Things to do in Namchi

Namchi is another beautiful town located in South Sikkim. The word “Namchi” means top of the sky, situated at an elevation of 5500 feet above the sea level, and it holds some of the scenic spots of Sikkim. There are a number of tourist places located around Namchi that offer tourists with spectacular views and sceneries.

Namchi also houses the replica of Chardham that helps you witness the four sacred sites of the Hindu religion situated at four different states in four different directions in India. There are places of absolute delight that will make your trip to Namchi a memorable one.  

Here is the list of the top 10 things to be enjoyed while your stay at Namchi, which will help you carry back loads of memories and experiences. 

1. Trekking to Tendong Hill
2. Enjoying Cable Car Ride at Rock garden
3. Enjoying you time at Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Seeking Peace at Serdup Choling Monastery
5. Connecting with Nature amidst Tendong State Biodiversity Park
6. Savoring the Local Cuisines
7. Exploring Doling Gompa
8. Fulfill your wish at Samdruptse Hill
9. Connect to the four corners of India in Solophok Chardham
10. Visit Ngadak Monastery

Things to do in Namchi

Trekking to Tendong Hill

Tendong hill is situated above Damthang and offers scenic views to the travelers as the height of the hill is 8660 feet above the sea level. The trek to Tendong hill starts from Damthang and the length of the trek route is around 6 km. During this trek you will cross green forests that are rich in flora and fauna, where you can spot different animals and birds. If you are planning to trek to this hill then you must be equipped with proper trekking gears and must also hire a guide for safety and security throughout your trek.

The word “Tendong” means upraised horn and the myth associated with this name is Tendong, during a great deluge have saved the lives of Lepcha people by raising itself. To this day, the Lepchas pay homage to this hill on the occasion of Lho Rum Faat. It  will take about 17 minutes to cover a distance of 10.3 km from Namchi to reach Damthang from where the trek will start.    

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this hill is during the months of March and June, when the weather stays clear and you can obtain a 360 degree view of the panoramic views from the hilltop. 

Enjoying Cable Car Ride at Rock garden

The cable car ride will offer you an aerial view of the surrounding hills and valleys. This cable car ride has become a popular tourist attraction in Namchi , as the ride offers a comfortable and safe journey across the mountains to make the travelers enjoy the tranquility of the surrounding environment.

Moreover, this cable car ride has also become one of the most eco-friendly rides that will offer an alternative to mountain trekking. The price for cable ride for adults is ₹300 and for children it is ₹150. The ropeway is located at a distance of 5.1 m from Namchi and will take about 10 minutes to reach the destination. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to enjoy the cable car ride is between March and May, which is the spring season, when the flower blooms that adds a vibrant touch to the panoramic views of the valleys, which can be enjoyed during the ropeway ride. However, if there is strong winds blowing or heavy rainfall then there are chances for the ropeway services to remain closed.

Enjoying you time at Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary

Maenam sanctuary is another popular tourist attraction at Namchi that has rich flora and fauna. Some of the species that can be spotted at this wildlife sanctuary are Civet cats, Marbled cat, Leopard cat, Barking Deer, Goral, Serow and Red Panda. On the other hand, some of the bird species that can be spotted here are Black Eagle, Sunbird, Blue Necked PIta, Magpies,

Blood Pheasant and Common Hill Partridge. Moreover, you can also get a splendid view of Teesta river and Mt. Kanchenjunga from this wildlife sanctuary. You need to purchase tickets before entering at this sanctuary, ₹350 for adults and ₹250 for children’s.  This wildlife sanctuary is located at a distance of 29.32 km from Namchi and will take about 57 minutes to reach the destination.  

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this sanctuary is between October to September and March to May. During these months, you will get a pleasant view of the surroundings and can also spot different animals and birds present in the sanctuary. 

Seeking Peace at Serdup Choling Monastery

Serdup Choling Monastery is a place of worship for Buddhists and also one of the popular tourist attractions of Namchi. The monastery has a scenic backdrop of Mt. Kanchenjunga offers scenic pictures to the visitors. The monastery was established back in the year 1967 by a combined effort of the late Khachoed Tulki Dudjom Dorjee and the late Serdup Dungzin Jigme Wangchuk Rinpoche.

The monastery houses the statues of Tri Detson, Santaraksita and Guru Rinpoche. The monastery is also surrounded by colorful prayer flags that add religious charm to the monastery. The monastery is located at a distance of 1.7 km from Namchi and takes around 6 minutes to reach the monastery. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this monastery is during the summer season that is between the months of March to June. Visiting the monastery in the summer season offers a clear sky and pleasant weather to enjoy the surrounding view of the monastery. 

