Yumthang Valley, commonly renowned as the Sikkim Valley of flowers sanctuary, is the most sought-after tourist destination packed with nature’s bounty in Sikkim, the north-eastern state of India.
It is an amazing sanctuary with a pristine river, amazing hot springs, yaks, and series of rolling meadows covered with grazing pastures nicely encompassed by the majestic Himalayas.
Tourists from far off places often visit here to spend quality time in neat and serene environments with their loved ones, far from hectic and cluttered life, to rejuvenate and recharge their body, mind, and soul besides giving a pleasing delight to their eyes and revive their other senses.
Where is it located?
The Yumthang Valley is located at an elevation of 11,693 ft in the North Sikkim, India. It is about 150 km from the Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Why is it known as the Valley of Flowers?
The Yumthang Valley is the home of twenty-four species of the beautiful Shingba rhododendron flower, the state flower of Sikkim. From late February to mid-June, the sanctuary is nothing short of a paradise with countless scented flowers blooming to carpet the valley in their unique colours with distinct patterns transforming the valley into the multi-coloured hues of a rainbow.
Adding to its aura is the tributary of the river Teesta that flows majestically past the valley through Lachung, the nearest inhabited centre to the sanctuary.
It also has several hot springs that lures tourists to spend hours in their vicinity while enjoying the warmth of the water and dwelling deep in nature when it is at it’s best.
Besides rhododendron, there are several other beautiful flowers like primulas, poppies, iris along with other thousands of different flora that contribute a lot in making this valley the most awesome in the entire world.
The drive through the valley throws thousands of spectacular views worth capturing for a lifetime reminiscence with a silent blue chilled river flowing through the centre surrounded by green meadows with snow-capped mountains embracing it in its fold.
All this put together provides the Yumthang valley the best environment to flower rhododendron and turn it to a heavenly abode.
What is the best time to visit the Yumthang Valley?
From late February to mid-June, the sanctuary is covered with a huge mask of mesmerizing beautiful colourful flowers with a pleasant climate and a serene environment in surroundings amid green meadows and mountains.
And, it is the best time to be here to get lost in nature with spouse, friends, family or even solo. Indian Travel Store offers several North-East Tourist Packages to meet all needs and to accommodate all desires.
How to reach there?
The Yumthang Valley is easily approachable from Gangtok. One can take a cab or a taxi to reach Lachuang, which is the nearest inhabited village with nice accommodation facilities. From Lachuang, the valley is about 125 km and can be reached within two hours.
Reaching directly to Yumthang Valley from Gangtok is not feasible, as it darks early around 5:30 pm and is not workable to be there in late evenings.
Gangtok is well connected with Air, Rail, and Road network. One can easily reach Gangtok and can take a taxi to reach Lachuang, from where it is nearly a two-hour drive to Yumthang Valley.
By Air – Bagdogra, West Bengal, about 124 km, is the nearest airport to Gangtok. One can conveniently take a taxi or a cab to reach there from the airport. The onward journey from the airport is stunningly exciting with Teesta River flowing between the gorgeous mountains presents mesmerizing fascinating views one can’t resist but clicks.
One can also take a TSA helicopter from the airport to Gangtok, which hardly takes twenty minutes to be there, subject to feasible weather conditions and a number of bookings in hand.
By Train – New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri is the nearest railway station to Gangtok, about 148 km from there. The railhead is well connected to the Indian Railways network, and one can easily reach here from across the PAN India.
From the railway station, it takes 3 hours to reach Gangtok by taxi or a cab and about 5-6 hours by state-run buses.
By Road – One can conveniently drive to Gangtok from nearby locations as Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kolkotta besides taking a taxi or hiring a state-run-bus. The roads are motorable except at few locations, where there are potholes and a bad stretch.
What are the precautions to be taken while planning to be there?
There are limited options of food available near the valley and on the route. Therefore, one should go prepared with their own arrangements without depending much on there.
Secondly, it gets dark by 5:30 pm, and it will not be advisable to be there in dead isolation amid wild animals. So, one should depart from the sanctuary in time to reach Lachuang before getting dark.
Conclusion: Sikkim is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of North-East India with unscathed surroundings and nature at its best, with thousands of tourists flocking here from around the world to dwell deep in nature and soak the amazing colourful vistas of surroundings in Yumthang Valley. It is one of a must to visit destination for the nature lovers and the escapades who enjoys spending time far from the noisy and cluttered urban world.
Source: https://friendswebdesigner.com/yumthang-valley-the-sikkim-valley-of-flowers-sanctuary
