Things to do in Yuksom | Yuksom sightseeing

This Blog Adventurous Things to do in Yuksom consists of my visit to West Sikkim for the first time. According to me, this is one of the best places I have visited in Yuksom sightseeing, so amazing yet so unique. Yuksom is a town in West Sikkim, it was the first capital of Sikkim in the 17th Century.

I encountered many picturesque and historical places in my Yuksom tour about which I am going to elaborate on this blog. It not only forms an important base point for the famous Goechala trek. It also has a rich historical background. 

We reached Yuksom and checked into The Hotel Red Palace. It is situated specifically 1 km uphill inside the pine forests of Yuksom bazaar. It is still one of the best hotels in this hill area offering some out of this world views of the Himalayas. Moreover, the hotel offers rooms starting from Rs 1600 which are wooden and spacious indeed, each having a wide-angle view of the West Sikkim valley.

Chenrezig statue of the skywalk in Pelling. However, this statue and the Mount Kabru peak of the Himalayas is also visible from the hotel. Undoubtedly this is the best hotel to stay in on your Yuksom tour, in terms of its location and the scenic views that it offers.

How to reach Yuksom and do adventurous things in yuksom

Nearest railway station and airport in Siliguri. A cab would take 5 hours to reach Yuksom. 

Best hotel to stay-  Hotel red palace near Yuksom bazaar. 

 

1. Norbugang Coronation throne- History revisited in adventurous things to do in yuksom

Our Yuksom sightseeing started with the Norbugang coronation throne. The spot was previously a trekking route but now the spot is motorable through a cobbled road. The tourist spot has an adjacent monastery which has a huge Buddhist statue overlooking the Yuksom valley.

The coronation throne is more like a park. It has a rich history in the 17th century when Yuksom was the capital of the Sikkimese king. Here the king Lhatsen Chempo was coronated by three lamas earlier. Whereas, it was believed that when the king received the gifts from all the people of the area.

These were buried in the chortens that were built with woods and stones collected from all parts of Sikkim. The throne however known as Norbugang is situated below a large pine tree. It is certainly believed to be more than three hundred years old. The coronation throne which was built with stones is whitewashed now. It is still decorated with numerous prayer flags all around. 

 

2. Kathok Lake:- scenic part of things to do in Yuksom

Adjacent to this holy park there is a lake called Kathok significant for Buddhism. These are specifically practiced by the lamas living in the area. The sanctity of the lake can be understood by the numerous prayer flags. However, it fits in with the pristine green grassland and the surrounding mountains in the vicinity of the lake.

Surprisingly I could see the colored orange fishes inside the lake that thrive on the algae and organic plants on the lake. The lake can be reached by a meagre 50 meters walking through a rough terrain of rocks and roots. Apparently, this little effort could lead us to a wonderful location of utmost natural beauty in this part of West Sikkim. 

3. Dubdi Monastery- the oldest monastery of west Sikkim and one of the most adventurous trek to do in yuksom 

A half an hour drive in the direction of the helipad of Yuksom will lead us to the oldest monastery of Sikkim. It is called The Dubdi monastery. This monastery is an essential part of Yuksom sightseeing and your trip will be incomplete without visiting it..The road to the Dubdi monastery from Yuksom is extremely rough and patchy through dense forests.

Therefore, from the motorable road, one has to trek uphill for 400 meters to reach this ancient monastery. The trek is through dense jungle. Additionally, it is extremely steep, be careful to hold your breath. Keep your time to reach your final destination. The monastery is situated in a completely isolated place. Most of the tourists come here to spend their time in solitude.

The monastery in the local language means the retreat. The first king of Sikkim in 1701 was established it. Moreover, the monastery has beautiful architecture that contains ancient manuscripts and the three statues of the lamas. They established Yuksom as the first capital of Sikkim in the 17th century. The monastery is situated inside a deep forest relevant to its historical importance. It provides astounding views of the Himalayas in the background. 

4. Phamrong Waterfall:- An adventurous trek in things to do in Yuksom

 

Phamrong waterfalls was the last destination in our Yuksom  sightseeing . This waterfall is situated deep into the forests around 7 km from Yuksom on the highway towards Tashiding. This is the highest waterfall of Sikkim and the splendid view of the gushing waterfall flowing down from the Himalayas can be captured from a bridge just on the front of the waterfall, adorned with prayer flags.

Travelers who are seeking to get a closer view of the waterfall need to trek for around 200 steps after which there is a viewpoint. The damaged steps make the trek a bit scary. One has to cross some precarious terrain of rocks and boulders.

The pathway is through dense jungle. After some 15 minutes of hard work, eventually one gets the delightful opportunity to spend some priceless moments with the alluring scenery of the mighty waterfall. Meanwhile, one gets to capture the waterfall in their photo frame from different angles and admire the greenery of the surrounding Himalayas. Our Yuksom sightseeing ended with visiting this beautiful waterfalls,

 

Kanchendzonga national park

After my short stay in West Sikkim, I finally returned back through the same route via Jorethang to Siliguri taking back beautiful memories of the most religious circuit of Sikkim.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ):-

What is the distance between Yuksom to gangtok?

Yuksom to Gangtok is about 162 km and 6 hours in car.

Which lake is known as Yuksom lake?

Kathok lake is known as Yuksom lake

How is Yuksom weather?

Yuksom is sold and sometimes there is snowfall also in the winters.

Name some Yuksom hotels?

Red palace hotel is the best among all the Yuksom hotels.

What are some yuksom sightseeing places?

Norbugang coronation throne,Dudbi monastery,kathok lake,goechala trek are some yuksom sightseeing places.

What is the distance between yuksom to pelling?

Yuksom to pelling is around 48 kms and consists of beautiful places like khecheopalri lake,kanchendzonga waterfall,rimbi orange garden and rimbi waterfalls on the way.

Hope you enjoyed reading the blog- West Sikkim- Adventurous Things to do in Yuksom. Do visit West Sikkim and experience the marvelous place yourself.