HimLocal
Sign in
HimLocal
A cone-shaped stone pillar standing in a clearing of tall trees with a paved ring of stones around it at Kabi Lungchok
1 / 2
Photo: Biswas Dibyendu · CC BY 4.0
monument43 min from Gangtok

Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood

Kabi Lungchok, a historic site on the North Sikkim road near Gangtok where a Lepcha chief and a Bhutia leader swore a blood brotherhood: the story and stones.

What it is

Kabi Lungchok, also written Kabi Longstok, is a historic site on the North Sikkim road, about 17 km north of Gangtok by Wikipedia's figure. By the traditional account, it is where the Bhutia leader Khye Bumsa and the Lepcha chief Thekong Tek swore a treaty of blood brotherhood, joining the two peoples.

Photos: walter callens (CC BY 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The story

The Bhutias came to Sikkim from Tibet from the 14th century on, and the Lepchas are described by Wikipedia as the older community. The treaty was sworn with a ceremony, and stone pillars were raised to mark the place. The name Kabi Lungchok is read as "the stone erected by our blood". Wikipedia notes that other accounts describe a third party, the Limbu, so the traditions differ in detail.

What you see

A grove with stone pillars, ceremonial scarves tied round the stones, and statues of the two blood-brothers at human scale. It is a short stop, not a half-day site.

Getting there

It lies on the North Sikkim road, north of Gangtok and before Phodong; see the quick facts for the measured road time. We have no verified opening hours or entry rules.

Combine it with

The North Sikkim road day stops here on the way to Phodong and Labrang. Read things to do in Gangtok and how to reach Gangtok.

Plans that include this

All 1 plans that stop here →
The white, red and gold front of Phodong Monastery with a blue-roofed upper hall, steps and a paved forecourt
North Sikkim road day from Gangtok — Kabi Lungchok, Phodong and Labrang
Day plan · culture · Temples & heritage
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.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of 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 · 3.0 km away
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

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The town of Almora spread across a terraced ridge under a blue sky with clouds
Almora
909 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Nainital
922 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
930 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
947 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.

Questions people ask

What is Kabi Lungchok?

A historic site on the North Sikkim road, about 17 km north of Gangtok by Wikipedia's figure. By the traditional account the Bhutia king Khye Bumsa and the Lepcha chief Thekong Tek swore a treaty of blood brotherhood here, and stone pillars mark the place. The name is read as the stone erected by our blood.

Who signed the treaty at Kabi Lungchok?

Wikipedia says the Bhutia migrants from Tibet were represented by Khye Bumsa and the Lepchas by Thekong Tek, and that other sources describe three communities, Lepcha, Limbu and Bhutia, as parties. Details are told differently by different accounts, so treat the story as a tradition rather than a single dated record.

What is there to see at Kabi Lungchok?

Wikipedia mentions stone pillars at the spot and figures of the Lepcha chief and the Bhutia leader, made at human size. It is a quiet grove rather than a monument with a long visit, so it suits a short stop on the way to Phodong and Labrang. We have no verified opening hours or entry rules.