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The white, red and gold front of Phodong Monastery with a blue-roofed upper hall, steps and a paved forecourt
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Photo: dhillan chandramowli · CC BY-SA 2.0
Day plancultureTemples & heritagerelaxed

North Sikkim road day from Gangtok — Kabi Lungchok, Phodong and Labrang

A day trip north of Gangtok: the Kabi Lungchok blood-brotherhood site, Phodong Monastery of the early 18th century and Labrang of 1826–1843, with road times.
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A half-day to a day on the North Sikkim road, with no permit needed for these stops: Kabi Lungchok, Phodong Monastery and Labrang, which shares Phodong's page. It is the quiet counterpart to the town sights in the one-day plan. For Rumtek and the south, see the two-day plan.

Photos: dhillan chandramowli (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Biswas Dibyendu (CC BY 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Visitors who like old monasteries and a story of the land, with a day to spare; spring and autumn give the clearest weather.

Day by day

Day 1

A treaty site and two old monasteries

3 stops · 1 h 5 min on the road

North of Gangtok on the Sikkim highway, out in the morning and back by the afternoon.

  1. 09:30
    Kabi Lungchok
    monument · 43 min from Gangtok · about 20 min there
    The grove where the Lepcha chief and the Bhutia leader swore a blood brotherhood, a short stop.
  2. ↓ 44 min by road · 21 km
    11:00
    Phodong Monastery
    temple · 1 h 27 min from Gangtok · about 30 min there
    The early 18th-century Karma Kagyu monastery with old murals.
  3. ↓ 21 min by road · 9 km
    12:30
    Labrang Monastery
    temple · 1 h 43 min from Gangtok · about 30 min there
    About 2 km from Phodong, begun in 1826 and finished in 1843.

Getting there

The road starts at Gangtok; see how to reach Gangtok.

Where to stay

Stay in Gangtok. We have no verified lodging or prices.

Know before you go

  • The road north is among those Wikipedia says landslides often block in the monsoon; ask about it the night before.
  • Dress modestly in the monasteries and ask before photographing people.
  • We have no verified opening hours for any of the three stops; ask locally.

Places on this route

Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
monument · 43 min from Gangtok
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
temple · 1 h 27 min from Gangtok

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Gangtok itineraries →
Two days in Gangtok — the town, Banjhakri Falls and Rumtek Monastery
Two days in Gangtok — the town, Banjhakri Falls and Rumtek Monastery
1 night · 2 days · First visit · Classic
A two-day Gangtok plan: the Do-drul Chorten, the Tibetology museum, the Tsuklakhang and Banjhakri Falls, then Rumtek Monastery, Lingdum and Saramsa Garden.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La from Gangtok — a permit day on the high road
Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La from Gangtok — a permit day on the high road
Day plan · First visit · Road trip
A day on the Nathu La road from Gangtok: Tsomgo Lake at 3,753 m and the border pass, with the permit rule for Indian visitors, road times and the season to go.
Best Apr–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Gangtok →
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
waterfall · 5.3 km away
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
temple · 5.9 km away
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
temple · 6.7 km away
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
temple · 8.1 km away
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
museum · 9.3 km away
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
temple · 9.5 km away
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
temple · 13 km away
Tsomgo Lake (Changu) — the high glacial lake on the Nathu La road
Tsomgo Lake (Changu) — the high glacial lake on the Nathu La road
lake · 15 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The town of Almora spread across a terraced ridge under a blue sky with clouds
Almora
912 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Nainital
925 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
A wide panorama of forested ridges below a long line of snow-capped Himalayan peaks seen from Ranikhet
Ranikhet
934 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
Joshimath's houses spread down a steep mountain slope above a deep valley, with high ridges and blue sky beyond
Joshimath
951 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.

Questions people ask

How far are Phodong and Labrang from Gangtok?

Phodong is about 41 km and 87 minutes by road on our routing, and Labrang is about 48 km and 103 minutes; Wikipedia gives 28 km and 38 km for the straighter distances. Kabi Lungchok lies on the way, about 43 minutes out. Allow a relaxed day, because the road is winding and slides can slow it.

Is this day trip worth it?

It is for visitors who like quiet monasteries. Phodong is a Karma Kagyu monastery of the early 18th century with old murals, and Labrang keeps its original wooden structure by Wikipedia's account. Kabi Lungchok is a short stop at a treaty site. They are less busy than the town sights, and we have no verified opening hours.

When is the best time for this plan?

Spring and autumn, which Wikipedia describes as generally sunny and mild. The monsoon, June to September, brings intense rain, fog and landslides, and the North Sikkim road is among those that can close. Winter is cool, and snow in the town is rare. Check the road the night before you go.