Aritar travel guide: Lampokhari lake and the Silk Route gateway

Aritar is a quiet hill getaway in Pakyong district, East Sikkim, built around Lampokhari Lake and a scatter of pine ridges, old colonial buildings and a lakeside monastery. It sits in the Rongli sub-division, about 67 km east of Gangtok, and it doubles as the lower gateway to the old Silk Route circuit that climbs on to Zuluk. This guide covers the lake, the history, how to reach Aritar, the season to pick, and the permits you need beyond it.

Aritar is a hill station in Pakyong district, East Sikkim, set at roughly 1,400–1,500 m. It is known for Lampokhari (Aritar) Lake, a lakeside Kagyu monastery, an 1895 colonial dak bungalow and the Mankhim viewpoint. It is about a three-hour drive from Gangtok.

About Aritar: quick facts

Aritar is a small hill station in Pakyong district, in the Rongli sub-division of East Sikkim, sitting at roughly 1,400–1,500 m on Sikkim’s eastern border. According to Wikipedia, it is about 67 km from Gangtok, 52 km from Kalimpong, 40 km from Pakyong town and 30 km from Rangpo, the road entry point from West Bengal.

The appeal is modest and specific: a calm lake ringed by pine and cypress, a historic monastery and dak bungalow, a short climb to a ridge-top temple with mountain views, and easy onward access to the Silk Route. It suits travellers who want a slow two-day stop rather than a packed sightseeing list.

On a clear morning the Kanchenjunga range shows on the horizon. Aritar is also called Aritar/Lampokhari after the lake, and should not be confused with the village of Rongli lower down the same valley.

Best time to visit Aritar

The best time to visit Aritar is March to May and October to December, when hill roads are stable and the air is clear enough for mountain views. Spring brings rhododendron and magnolia colour on the surrounding ridges; the post-monsoon autumn gives the cleanest long-range views toward Kanchenjunga.

Avoid the June–September monsoon if you can. Rain loosens the slopes along the Rangpo–Rhenock–Rongli road, and landslides can close or delay the route. Winter nights are cold at this altitude, so carry layers from late November onward.

How to reach Aritar

You reach Aritar by road, driving in through Rangpo, Rhenock and Rongli; the drive from Gangtok is about 67 km and takes roughly three hours, while Siliguri is about five hours away, according to Outlook Traveller and Wikipedia. There is no railway or airstrip at Aritar itself, so the last leg is always a shared or reserved vehicle.

For flights, Bagdogra Airport (IXB) near Siliguri in West Bengal is the dependable choice; it is about 124 km and roughly four hours from Gangtok. Sikkim’s own Pakyong Airport (PYG) sits closer, about 30 km from Gangtok, but commercial flights there were thin and weather-dependent as of October 2026, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan. Confirm the current schedule with the airline before you book.

By train, New Jalpaiguri (NJP) near Siliguri is the nearest major railhead. From NJP or Bagdogra you can hire a taxi or join a shared jeep toward Rongli and Aritar. If you plan to continue to the Silk Route, arrange a vehicle and driver who knows the permit routine.

Lampokhari Lake, boating and the gumpa

Lampokhari (Aritar) Lake is the centre of a visit, described by Wikipedia as one of the oldest natural lakes in Sikkim and the state’s only boat-ready lake. It sits at about 4,600 ft, with a walking path, prayer flags and a lakeside shelter, and was modified by the authorities to allow paddle boating.

Boating is the main draw. Pedal and row boats run on the lake through the main season; travel listings cite a boating charge of around ₹100 per person, with a small lake entry fee, though these are indicative planning estimates, not official rates, and should be reconfirmed on arrival (see permits and rules). The lake is shallow and calm, so it suits families and children.

Above the water stands Aritar Gumpa, a monastery of the Karma Kagyu order that Wikipedia describes as among the oldest and holiest in Sikkim, with traditional carved and painted woodwork, murals, manuscripts and icons. Visit respectfully, remove shoes before entering the prayer hall, and ask before photographing the interior.

The Aritar dak bungalow and Mankhim view

Aritar’s standout heritage building is the old dak bungalow, locally called Ari-Bangla, which Wikipedia records was built in 1895 by Sir James Claude White, the first British political officer of Sikkim. The same premises, it notes, later held Sikkim’s first treasury, and the Sikkim Police traces its first outpost here to 1897.

The bungalow sits a short way below the lake amid pine and is still used for stays. Its timber verandah and colonial-era proportions make it a quiet stop for anyone interested in the region’s administrative history rather than just its scenery.