Also Read: Things to do in Yuksom

Connecting with Nature amidst Tendong State Biodiversity Park

Tendong State Biodiversity Park is another popular tourist attraction where you can witness endangered and rare species of animals. Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife, under The Government of Sikkim has made this attempt for restoring the count of the endangered species by creating natural habitats, as well as developing an exploratory garden for conservation of plants and trees over an area of 255 hectares of land.

The park is situated at a distance of 15.4 km from Namchi and will take around 24 minutes to reach the destination. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Tendong State Biodiversity Park is between the months of March to May, when the weather remains pleasurable and you will get a better view of the surroundings. 

Savoring the Local Cuisines

Every place has its own taste and to experience the taste, it is a must to try out the local dishes of Namchi. Certain staple foods of Namchi consist of fermented ingredients and foods such as bamboo shoots, kinema and gundruk. Some of the cuisines to try in Namchi are thukpa, momo, phagshapa, sha phaley, gundruk  and others.  

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Namchi to try out different cuisines is between the months of March and May, when the temperature remains moderate and you can enjoy the cuisines. 

Exploring Doling Gompa

Doling Gompa is placed on a small hilltop that is surrounded by a green environment. This monastery follows the Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. This gompa was built by Lama Dorjelingpo and his son Lama Rigdzin Longtang from 1717 to 1718. However, modifications were made in 1840 and 1920, finally the gompa was rebuilt in 1984, as it suffered considerable damage from earthquakes.

The gompa also has the footprints of Lama Dorjelingpo preserved till this date. The gompa is located at a distance of 30.2 km from Namchi and will take about 58 minutes to reach the destination. You need to trek over 500 stairs passing through dense forests. starting from Barfung retreat. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this gompa is between the months of October to January, when the weather is pleasant and you will be able to witness the stunning surroundings of the gompa.  

Also Read: Things To Do in Pelling

Fulfill your wish at Samdruptse Hill

Samdruptse Hill is also known as “Wish Fulfilling Hill” and is a religious place that has a goliath statue of Guru Rinpoche of 45 meters tall and is believed to shower its blessings over the region for over 1200 years. The statue is covered with gold, which makes it glitter when the ray of sun strikes it, offering a mesmerizing view.

Moreover, this hill is a point of dormant lava, which as per the locals has been stagnated by the power of prayers that stopped it from erupting. The hill is situated at a distance of 5.4 km from Namchi and will take 11 minutes to reach the hill. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Samdruptse Hill is between September to November and March to June. Visiting Samdruptse Hill during these months will offer you a pleasant temperature and a clear vision to witness the surrounding scenario.  

Connect to the four corners of India in Solophok Chardham

Solophok Chardham is an amazing religious point that is also called Siddheshwar Dham. This site is a pilgrimage cum cultural center, especially for Hindus that is situated on Solophok hill in South Sikkim. The replicas of the four Dham’s makes it a must visit place during your Namchi trip.

This place is spread over an area of 7 acres of land that consists of 12 jyotirlingas, 4 Dham’s and 1 statue of Lord Shiva, which is 26.5 meters high. In this place, you can find the exact models of the four Dham’s located in four different directions and four different states of India. Badrinath from the North, Rameshwaram from the South, Dwarka from the West and Jagannath from the East.   

The site is situated at a distance of 5.3 km from Namchi, which will take about 14 minutes to reach this destination. There is an entry fee of ₹50 per person. 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this site is between the months of October and March, when the climate remains soothing and you will also get a panoramic view of the surrounding area.   

Visit Ngadak Monastery

Ngadak Monastery is another religious site that attracts a number of pilgrims. This monastery was built by Tensung Namgyal back in the 17th century under the reign of Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal. The monastery was earlier a palace that was built for her highness Pendi Ongmu.

This monastery is considered to be one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim and the name Ngadak means promise, which is because after visiting his monastery for the first time, visitors promise to visit this monastery again. The monastery is located at a distance of 4 km from Namchi and will take around 10 minutes to reach this monastery.  

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit this monastery is between the months of September to November and March to June, when you can witness pleasant weather and also clear skies that will allow you to explore the surrounding areas in a better manner. 

Also Read: Things to do in Ravangla

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Frequently Asked Question

What to do in Namchi on a sunny day?

Here’s what you can do on a bright day in Namchi: Char Dham, Namchi Rock Garden, Hot Springs & Geysers, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary.

What to do in Namchi on a rainy day?

You may not want to visit Namchi during monsoon season since heavy rain might damper your sightseeing. However, you may still visit areas like the Namchi Rock Garden, Ngadak Monastery, Rose Garden and Solophok Chardham.

What is the Specialty of Namchi?

Namchi is known for its panoramic views of snow-capped mountains and valleys, as well as the Buxa Formation of Mamley, which the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has designated as a national geological monument. Namchi features welcome monasteries, traditional temples and woodlands.