By Lingtam and Aritar Lake – An Offbeat Destination
Lingtam is a remote hamlet on the far eastern border of Sikkim and the region is characterized by mountains, forest and rivers. There is no chaos and no crowd because it is far away from the most visited and common tourist attractions in Sikkim and I must admit that Lingtam is one of the best offbeat destinations in Sikkim. It is the gateway to the old silk route that connected India, Tibet and China. Travel Lingtam and I can assure you that this tourist spot would be one of your best places of interests in India.
We spend two nights in Limtang though we all agreed to visit the place again. We didn’t have much days in our hand and we had to leave because we had a long tour and many more destinations to cover. When we reached Limtang at mid night after all harassment due to the breakdown of the car, it was pitch dark there. We couldn’t see anything except the resort entrance and we all checked in. We stayed in “The Silk Route Resort” – the only property in Limtang. It was really a good resort with deluxe rooms each having a balcony that gives you a perfect scenic view of the beauty all around. We hired all the rooms in first floor because we were rich in number(10fellows). Next day morning, we visited Aritar lake, Kali temple, many other spots which are not named but the nature has given its own identity to the places which were so beautiful and magnificent.
Places of interest in Limtang
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Aritar Lake:
The beautiful lake is a few hours drive from Limtang. We had taken a Mahindra Max which could accommodate 10 pax excluding the driver. The driver was a young fellow, very friendly and he was our guide too. We left for Aritar Lake early in the morning after having our breakfast and spend about 2-3 hours there, enjoyed boating and returned. Aritar lake is a must see in Limtang and one needs to stay a day for it.
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Rishi Khola:
It is a stream of water at a walking distance from our resort. We visited there late at afternoon because we were late from Aritar lake. After coming from Aritar, we had our lunch and then we visited the Rishi Khola. It’s beautiful and we all chatted for long sitting on boulders and took snaps.
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Kali temple:
Its on the way to Aritar. The temple is quite old and maintained by the village people. Our driver was a local boy and he stated the history of the temple, their culture etc. I have already stated that he was a guide cum driver.
The way to the Aritar lake itself is a paradise and you have to stop here and there to take snaps and see the beauty of nature.
Some useful information
Limtang Resort:
“The Silk Route Resort” –
This is the only property in Limtang run by a women from DumDum, Kolkata. The resort has double bedded rooms, one additional person can be accommodated in a double bedded room. Tariff is Rs.1,200 per room per day but on negotiation we got the rooms in Rs.1,000 per day. On further negotiation we were relieved from the additional service charge of 10% on the room tariffs and food. All the rooms are standard with all amenities and nice scenic view from the balcony.
Food is good here. You can get Bengali and Chinese dishes. Average cost of a meal is Rs.150 It is a bit expensive because there is no market around the place and they bring their necessities from the nearest market which is miles away. Average cost of a meal and breakfast is Rs.150 and Rs.60 respectively. There is no need to take the dishes for all because a dish can easily be shared among 2 or 3 persons, they provide much in a plate.
Car rental:
There is no direct transport to Limtang from NJP or Siliguri. One needs to go to Rongli and then take another vehicle to Limtang. I would suggest to take a pick up van from the resort. It’s just a few hundred rupees more but gives you the comfort and relief from the break journey. A pick up van takes Rs.3,000 that would wait for you at the NJP station or Bagdogra airport for your arrival and then takes you directly to Limtang. If you take a pick up van from the resort, you can stop anywhere you like for food, snaps etc. which is not possible in a share jeep. A share jeep from NJP or Siliguri to Rongli and Rongli to Limtang carries local people. You can’t hire a direct car to Limtang. So, I would suggest you to take a pick up van which is arranged by the resort. You can get a Mahindra Max or Sumo which can accommodate ten persons excluding the driver but I would suggest to travel eight to nine persons because the road condition is terrific there.
Aritar car fare:
A Mahindra Max or a Sabari(this car can accommodate more than 12persons) takes Rs.1,000 You can’t hire a taxi or a car by your own because there is no taxi stand or agency. The resort manager would arrange a car on your demand.
Limtan to Gangtok via silk route:
A Mahindra Max or Sumo takes Rs.3,500 from Limtang to Gangtok directly but if you go via Nathula pass, it takes Rs.7,000 including all passes for the border and other expenses.
thanks for this post….. waiting for more useful information….. 🙂
Thanks Prarthana. I will surely update you with more info on the place
hey this is really cool! kudos to you for laying it out for us so well. looking forward to coming across more such well informed stuff. way to go, bud!!
Thanks Pritika for the comment
oh!its really good.Thanks for sharing.:)
Thanks Sayeri
Don’t wait till you retire to travel, do it now!
