guarding the border. The guards are friendly. A
stairway leads to the border. There is no 'no mans land' here. Even today,
mails are delivered across the border on certain days of the week. There is an
engraved stone here called Nehru Stone which marks the visit of former Prime
Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru who visited in 1958.

When the war broke out between India and China in 1962, the Indo-China
border at Nathula was relatively quiet. But in 1965 a firing across the border
took place because of a dispute around the location of the fenced border. In
1967 a major confrontation took place here between the two countries and

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many lives were lost on both sides. You will find a memorial here constructed
in honor of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in this battle.

Nathula Pass

After some 44 years of closure, the old Silk Route again reopened on 6th July
2006 allowing limited trade between India and Tibet of China. Items such as
wool, raw silk, yak hair, yak tail, China clay, horses, sheep etc can be
imported duty free from Tibet of China through this route while 29 items
including clothes, tea, coffee, rice etc can be exported to China. This is
however limited only to a border trade and participated by 100 odd
businessmen.

This Indo-Chinese trade market operates from 1st June to 30th September
every year and from Monday to Thursday every week during that period.
Trade marts have been set up on both Indian as well as Tibet side. The Indian
trade mart is located at a place called Sherathang about 3kms below Nathula
pass. It has a well developed shopping mart and India's highest altitude
internet Cafe. Trade mart on Tibet side is located at Rinchangang.

As a tourist you can visit the border trade market at Sherathang. Close to
Sherathang is another place called Kupup which mostly remains covered with
cloud. It has the second highest golf course in the world. Among other things
in Kupup, you will find the Gnathang Monastery, and Gnathang War Memorial
which was built in memory of the British soldiers who died in a war with Tibet
in 1800s.

On the way to Nathula, you will come across a place called Thegu which has
an ATM. This is the highest altitude ATM in the world. It operates with a
generator and a special fuel that does not freeze in such high altitude. You
can withdraw cash or just check your balance & take the slip as a souvenir.

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A note of caution
Because of the high altitude at Nathula, oxygen level in the air is quite low.
Few (adults or children) can face breathing problems at Nathula. If you

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already have breathing or other health problems, you should consult a doctor
before the visit. You can take Acetazolamide Tablets (consult doctor for
dosage) while visiting Nathula. It helps to cope with high altitude sickness.

You may also consider carrying portable oxygen cylinders. They come at
various sizes. Larger ones last continuously for 3-4 hours. There are also
small cylinders. Each small one lasts for about 15 minutes. If you start having
breathing problems, you should immediately come down. You will get portable
oxygen cylinders in Gangtok at Medical shops. Your hotel can also arrange if
necessary. If unused, they are returnable but refund is usually partial.

Permits for Nathula

Note that Nathula is a protected area. Foreign nationals, NRIs or OCIs are not
allowed here. Indians require a valid Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit
Nathula.

You need to get the permit done through a tour operator authorized by Sikkim
government (there are plenty of them in Gangtok). And you can visit Nathula
only by a vehicle provided by such a tour operator. You can not take a city
taxi or a self driven vehicle to Nathula... you won't be allowed. The permit is
issued by the Sikkim Tourism Department in Gangtok / Police Check Post.

You will need photo ID proof like Passport / Voters Card/ Adhaar Card (PAN
card is not accepted) and two passport size photos each. Application for
permits are done in the morning and the permits are usually issued in the
afternoon or sometimes next day. So you should apply for the permit at least
one day before your planned visit. Note: Journey to Nathula starts in the
morning.

If you do not want to spare a day in Gangtok for the permit, you should then
send your documents (photo copies) and self photos to your tour operator in
advance to get the permits done before you arrive. Permit cost includes Rs.
200/- per person for the form provided by the tour operator (it can vary) and
additional Rs. 20 for the permit itself. Permits are not required (or issued) to
children below 4 years. You can however take an infant at your own risk.

For more information about permits, read Sikkim permits for restricted
& protected areas.

