THE UNEXPLORED DAVID-NEEL CAVE

Arrival − Lachen

We will pick you up from Bagdogra airport/NJP railway station and drive you to the beautiful village of Lachen, in North Sikkim. You will reach by late afternoon.

Lachen is a charming village with equally charming people. Life in Lachen can be best experienced in the homes of the local people, which we want you to experience firsthand. Your stay will be in a traditional homestay with the most welcoming hosts.

Explore Lachen

Your day will start with a hike up to the 160-year-old Lachen Monastery, which was built by Karchen Dorjie Drak in 1858. The monastery has a small casket containing a flat stone bearing the amazing footprint of the Kham Gomchen who stayed at Thangu Monastery along with a stone shaped like a ‘Tshebum’ or vase of longevity kept at the altar. There is a Namo Lakhang that was built by Dzongchen Sungrap Gyatso Rinpoche in 1890’s near the Monastery. You can visit the Lakhang or prayer hall. 

Soon after lunch, you’re up for an eye-opening hike on a bird trail. The trail starts from the monastery and goes above Lachen Village. Get your binoculars and cameras out as you will spot blood pheasants, kalij pheasants, satyr tragopan, accentor, and finches throughout. 

Your overnight stay is again at the same homestay, where you’ll once again enjoy simple home-cooked local fare and the pleasant company of your hosts.

Lachen – David-Neel Cave – Lachen

If you’ve ever wondered where Tibetan Buddhist hermits go to meditate for months and even years on end, we’re going to give you a glimpse of their retreating place today.

After breakfast we will drive you to Kalep village. In the 1.5-2 hours drive, you will cross the Zema Chu River that originates from the Zemu Glacier, the largest glacier of Mount Khangchendzonga.

Once you’ve reached Kalep village, you will then start your hike to Deuthang; the trail passes through a forest of cedars and pines. Your hike ends once you’ve reached the twin caves of Deuthang, the Deuthang Ney (David-Neel Cave) and the Samten Ney. From here, you will get beautiful views of Kalep village in the valley below and the Lachen Chu River.

After eating a packed lunch, you will hike back to Kalep village and drive back to Lachen.

Once back at the homestay, you can spend some interesting time with your host family; if interested, you can learn the art of momo-making, a famous dish in Sikkim.

Alexendra David-Neel was a famous French explorer cum spiritualist and the first woman from the western world to have set foot in Tibet. On her second visit to Sikkim, she met Gomchen Rinpoche of Lachen Nawang Kunzang at the Lachen monastery with whom she retreated to the caves above Deuthang to study and meditate for 2 years while the Rinpoche meditated for 13 years. 

Departure

We’ll drive you to Bagdogra airport/N.J.P. railway station soon after breakfast. You can make a stop at the Rabum Angora Farm if time permits.

We hope you take back happy memories of North Sikkim and await your return for another exciting trip with us.