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Yuksom

Yuksom

village · Sikkim

State
Sikkim
Type
Village
Best season
Summer
Things to do
2+

Yuksom is a historical village in West Sikkim, the first capital of the old Sikkimese kingdom and the trailhead for the famed Goecha La and Dzongri treks toward Kanchenjunga. An emerging eco-conscious, slow-travel destination, it draws trekkers and offbeat travellers with its forests, monasteries and calm. Surrounded by the Kanchenjunga National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Yuksom has old monasteries, sacred lakes, homestays and forest on every side. Its blend of Buddhist heritage, Himalayan trekking and unspoiled nature makes it a favourite for conscious, adventurous young travellers.

When to go

March to May and October to November are best for trekking and clear views. Winters are cold; monsoon is wet and slippery.

Why visit

Yuksom was Sikkim's first capital — the 1642 coronation stone is still standing in the grove — and Dubdi above it is the oldest monastery in the state. It is also where the Goecha La trek starts, so half the village is a trekking outfit.

Cultural notes

Yuksom was the first capital of Sikkim, where the first Chogyal was consecrated in 1642. It holds important monasteries like Dubdi and the sacred Kathok Lake, central to Sikkimese Buddhist heritage.

How to reach

Nearest airport: Pakyong/Bagdogra. Nearest rail: New Jalpaiguri. Shared jeeps run from Gangtok and Pelling to Yuksom; an Inner Line Permit may be needed for some areas.

Yuksom in 3 days

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3 days in Yuksom

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Day 1

Day 1

Norbugang coronation throne

Norbugang coronation throne

Day 1

Dubdi — Sikkim's oldest monastery hike

Dubdi — Sikkim's oldest monastery hike

Day 1

Kathok lake & prayer wheels

Kathok lake & prayer wheels

Khecheopalri LakeDay 2

Day 2

Khecheopalri Lake

The surface stays clear of leaves, and the local account is that birds lift each one off as it drops. Sit a while and see whether it holds. Buddhists and Hindus both treat the water as sacred and wish-fulfilling. Its older name, Kha-Chot-Palri, means the heaven of Padmasambhava; the local one, Sho Dzo Sho, means Oh Lady, Sit Here. The lake lies within the sacred Khechoedpaldri hill and belongs to the pilgrimage circuit running through Yuksom, Dubdi, Pemayangtse, the Rabdentse ruins, Sanga Choeling and Tashiding. Walk it as part of that rather than driving the 147 kilometres out from Gangtok for the lake alone.

Day 2

Forest birdlife

Forest birdlife

Day 2

Village homestay dinner

Village homestay dinner

Tashiding MonasteryDay 3

Day 3

Tashiding Monastery

Sikkimese Buddhists call this the heart of Denzong and hold it to be the holiest monastery in the state, a Nyingma gompa on a hilltop between the Rathong chu and the Rangeet. Guru Padmasambhava is said to have consecrated the land with water from a sacred vase, later concealed here as hidden treasure. That is what the Bumchu festival turns on, held on the fourteenth and fifteenth of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, usually February or March, and believed to predict the year ahead for Sikkim. Non-Buddhists are welcome at it. Come then, or come for the quiet.

Day 3

Chortens & mani walls

Chortens & mani walls

Day 3

Rathong river valley views

Rathong river valley views

Yuksom guide & itineraries

Yuksom is perfect for

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Popular attractions

The places in Yuksom most people come for.

Dubdi Monastery

Dubdi Monastery

Attraction

Goecha La Trailhead

Goecha La Trailhead

Experience

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