Accomodation in Lachung (North Sikkim): What Does Basic Mean?

Sunrise at Lachung (North Sikkim)

We visited Sikkim in December 2006. Sikkim is a small state and we managed to see a bit of East, West and North Sikkim. Lachung is in North Sikkim and it is a small and beautiful place. Usually, it is the night halt for going to Yumthang Valley. I remember when we were booking our trip to Yumthang Valley, the lady at the counter said, "Lachung mein utne facilities nahin hain, bahut basic hai" (Lachung accommodations are very basic and lack facilities.) Puzzled, I asked what do you mean by facilities, she said it has no TV, etc. And I was grinning to myself, I anyway don't want TV, feels like my kind of a place.

Now a few days back, I got a query from an Indiamike member, asking about Lachung accommodation and food and was it very basic? That is how I thought of doing this post.

Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the room where I stayed at Lachung. Sure, it was not a fancy room but it was quite clean and without carpet. I prefer budget hotel rooms in India without carpets. The carpets (in budget hotels) are usually quite dirty and contribute to a very gloomy atmosphere within the room. Hot water was only available in a bucket but that is OK with me. And there was no TV.

The food in fact was quite good, more like home cooked meal, always served hot. And the stuff that they cook in Lachung travels with you from Gangtok. So, it is quite common to make room for eggs, vegetables and a few chickens on the roof of the shared jeep!