Note that Nathula Pass being an Indo-Chinese border area, photography and
videography are not allowed. However tourists do take pictures and this
prohibition is not strictly implemented.

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How to reach
Take a round trip tour package from an authorized tour operator in Gangtok.
Nathula is on Jawaharlal Nehru Road which originates from Gangtok and
located at a distance of 56kms. It will require a full day trip from Gangtok to
visit Nathula. It is usually combined with visits to Tsomgo Lake and Baba
Mandir.

Vehicles from Sikkim government approved tour operators are only allowed
for Nathula. Click here for some of such well known operators.

Tour operators also operate such tours in groups in high season that operate
on per person rate (i.e. on sharing basis). This is a more affordable option.
However the permit process is the same. In low season, shared vehicles are
usually not available due to lack of demand. The road condition is not good.
Only Jeep or SUV type vehicles (like Bolero, Scorpio, Sumo etc) are suitable.
Sometimes due to snow, landslides and other road conditions, traffic gets held
up for hours on this route.

Fare updated: September 2018

The cost of Nathula tour can vary depending on season. During high season
(like April to June, and October to November) shared vehicle would cost about
Rs. 900 - 1,000 per person for Tsomgo lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula
including permit fee. A reserved vehicle like Scorpio or Innova would cost
around Rs. 8,000/- including all permits. Reserved Sumo or Xylo would cost
Rs. 6,500/-.

When to visit Nathula

First you should note that Nathula is open only from Wednesday to Sunday of
the week. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to public. Good time to visit is
between May to October when the temperature hovers around 10 to 15°C. On
a clear day you can see the entire pass and the landscape with towering
mountain peaks in the background. You won't usually get any snow during
this time.

Winter starts from November and peaks between December to February. This
is when heavy snowing takes place and the temperature can easily go below
-25°C. Often the route to Nathula remains closed during winter when it snows
heavily. However if the route is open and you make a visit during the winter,
pick up snow boots and heavy winter-wears along the way. There are stalls
that offer such snow gears on rentals. The two months - November and March
are good time to see Nathula covered in snow. The route usually remains
open on these two winter months.

However from Mid December till third week of April too you can get snow at
Nathula. From May onwards the snowing usually stops although there can be
exceptions on certain days.

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Visitors' Reviews/Comments

Jahidul Islam (December 2018)

Hi, I'm a Bangladeshi citizen. Can I visit Nathula pass in 1st week of June,
2019. If yes what is the procedure for taking permission. Please mention.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) December 2018

All foreign nationals are prohibited from visiting Nathula Pass and
Bangladesh nationals (along with that of China, Myanmar and Pakistan)
require special approval from Home Ministry (Delhi) to visit any part of
Sikkim.

Bineeta (October 2018)

Dear Sir, We are going to Gangtok on 25th December 2018. Is it possible
to get shared vehicle for Nathula at that time. What will be the charges. Do
we have to pay separate charge for permit to Nathula for shared vehicle or
driver will arrange our permit. Whether normally Nathula will be accessible
at that time. How many passengers are allowed in shared vehicle including
Driver.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) October 2018

Hello, both reserved and shared day trips to Nathula/Tsomgo are offered
by registered tour operators. While reserved trip is offered as a full
package, the shared trip price is on a per person rate, and both include
permit charges along with vehicle. A vehicle like Xylo, Sumo etc usually

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takes up to 7 persons apart from the driver. Shared trips are usually
available in high season when there is good demand for such trips. Some
times the route remains closed in December-end due to snow.

K Desai (August 2018)

Hi Raj, I am planning to take solo trip to north east in first week of October
2018. would it be safe for a solo woman traveler to take nathula pass.
Further shared vehicle would be available during this period and again is it
safe generally in shared vehicle to travel alone on this route?

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2018

Hi, yes it's usually quite safe in shared jeeps. October being a high tourist
season, there will be shared jeeps.