A short climb from the lake area leads toward Mankhim, a ridge-top temple of the Rai (Kirati) community that Wikipedia places at about 6,500 ft in Maity Village (Kheselakha). Outlook Traveller describes the short trek to Mankhim Dara as rewarding a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and, on clear days, the snow line. Go early, before cloud builds over the ridges.

Gateway to the old Silk Route

Aritar is the lower gateway to the old Silk Route, the historic trade track that ran from Kalimpong through Pedong and Aritar up to Zuluk and over the Jelep La pass into Tibet’s Chumbi valley. Most Silk Route itineraries use Aritar or nearby Sillery Gaon as the first night’s halt before the climb to Zuluk.

Zuluk (also spelt Dzuluk) sits at roughly 10,000 ft and is famous for a road of tight hairpin bends. It lies in a restricted border zone, so it needs a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Indian visitors, not just the simpler lake entry at Aritar. Foreign nationals face tighter restrictions on this stretch; check current rules before planning.

Because the Silk Route climbs high and fast, build Aritar in as an acclimatisation and planning night. Arrange your Zuluk permit and vehicle here or in Gangtok, and read our wider Sikkim travel guide for how the eastern circuits connect.

Things to see and do

The main things to do in Aritar are boating on Lampokhari Lake, visiting the lakeside gumpa and dak bungalow, and walking up to the Mankhim viewpoint. It is a compact cluster, so most of it fits into a relaxed day and a half without rushing.

• Boat or walk the loop around Lampokhari Lake, early for still water and reflections.
• Step into Aritar Gumpa for the Kagyu woodwork and quiet prayer hall.
• Walk to the Ari-Bangla dak bungalow for the 1895 colonial history.
• Trek up to Mankhim Dara for the ridge-top view and Rai temple.
• Drive down to Reshikhola on the Sikkim–Bengal border for a riverside afternoon.

Suggested two-day itinerary

Two days is enough for Aritar on its own, or you can use it as the first leg of a four- to five-day Silk Route trip. Here is a simple plan that keeps the pace slow.

• Day 1: Drive in from Gangtok or Bagdogra via Rangpo, Rhenock and Rongli. Settle into a homestay, walk the lake loop in the late afternoon and visit the gumpa at golden hour.
• Day 2: Early boating on Lampokhari, then the trek up to Mankhim Dara for the view. Visit the dak bungalow, drive down to Reshikhola for lunch by the river, and return.
• Extend: From Day 2, carry your Protected Area Permit and continue to Zuluk and Gnathang on the Silk Route for two more nights.

Where to stay

Most stays in Aritar are family-run homestays and small guesthouses around the lake and in nearby Rhenock, rather than large hotels. This keeps costs low and gives you home-cooked food, but it means booking ahead in peak season (March–May and October–December) when Silk Route traffic fills rooms.

• Budget homestays: roughly ₹1,000–₹1,800 per room per night, often with meals; basic, clean and friendly. Indicative, as of October 2026.
• Mid-range guesthouses: roughly ₹2,000–₹3,500 per night for more comfort and attached bathrooms. Indicative, as of October 2026.
• Heritage option: the old Ari-Bangla dak bungalow can sometimes be booked; enquire locally, as availability is limited.

Rhenock, a historic town on the way in, has a few more rooms if Aritar is full. For a wider view of where to base yourself across the state, see our Sikkim travel guide.

Food to try

Food in Aritar is simple Sikkimese and Nepali home cooking, served mostly at homestays rather than restaurants. Expect warming, carbohydrate-heavy plates suited to the cool hill climate.

• Thukpa (a noodle soup with vegetables or meat) and momos (steamed dumplings) are the everyday staples.
• Dal-bhat (lentils with rice and vegetables) is the standard homestay meal.
• Gundruk (fermented leafy greens, often in soup) and sinki (fermented radish) add a local, tangy note.
• Sel roti (a sweet, ring-shaped rice bread) appears around festivals.
• Tongba (warm millet beer sipped through a bamboo straw) is a cold-weather local drink for adults.

Budget breakdown

A two-day trip to Aritar is inexpensive if you stay in homestays and share transport. The estimate below is per person for two days and one night, excluding the long-distance journey to Bagdogra or NJP. All figures are indicative planning estimates, as of October 2026, and should be reconfirmed locally.

A Silk Route extension adds vehicle, permit and higher-altitude stay costs, usually arranged as a package through a registered agent.

