Tholung Monastery Trek for 9 Days in North Sikkim area.

9 days strenuous hiking at high elevation (max. 2,439 m') and some long drives
5 nights camping, 2 nights’ Guest House.

Best Season to Trek: 20th March to 30th April and 1st October to 30th November.

Tholung Monastery was first built in the reign of Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal in the early 18th century. It contains rare and valuable scriptures and artifacts of other monasteries that were brought here for safety during the invasion of Sikkim by the Nepalese during late 17th and early 19th century. A brass Chorten within the monastery contains the ashes of one of the incarnates of Lama Latsun Chembo, the patron saint of Sikkim. All the relics are kept sealed in thirteen boxes under the supervision of the government of Sikkim. Once every three years in the month of April the relics are shown to the public in the monastery complex. The last display of the relics was held in April 91.

Approaching Tholung
Tholung at an altitude of 8,000 ft lies in the sparsely Lepcha populated Dzongu area of North Sikkim and falls in the restricted area for which a inner line permit is required by Indian Nationals. To reach Tolung, one has to travel by road upto Linzey.  From Linzey to Tolung is a 20-km walk and takes approximately five hours along the thundering Tolung River through dense forests and cardamom groves.

The Trail
Precipitous cliffs surround the easy track, from which plummet down waterfalls in white plumes hundreds of feet below into the narrow gorges to the valley floor. Birds tweet louder to make themselves heard over the sound of the waterfalls and the rivers. Perched precariously on these cliffs here and there are the huts of the hardy Lepchas.

As one walks towards Tholung, the surrounding mountains on the top of which ice clings tenaciously even during the summer seem to close in. on reaching Tolung one can understand why the Sikkimese chose this place to keep the relics here out of the reach of the invading Nepalese. Because of its vantage location it was easy to guard hence this  place was selected for relics. There is a pilgrims hut. An easy walk of about an hour along the Tholung River takes one to a religious spot - Devta Pani.

Trek Itinerary:

DAY 01: Today pick up from Phuntsholing, Bhadrapur Airport, Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Rail Station to Gangtok. Check in at Hotel at Gangtok. Leisure overnight.

DAY 02: Today after breakfast transfer from Gangtok to Lingza. Visit Kabi Lunchok ( The Sight of Brotherhood) on the way to Lingza. Lunch will be served packed on the way.Check in at Tents at Lingza. Overnight in tents.

DAY 03: Lingza to Tholung Gompa (Trek) Lunch at Changey. Night Halt at Tholung in Tent (6 hrs)

DAY 04: Halt at Tholung Monastery. Visit Holy Rock (Devta Dhunga). Over Night in a Tent. (3 hrs)

DAY 05: Trek to Upper Tholung. Night Halt (6 hrs) (Upper Tholung to Kishong. Kishong Halt (8 hrs)

DAY 06: Upper Tholung to Changey (4 hrs)

DAY 07: Changey to Lingza( 4 hrs) Overnight at Lingza.

DAY 08: Today after breakfast transfer from Lingza to Gangtok. Then in the afternoon free at Leisure at Gangtok.

Day 9: Today transfer from Gangtok to Phuntsholing, Bhadrapur Airport, New Jalpaiguri Rail Station or Bagdogra Airport for your flight back home with wonderful memories of your Trek.

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