Yumthang & Yumthang Tsachu (hot springs)

The 2nd day trip is to Yumthang 32 kms from Lachung at an altitude of 11,800 ft. Nearby are the hotsprings (Tsachu)


Manpreeth trains his macro lens on the beautiful flowers




Androsace lehmannii

Blac-faced laughing Thrush


forest Guest house built during the colonial days houses a small museum showing photos of Yumthang 100 years back & now. a good comparative perspective

Red-billed Chough



flock of Tebetan Snow Pigeons across the Yumthang river




White-capped Redstart at Yumthang Tsachu (hot springs)

View of the Yumthang river

Could not get enough of the beautiful Primula denticulata


A view of the critically endangered Ibisbill - Yumthang is its breeding ground



whilst enjoying our lunch of tibetan biryani, sandesh & Temi Tea, this was a feast for the eyes a carpet of Primula denticulata across the Yumthang river on the opposite bank



Olive-backed Pipti



Eurasian Treecreeper camoufalged neatly by Lichens


this is no waterfall - it is a zoomed photo of a small stream at Yumthang tsachu

Tibetan Prayerflags

At rest but on alert

Enjoying the snow - Yumesamdong

Today is the last day & we are scheduled to go to Yumesamdong - & into the snow.Our foray is delayed considerably due to excercises by the army & their large convoy of vehicles that are descending. besides there are road blockages on the way. neverrtheless some exciting times in store for us today.


an abandoned yak hut at Yumesamdong

Army vehicles clearing the snow from the road



Rufous-bellied Niltava perched on a Rhododendron Shrub

Rosy Pipit at Yumesamdong


some visitor got creative making this snowman

Adventure at Yumesamdong - Our jeep SUV stuck in the mud is going to be towed out by our 2nd SUV




Lachung to Gangtok

It was time to say goodbye to Lachung & North Sikkim and come down lower altitude to Gangtok. The 6 hour drive from Lachung to Gangtok was as interesting as our earlier drives with some good sightings along the way.

beautiful garnet studded rock

View of mt. Kanchendzhonga- 3rd largest peak in the world

Tree sparrow near a stream

rough garnets (semi-precious stones) lying on the road

Himalayan Jester near the garnets


More of Mt. Kanchendzhonga

Experts pls confirm if this is the Dendrobium amoenum.

State Tree of Sikkim - Dendrobium nobili

buds of Dendrobium nobili


Tree fern

flowers of the cardamom (elaichi) plant

clearing the blocked road - not an unusual experience in the hills during the monsoons

Erythrina indica - Indian coral Tree tree

Good view of Green-backed Tit


Our smiling driver - tsonam Tsangpo with his jeep

Verditer flycatcher
Fight like cats & dogs did you say? nope these folks were the best of friends at our lodge - the picture of peace & interspecies harmony. some lessons for the human race!


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