Kakoli Chakraborty (June 2018)

Hi...can I visit Gangtok and Nathula in mid July with 7 month old baby???
Please advise.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2018

Hi, firstly you should not visit Nathula Pass with an infant. In fact it is not
recommended to visit Nathula with a child below 5 years. Mid-July is in
heavy monsoon time. So avoid Nathula anyway... there are good chances
of land slides. You can however visit Gangtok.

Vinod Kumar (June 2018)

Hello Raj, your write-up on Nathu La Pass is extremely informative. We are
planning visit in mid June, along with our daughter who is 7 years old.
Please suggest if it would be ok to visit Nathu La with our daughter.
Thanks.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2018

Hello, 7 years of age is usually okay. Below 5 years is not advisable.

Probhat (April 2018)

Hi Raj, Thank you for sharing lots of information. Only one information I
need... are there any registered tour operators in Siliguri for Nathula pass
as we are reaching Siliguri on Saturday night and only Sunday is there for
nathula pass. we are again coming back on Wednesday. So, we have no
other options. Thanks .

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2018

Hi, 'registered operator' here means local tour & travel operators having
offices in Sikkim and registered with Sikkim government. No operator out
of Sikkim is registered for conducting tours in protected areas of Sikkim.
However, if you go through an operator in Siliguri, they can arrange the
tour through a local Sikkim based operator and take a commission.

Mukesh (April 2018)

Hello Raj, Thanks a lot for sharing lot of information. We are planing to
visit Nathula pass on 21 April, so my question is: what about permit if we

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take shared vehicle as we don't know vehicle detail before a day? as

mentioned in the site, we should apply for permit a day before. Thanks,

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2018

Hello, shared vehicles to Nathula are also operated by registered tour
operators. So you should book the tour through one of them while in
Gangtok and they will take care of the permits. You should book minimum
one day in advance.

Kritee Sukhija (December 2017)

Hello sir , I know you receive a lot of msgs but hoping u would reply . M
travelling for Nathula on 22nd December 2017 with my parents aged (55 )
. Is it advisable since I read that there cn be oxygen problems . Please
advice . Thanks.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) December 2017

Hi, while age of your parents is not a concern, the breathlessness problem
or altitude sickness is more of an individual issue ... some have the
problem while many do not. One should take it really easy and slow while
climbing the stairs at the pass. For additional precaution, consult a doctor.
Medicines like Diamox (or any Acetazolamide) can help.

Pavan Kumar V (November 2017)

Hello Sir, We are a group of 4 Indian citizens who wish to visit Nathula
pass . We are riding with our bikes. I read somewhere that we MUST have
travel agent for document submission in order to receive permit. Can you
please clarify on that? Is it ok if we submit our own documents without a
travel agent? Thanks

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) November 2017

For taking self driven bikes to protected areas such as Nathula, you need
to get special permission from the Sikkim Home Department in Gangtok.
You do not need to go through a tour operator for taking your personal
bike. But bear in mind that permission is not always granted and is issued
on a case to case basis.

Pradeep (November 2017)

Great website, Raj, storehouse of information on Darjeeling and
surrounding areas. We will be in Darjeeling during second week of
February. Will you recommend visiting Sikkim during this period? Planning
to hire motorcycle from Siliguri for the trip, can I ride to Nathula on
motorcycle at that time?

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) November 2017

Route to Nathula and north Sikkim are usually closed during February due
to heavy snowfall.

David (October 2017)

Hi Raj, I'm planning to travel to Gangtok 21-23rd December with my
mother aged 70 from Australia. Is it advisable for my mother is visit
Nathula based on her age? Additionally, it is likely the roads will be closed

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due to snow in December? If so, if the roads are blocked does this prevent
visiting Tsomgo, Baba Mandir? Kind Regards.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) October 2017

Hi, only Indian nationals are allowed up to Nathula with Protected Area
Permits. It is not quite advisable for a 70-year old to visit Nathula anyway.
Road blocks due to snow is a definite possibility around that time... holds
true for Tsomgo and Baba Mandir as well, but you may be lucky. You can
only decide once in Gangtok.

