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Destinations Covered : Yuksom , Tshoka , Dzongri , Lamuney.
When one thinks of the Himalayas and the mountains in India, the two states which come to the mind are Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. Both these states have numerous known and rather queer places of interest which has interested and brought many an adventure lovers , travelers and explorers there. However if you would like to have a whole new perspective of witnessing the diverse ecosystem which is the Himalayan mountain range, the state of Sikkim also has a lot of interesting places where one can head to . Goecha La is one such mountain passes, which is not frequently mentioned in the tourist stories, and is hence a very unique expedition to head to on.
Goechala is a mountain pass which is situated very high up in the Himalayas, in the north eastern Indian state of Sikkim. The place is absolutely spectacular when it comes to witnessing the beauties of towering mountains laden with snow and ice, and promises to offer a very serene and fulfilling experience to trekkers and casual visitors alike. Though it’s natural beauty and the surrounding landscape is one of the reasons why the Goechala attracts attention and crowds of trekkers each year; the real reason for it’s popularity is its close proximity to the third largest mountain peak on this Earth – Mount Kanchenjunga.
The mountain pass has such a beautiful location in the mighty Himalayan range, which is effectively serves as a keyhole to those who want to gaze at Mount Kanchenjunga. The juggernaut peak’s south-eastern face is in very close and viewable proximity to the Goechala pass and it is hence frequented by many visitors in the region every year. For trekkers with avid experience and with plans to scale the heights of Kanchenjunga, the mountain pass would be the base camp where their uphill ascend would commence from.
ITINERARY
Day 1 :- NJP to Yuksom(5,800ft).
Day 2 :- Yuksom (5,800 feet) to Sachen (7,200 feet).4 hours.
Day 3 :- Sachen (7,200 feet) – Tshoka (9,650 feet). 4 hours
Day 4 :- Tshoka(9,650 feet)- Dzongri(12,980 feet) via Phedang(12,050 feet). 5-6 hours
Day 5 :- Trek from Dzongri (12,980 ft) – Dzongri Top (13,675 ft) (1 hr) and back to Dzongri and then to Thansing (12,930 ft) via Kokchurang (12,100 ft) (5-6 hrs)
Day 6 :- Trek from Thansing (12,930 ft) – Lamuney (13,700 ft) (2 hrs)
Day 7 :- Lamuney(13,693ft) to Goechala(16,000ft) and back to Kockchurang.10 hours.
Day 8 :- kokchurang to Tshoka via Phedang. 6-7 hours.
Day 9 :- Tshoka to Yuksom via Bhakim and Sachen. 6 hours.
Day 10 :- Drive back to NJP.
Day 1 : New Jalpaiguri railway station to Yuksom
New Jalpaiguri Railway Station(NJP) is located in the Jalpaiguri District which is considered to be the Gateway to the Northeast. All major cities and towns are connected to NJP via the Indian Railways. The closet airport is Bagdogra Airport which is about 16km from NJP. From NJP we take a taxi to Yuksom in Sikkim. This journey will take us approximately 6 hrs. Yuksom is a beautiful town in West Sikkim which was once the capital of Sikkim. Overnight stay in Yuksom
Day 2 : Yuksom(5800 feet) to Sachen (7250feet). 4 hours
This is the first day of the trek. After walking across open fields we enter the beautiful valley of the Rathong river. En route appreciate ancient Oak, Conifer and Bamboo forests and the luxuriant ferns and delicate orchids that line the trail . Yuksom (1760m) marks the entrance to the Kangchenjunga National Park. Just after leaving the village you can see Baktim on a ridge high above the confluence of the Rathong and Prek Rivers, which will give you an idea of how to pace yourself for the day. Sachen is located at about 7200 feet above sea level. At Sachen we will find a lot of Log huts were we will spend the night.
Day 3 :- Sachen (7,200 feet) – Tshoka (9,650 feet). 3 ½ – 4 hours
The trek from Sachen to Tshoka involves quite considerable attitude gain. We continue walking until we reach the bridge over the river,Perk. Prayer flags in the distance are an indication of the start of the Goechala trail. We trek through Oak and later Rhododendron forests. On the way we pass through Bakhim. Bakhim has a forest rest house and a tea and snack stall. We can stop and rest for a while and enjoy the view of the Yuksom Valley. From Bakhim, Tshoka, is about an hour. From a distance you will see a trekkers hut on a plateau.This is Tshoka. Overnight stay in Tshoka.
Day 4 :- Tshoka(9,650 feet)- Dzongri(12,980 feet) via Phedang(12,050 feet). 5-6 hours
On the fourth day we have a steep climb. You will be surrounded by Rhododendron forests all around. After about half an hour in to the trek the trail changes to a well laid out path with wooden logs. In some time we reach Phedang. At 12,000 feet and a source of water nearly Phedang is a perfect place to stop for lunch. We then continue for Dzongri. Through this leg of the trek you will be reaching over 13,000 feet, so headaches are not uncommon due to the thin air. In about 6 -7hrs we reach Dzongri. Overnight stay at Dzongri.
Day 5: Trek from Dzongri (12,980 ft) – Dzongri Top (13,675 ft) (1 hr) and back to Dzongri and then to Thansing (12,930 ft) via Kokchurang (12,100 ft) (5-6 hrs)
We start a steep ascend to Dzongri top early in the morning, which will take us about an hour. From where we will get a 180 degree panoramic view of the Kanchenjunga range. If we start early at 4 am we can reach the top just in time for the sunrise. Experience how the golden rays of the sun interact with this magnificent mountain range. After enjoying this spectacular view we retrace our steps to Dzongri. Have our Breakfast and then we start our trek for Thansing. We descend from Dzongri to Kokchurang and then climb to Thansing. The trail from Dzongri descends through the Rhododendron shrubs to grass fields.
Day 6: Trek from Thansing (12,930 ft) – Lamuney (13,700 ft) (2 hrs)
Today is the smallest day of the Goechala trek which takes around 2 hrs to reach Lamuney. The trek passes through the alpine meadow of rhododendrons and juniper. Because of some religious region camping is not allowed after this. Lamuney is a open and windy area. Overnight at Lamuney.
Day 7 :- Lamuney(13,693ft) to Goechala(16,000ft) and back to Kockchurang.10-12 hours.
The trek to the rarefied climes of the Goecha La is rewarded with unrivaled views of the massive East Ridge of Kangchenjunga high above the Talung Glacier as well as views of the high ridges and peaks that enclose the upper Prek Valley. Looking north there is a vast mountain region yet to explore, but for now the Goecha La is as far as you are permitted to go. The pass is often shrouded in mist and cloud not long after sunrise, so an early start is necessary. The trail heads along the far side of the lake and through moraine before crossing a sandy section alongside the Onglakhing Glacier. From here, you can see the pass at the head of the valley. However, the trek through the lateral moraine is tiring – more so if there has been a recent snowfall.The Goecha La is marked with fluttering, colourful prayer flags, framing the peak of Kangchenjunga.
Lead the same trek towards Lamuney and then move forwards to reach the destination for the day- Kockchurang. You can choose to set up your tent near the bank of the river or you can also reside in the trekkers hut.
Day 8: Kokchurang to Tshoka via Phedang. 6-7 hours
Day 9: Tshoka to Yuksom via Bhakim and Sachen. 6 hours.
Day10 . Back to NJP
Things to carry
