Is it possible to trek from Zero Point to Gurudongmar Lake via Donkiala pass and Cholamu Lake in Sikkim, India
I want to trek from from Zero Point to Gurudongmar Lake via Donkiala Pass and Cholamu Lake in Sikkim, India. Recently I noticed in Facebook that some people visited this place last year. Unfortunately there are almost no resources over the internet for this trek except this one.
If you have any knowledge on this then please share it.
Best Answer
Warning: as of June 2016 in the comments here in the post you link to, the route is out of bounds for tourists currently. Do enquire with the guy who entertains the blog as he seems both informed and responsive.
Looks like a nice trek. Besides the report that you could find, here is another trip report as of 2007 from Zero Point to Cholamu lake that I came across.
It seems they were taken by vehicle to zero point and then made the hike to the pass:
The motorable road ends thirty kilometres away from Yumthang via Yumey Samdong at a place called Zadong-at an altitude of about 16030 ft. We disembark from the vehicle and ask the driver to reach Cholamu via Lachen by the next day to receive us. From here to Cholamu Lake via the Donkiala pass is about a 8 kilometers trek and takes 5 to 6 hours for the average walker. We start walking along the narrow Donkiachu river.
The apparent route is actually well visible on Google Maps in satellite view when you zoom in. Other maps that are not quite as helpful are here and here.
The second blog I found also mentions spending the night in a yak herders hut and I guess he was part of some arranged tour. I suggest you also try to find such as the trek could be fairly extreme given the altitude and region. This list of recommendations might be useful but is of 2012.
Finally here is another trip report of how not to reach lake Chomalu in winter from 2010.
For more detailed info, as said above, reach out to Vishnu, he seems responsive also to itineraries. Likely you can arrange transport from the nearby villages and people there will be able to point our more details and guides if necessary. Note that this is on the border to China so access might be restricted (and if you are not an Indian national you need even more special permits). Also mind that trekking at this altitude is dangerous for many reasons so if you have no previous experience do get a guide / go with an experienced person and don't risk your life.
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Can we visit Cholamu Lake?
Cholamu Lake, North Sikkim Overview Cholamu Lake is only a few kms away from the Tibet border and is off limits for commonplace tourists. One needs special permits, from Army and Sikkim police/administration to visit the Cholamu Lake.How do I get a permit for Cholamu Lake?
To visit the Tso Lamho or Cholamu Lake you need a Restricted Area Permits (RAPS). You can ask your travel agent/driver to apply for that (Foreigners not allowed). However it's highly restricted and chances of civilians getting the permit are less But instead you can go to Gurudongmar Lake, it's 8-10 km downstream.How do I get to Gurudongmar Lake?
One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Lachen. A night stay at Lachen is recommended as it takes 3-4 hours to reach Gurudongmar Lake from Lachen. If travelling by train, the nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. All major trains going towards Guwahati pass through New Jalpaiguri.Can we visit Gurudongmar Lake in June?
The best time to visit Gurudongmar Lake is from March until June as the weather is pleasant and one can see clear crystal blue skies, with lush greenery in the surroundings along with beautiful and divine Gurudongmar Lake. The temperature during these months fluctuates between 5\xb0C / - 5\xb0C.𝐊𝐎𝐋𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐁𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈⻎
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