Tsomgo (Changu) Lake

Where

East Sikkim, on the Gangtok–Nathu La road

Altitude

3,753 m (12,313 ft)

Distance

About 40 km from Gangtok, 1.5–2 hours each way

Timings

Open all week; the district lists about 10am–4pm

Entry fee

Permit about ₹200 per person; yak rides and cable car extra

Permit

Protected Area Permit via a registered operator, a day ahead. Foreigners need the RAP and a group of two or more

Best time

January–April for snow and ice, October–November for clear skies

Time needed

Half a day, or a full day with Nathu La

Tsomgo and Changu are the same lake. Tsomgo is the Bhutia name, from tso (lake) and mgo (head), and Changu is the Nepali one. It lies in a glacial bowl at 3,753 m (12,313 ft), 40 km from Gangtok on the road to Nathu La, and for many visitors it is their first sight of snow in Sikkim.

The lake in numbers

• Size: an oval about 836 m long and 427 m wide, with a surface of about 24.5 hectares.
• Depth: up to about 15 m, averaging under 5 m.
• Frozen: in winter, sometimes into April or May.
• Border: the Chinese border is only about 5 km away in a straight line, 18 km by road.

Why it is sacred

Local Sikkimese hold the lake in deep reverence. Monks once read the future from the changing colours of the water. On Guru Purnima, which falls with Raksha Bandhan, Sikkim's jhakris (traditional healers) gather at the lake from across the state to pray.

What to do at the lake

• Walk the shore path and watch the colour shift with the light.
• Yak rides. Short rides around the market and bridge are the norm. Agree the price before you get on.
• The cable car, when it runs, lifts you above the lake for the view. It was reported out of service in early 2026, so ask your driver.
• Snow play from about January to April, with boots and coats hired at the shops before the lake.
• Carry on to Nathu La (Indians only, Wednesday to Sunday) and Baba Mandir. See our Nathu La guide.

Prices at the lake (2026 reports)

How to reach Tsomgo Lake

Only Sikkim-registered vehicles listed on the permit can make the drive, so plan a Gangtok car. The road climbs past the Kyongnosla waterfall, a good place for a short stop to adjust to the height.

Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing. Drive times are what we see on these mountain roads, not map estimates.

Permit and open days

• Open every day. Unlike Nathu La, Tsomgo has no weekly closed day; the Gangtok district lists it as open throughout the week.
• Permit: filed in Gangtok by a registered operator, usually the day before, with photo ID and two passport photos.
• Foreign nationals can visit Tsomgo with the Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, in a group of at least two, through an operator. They cannot continue to Nathu La.
• Snow closures: permits are cancelled after heavy snowfall, as in December 2022. Keep a spare day.

More in our Sikkim permit guide.

When to go: snow, ice and weather

The ten-year record below shows why the lake is often frozen in February and March: highs hover near freezing and March brings the most snow. By June the snow is gone and the monsoon takes over.

Monthly averages for 2015–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the site's elevation (about 3751 m). Rain and snow are rated relative to this location's own year.

• Want snow? January to April. March is the snowiest month on average.
• Want blue water? May and October to November, when the ice has gone and the sky is clear.
• Is there snow in May or June? Usually only on the higher slopes, not at the shore.

Things most guides don't tell you

• Go early. The road is busiest late morning, and cloud often rolls in after noon.
• The altitude is real. At 12,300 ft, walk slowly and avoid alcohol the night before. Spend at least one night in Gangtok before you go up.
• Is it safe for kids? Children who are well usually manage a short visit; keep infants and anyone with heart or lung conditions in Gangtok.
• No ATMs. Carry cash for rides and food.
• The lake and the pass are different trips. If Nathu La is closed (Monday and Tuesday), you can still do Tsomgo and Baba Mandir.

Nearby

• Nathu La Pass, 18 km further up.
• Rumtek Monastery for a lower-altitude day.
• Things to do in Gangtok.