Abhinash Kumar (August 2017)

Hi Raj, Thanks for your informative website. I am planning to travel to
Gangtok from 10th Dec for three days. I am also planning to visit Nathula
pass. So, please let me know whether it is open during this time. Also, I
want to know whether shared cabs are available during this time to
Nathula and other places (since it is winter). As we are two persons, I
think taking a private taxi would be expensive for us.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2017

Often the route to Nathula remains closed in December due to snow,
otherwise you can go. You are quite unlikely to get a shared tour in such
off season, you need to plan a private tour.

Ankita (May 2017)

Sir, I came across your article about Nathula pass also. You have
mentioned that we need to make the permit a day before or send
documents to tour operators if we plan to visit the next day of our arrival.
But Sir, if we are travelling alone, I mean independently and want to visit
Nathula pass the very next day of our arrival what should we do?? How do
we in that case make the pass?? Please help me out. I want to visit
Nathula pass, Changu lake and the temple at a go.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2017

You can not visit Nathula Pass other than through Sikkim govt. authorized
operators.

Mamatha P (March 2017)

Hi, Thanks. It was very informative. We are planning to visit Nathula pass
during 2nd week of May 2017. Will we able to experience snow as we are
coming from South India we do not want to miss touching snow :), Please
help.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2017

Snow in Nathula is unlikely in May unless you are very lucky. April
beginning is a better time for snow.

Ramkumar (January 2017)

Hi Raj, Thanks for your informative website. I am planning to travel to
Darjeeling and Gangtok from 26th Jan till 31st Jan. I am also planning to
visit Nathula pass. So, please let me know whether it is open during this
time. Also, I want to know whether shared cabs are available during this

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time to Nathula and other places (since it is winter). As we are two

persons, I think taking a private taxi would be expensive for us.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2017

Nathula route can be closed due to snow. Shared jeeps (i.e. group tours on
per person rate) usually operate in high season. You won't likely get that
in January.

Selvam Cyril Abraham (May 2016)

Dear sir, Your advise and suggestion will be very helpful for us. So I
humbly request you to reply. In our tour, 4 people are senior citizen aged
from 60 to 69. Is it advisable for me to take them to Nathula pass on 18th
may 2016. Secondly is it possible to cover tsomgo lake, baba mandir and
Nathula pass and we have to catch the train at 9.00 pm on same day at
new jalpaguri onward journey to Kolkata.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2016

While catching the train is possible, but you may be cutting it too fine.
Suggest you make a trip to Tsomgo lake and get back to Gangtok by early
afternoon so that you have enough time for transfer to NJP. As for seniors,
they can make it, but going up the long flight of stairs at Nathula is not
advisable.

SV Varun (September 2015)

Dear Sir, Planning to visit Gangtok and Darjeeling in end of February 2016.
we are aged about 52 years My doubts are: 1) whether I can see the
snowfall at Nathula at that time 2) is it advisable to visit nathula during
last week on February 3)whether any road obstructions at that time.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2015

Route to Nathula is often closed around that time due to heavy snow.

D S Bansal (September 2015)

Dear Raj Sir, Planning to visit Gangtok and Darjeeling in jan 1st week
2016. My doubts are:
1. Does it rain during this period? 2. Is Nathula pass open during this
period?

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) September 2015

It doesn't rain that time. But route is likely to be closed due to snow.

Jitendra Kumar Pandey (July 2015)

Dear Raj, Is it advisable to travel to Tsomgo lake, Baba mandir and
Nathula pass in mid October with kid of age 21 month. I have heard about
the problem of low level of oxygen and very low temperature there. Kindly
advise me. It will be of great help. Thanks.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) July 2015

You should avoid Nathula with kids (actually kids below 4 are officially not
allowed at Nathula although one can take an infant at one's own risk), and
with Tsomgo and Baba Mandir you should be extremely cautious and take

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all necessary measures. Better to avoid. There have been ample cases of
kids having problems including nausea, headaches etc. Lack of oxygen is
the main issue.

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