Thanks Sujit for visiting my blog
Nice post dear
Thanks Babun
I never been to this place but through your write-up I had a nice tour. Good one Abhijit…
I had been there in recent past. The place is just awesome. I didn’t like Aritar so much but the nights we spent in Limtang is just unforgettable.
BDY thanks for sharing the stuff. Liked it.
Thank you Abhijit for the information. I wish to go to Lingtam and travel via silk route. Any idea how would be temperature in may / june, Any breathing problem
at higher altitude ?
Hi Utpol,
Thanks to you for going across the post on TravelDias, hope it served your purpose.
June-July is the rainy season and people prefer not to travel via Silk route because land slides are very frequent and one can get blocked any time. The road is amazing to travel along with the marvelous scenic beauty all around but in rainy season it is really dangerous but thrilling. You can visit the place at the end of the May or in early June before rain comes.
There won’t be any breathing problem except for those who have any health issue. Hope I have answered your queries, let me know if you need any more details. You can like the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TravelDias for more updates on Travel from Travel Dias.
Regards,
Abhijit
Thank you . Abhijit. Sorry could not reply earlier.
Utpol Das
I want to know the temperature of Reshikhola in Aug. Plsss give me an idea.
Hi Rinita,
Thanks for visiting TravelDias.com, hope you have enjoyed your stay here. Temperature would be cold. Suggest you to carry heavy woolen cloths/jackets. Raincoat is must because August is monsoon time. It can rain any time.
BDW I would be in Rishikhola on 15th and 16th.
Regards,
Abhijit
there is wine shop at limtang. What the temp at dec mid.
Yes, there are 2 or 3 wine shops near the hotel at Lingtam. The hotel manager can guide you up to the store. There will be much cold in December. You need heavy cloths.
Thanks for your very useful information.
If you kindly help me to inform me the booking proceedure or if you have silk route resort’s phone number then also it will be great..
Waiting for your help..
Thanks & regards,
Hirak Paul.
Thank you Abhijit for Suggest us a lovely trip. U r advise and suggestion made our trip asowme.
Sir
We are 3 member went to visit silk Route in end of Dec.2015 (26/12/2015) 25/12/2015 i stay at Gangtok.
I want to visit in this route : Changu, Baba Mandir, Menmecho lake, Kupup lake ,Jelp la, Nathang Valley . Over night at nathang Valley
Next day morning sunrise at Egale Nest Bunker point return to Gangtok .
Is it possible this trip , if possible can we return same route.or cover Zuluk
we want individual small car. what is the costing of this trip ? (for 1 night 2 days) 2 adult and one 6 year child ( including Accommodation, fooding & transportation, all sorts of permission & entry fees)
My contact No. 9434250382
Please help me.
One thing I must make clear to you that I am not a travel agent. I can help you will all information and guide you with trip plans and itinerary. Drop me a mail with details like your travel dates, number of night stays and number of persons and also let me know which places you want to visit.
I will revert back with all details. My mail-id is “uvreachedavi@gmail.com”. You can also call me if you want to talk to me.
thank u but provide the contact no of accomodation
I have mailed you. Please check.
Can anyone give me contact number of hotels or home stays in Lingtam? Urgent!!!
Leave me a mail with dates of your travel. I can surely help you out. My mail-id “uvreachedavi@gmail.com”
Hi Abhijit,
Could you please recommend a car which can accommodate 9 people comfortably.
Thanks in advance
Chandan
You can rent a Tata Sumo, Mahindra Max, Tata Sabari for 9 in hills. Bolero will work too.
hi,
I have been following your blogs for sometime and they are great.
I am staying in west sikkim dentam for sometime now, I am planning a trip to gnathang and zuluk from gangtok, can you give me the route of local service jeeps from gangtok to gnathang and zuluk?
Not sure enough about the service jeeps from Gangtok towards Nathang or Zuluk via Silk Route but I have seen service jeeps from the other side. There are very few (say 2-3) service jeeps from Rongli bazar to Zuluk and if one is lucky he can get service jeep upto Kupup. I would suggest you to reserve a car for the trip. Thank you for the appreciation. Stray tuned to TravelDias.
Can u pls tell me the tariff of silk route resort and total expense from lingtam to gantock.thnks.
Need contact numbers of homestays in lingtam as I will travelling with 5 people on 24 rth may, 2017
Also how can I avail the zuluk permit along with nathula
Thank you for reaching out to me. I have mailed you. Please check and revert back. I can surely help you with all details.
I and my wife will go Gangtok on 12 October.can get any.package tour from Gangtok to tour silk route or himself can reach from Gangtok?how?please advice me
Would you please let me know the distance of UPPER LINGTAM from Lingtam?
There is no much difference in Lingtam and Upper Lingtam. It is walk-able distance. There is actually not much difference. Only few houses are there in both along with couple of home stays.