Permits and rules

Aritar and Lampokhari Lake themselves do not need a special permit for Indian travellers; you simply pay the small lake entry and boating charges on site. The permit question only arises when you continue beyond Aritar toward the Silk Route and Zuluk, which lie in a restricted border zone.

• Silk Route (Zuluk) — Protected Area Permit: Indian visitors need a PAP for Zuluk, Kupup and the Old Silk Route axis. Travel guides report it is arranged through registered agents on MG Marg in Gangtok or at the Rongli Bazaar SDPO office, with two passport photos and a photocopy of your ID, and that tourists must travel in a group with a registered agent. These rules change often — reconfirm before you go. Indicative, as of October 2026.
• Foreign nationals: face tighter restrictions on the Silk Route stretch; check the current Sikkim Tourism and Ministry of Home Affairs rules well in advance.
• Lake etiquette: follow monastery dress norms, avoid littering, and respect Sikkim’s plastic-use restrictions.

Because permit policy for this border area has shifted repeatedly, verify the latest position with the Sikkim Tourism department or a registered Gangtok agent rather than relying on older blog posts.

Practical tips

Plan for a small, cash-friendly hill town with patchy connectivity. Carry enough cash from Gangtok or Rangpo, as ATMs are scarce around Aritar and UPI can fail where the mobile signal is weak.

• Network and cash: BSNL and Jio signals are the more reliable; keep cash for homestays, boating and local transport.
• Health: the nearest larger hospitals are toward Rangpo and Gangtok; carry a basic first-aid kit and any personal medicines.
• Altitude: Aritar itself is low enough to be comfortable, but Zuluk at around 10,000 ft can bring breathlessness — ascend slowly and hydrate.
• Solo women: Sikkim is generally considered safe; stick to daytime travel on the hill roads and book homestays in advance.
• Packing: layers year-round, a warm jacket for autumn and winter, rain protection in the monsoon, and sturdy shoes for the Mankhim walk.

Nearby places

Aritar works well as a base for the wider eastern Sikkim circuit, from riverside spots to the high Silk Route. The table below lists the main options and why each is worth the detour.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Aritar and how do I reach it?

Aritar is a hill station in Pakyong district, East Sikkim, about 67 km (around three hours by road) from Gangtok via Rangpo, Rhenock and Rongli. The reliable airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal, roughly 124 km away, and the nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri. The final leg is always by taxi or shared jeep.

What is Lampokhari Lake famous for?

Lampokhari (Aritar) Lake is famous as what Wikipedia calls one of the oldest natural lakes in Sikkim and the state’s only boat-ready lake. It offers paddle and row boating in a calm, shallow setting, with a lakeside Karma Kagyu monastery and a walking path, making it the centrepiece of any Aritar visit.

What is the best time to visit Aritar?

The best time to visit Aritar is March to May and October to December. Spring brings rhododendron colour and comfortable days, while autumn gives the clearest views toward Kanchenjunga and stable roads. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when landslides can block hill routes, and expect cold nights in winter.

Do I need a permit for Aritar and the Silk Route?

Aritar and Lampokhari Lake need no special permit for Indian travellers, only a small on-site lake and boating fee. However, continuing to Zuluk on the Silk Route requires a Protected Area Permit, arranged through a registered agent in Gangtok or the Rongli SDPO office. Rules change often, so reconfirm before travelling.

How much does boating at Aritar Lake cost?

Boating on Lampokhari Lake costs around ₹100 per person, with a small additional lake entry charge, according to travel listings. These figures are indicative planning estimates as of October 2026, not official rates, and can change seasonally. Confirm the current charge and operating hours at the lake ticket point on arrival.

Is Aritar a good base for the Silk Route?

Yes, Aritar is a common first-night base for the old Silk Route to Zuluk, sitting at the lower, gentler end of the climb. It lets you arrange permits and a vehicle, acclimatise at a comfortable altitude, and see the lake and monastery before heading up to Zuluk’s high hairpin-bend road the next day.

Last updated and sources

Aritar suits travellers who want a slow, history-tinged lake stop or a soft start to the Silk Route, best enjoyed in spring or autumn. Go with time in hand, cash in your pocket and permits sorted for anything beyond the lake.

Last updated: 23 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Aritar, Sikkim; Outlook Traveller, lesser-known Eastern Himalaya destinations; Wikipedia, National Highway 717B; Muddie Trails, Sikkim travel permits for tourists; Wikipedia, protected and restricted areas of India. Accessed October 2026.