Do you know the importance of the silk route in ancient times? Have you ever visited Dalapchand in East Sikkim?

Both Silk Route and Dalapchand have a deep connection. Once upon a time, merchants took a rest in Dalapchand when they came from Tibet.

Being an offbeat location in Sikkim, Dalapchand is getting the attention to tourists. 

Many tourists who plan to explore the Silk Route try to visit the historical importance of ancient times. 

Today in this article, I am going to disclose Dalapchand including how to go, where to stay, and even what to do. 

The whole of Sikkim combines monasteries, trekking routes, lakes, splendid views of Mt. Kanchanjungha, pilgrimage, cuisine, and wildlife sanctuaries. 

This is a trending tourist destination near Gangtok.

According to a myth, the name, Dalapchand comes from ‘the great flat stone’. 

The famous Scottish doctor, explorer and Buddhist expert, L A Wadell mentioned Dalapchand in his book ‘Among the Himalayas’ (1900) as a halted place of the traders. 

However, in this article I am not going to cover the whole of Sikkim, rather I am going to cover the beautiful offbeat tourist place in East Sikkim, Dalapchand. 

Dalapchand: Tourism Attraction of East Sikkim

Sikkim offers natural beauty, pilgrimage, and historical importance. Dalapachand is one of the most important and beautiful tourist destinations in East Sikkim. 

When it comes to East Sikkim, the first place comes to your mind is Gangtok.

Gangtok is one of the most attractive and popular tourist destinations in India. 

You can reach Dalapchand from Gangtok as well. 

Dalapchand is located near Aritar Lake, one of the most attractive tourist destinations in East Sikkim. 

This is the old Silk Route area where merchants took rest when they came from Tibbet for trade. 

You’ll find many stony roads here in a wee village in East Sikkim. 

How to Reach Dalapchand

You can reach Dalapchand or any East Sikkim from New Jalpaiguri Station or Siliguri Station like Darjeeling and Kalimpong. 

First, you have to reach NJP station, the gateway of North East India. Then you can hire a rented cab to reach your dream destination, the little offbeat village in East Sikkim. 

On the way, the river Teesta company you. After reaching Rongpo, the border between West Bengal and Sikkim, your cab will drive towards Dalapchand. 

Mostly many cabs take the left turn to reach Gangtok, but for Dalapchand, you have to take the right turn to reach this offbeat Sikkimese village. 

After a while, you have to change from the left to the right bank of the river at Rorathang. From here you have to climb towards Dalapchand. 

The steep road and sharper bends will make this journey memorable. 

Amid the dense forest, your cab will take you to an unknown paradise of East Sikkim. 

The total distance is around 4-5 hours from NJP station or Siliguri. From Rongpo the distance is around 115 km. 

You can reach there via shared cab and public transport. For that, you have to take a cab from NJP or Siliguri to Rongpo first. 

Rangeet is the main river in Rongpo. 

Then take a shared cab from Rongpo to Rhenock. Enjoying the beauty of the river Rishikhola, you’ll reach Rhenock Bazar (or taxi stand). 

From Rhenock, you’ll reach Dalapchand. It will take nearly 4 hours from NJP. Though sometimes the condition of the road matters. 

You can come from Pakyong airport via flight. The distance from Pakyong to Dalapchand is nearly 45 km. 

The little offbeat agricultural village of East Sikkim welcomes you with lots of surprises. 

Where to Stay in Dalapchand

Being an ideal offbeat destination in East Sikkim, Dalapchand offers scenic beauty with tranquility.

The best place to stay here is a homestay. Stay any of them. 

Some of the popular homestays are Green Lawn Homestay (No Promotion), A R Bomjong, Kanchenjunga Mirror Homestay, etc. 

Most of the homestays offer you a splendid view from almost every homestay’s window. 

With a plate of delicious homemade momo, you can enjoy the silence of nature around you. 

You’ll see organic farming in almost every homestay. The tourists will get organic vegetables for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast and evening snacks. 

Approximate Expenditure

Expenditure is one of the most important things in travel. If you plan to explore Dalapchand, this approximate expenditure will help you to analyze your budget and make an effective plan. 

The expenditure is of many types. I am trying to cover as much detail as possible. All the expenditure is for an Indian adult. 

  • Train Fair – From Howrah/Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri – INR 900 (Approx) 3A
  • Cab Fair – From NJP or Siliguri to Dalapchand – INR 5500 (Per Cab)
  • Homestay – Per day with fooding and lodging – INR 1200 (average)
  • Sightseeing – Sightseeing fair from Dalapchand – INR 4000 (Average)

This is an approximate fair chart only to understand the approximate expenditure. 

2 nights and one day is ideal for this location. However, you can spend a couple of more nights and days and enjoy the beauty of East Sikkim here. 

Best Time to Visit and Sightseeing 

One of the most crucial questions to explore in any place is the timing. You can visit Dalapchand in any season except monsoon. 

The ideal time to explore this beautiful hamlet is March to May and the end of September to November. 

The temperature in winter is nearly zero. 

You’ll need no permit to visit Dalapchand though it is located on Silk Route. 

According to a recent survey, people love to explore this season during summer vacation and puja vacation. 

If you adjust the temperature in winter, it would be an ideal time to visit because mostly you’ll see the clear view of hills and surrounding beauties. 

If you love bird watching, April is ideal for you. Additionally, you’ll experience various flowers and orchids during this season.

But, fog is a common problem in summer here. Though you’ll enjoy the moderate temperatures during summer. 

In autumn and late autumn, you’ll get a clear sky with green surroundings. This is an ideal time to experience nature. 

With a local guide, you can trek to explore the beauty.

Some of the common and popular sightseeing are:

  • Aritar Lake
  • Mankhim Temple
  • Mankhim View Point
  • Lampukhuri Lake

My Final Thought

Dalapchand is one of the most beautiful and least crowded tourist destinations in East Sikkim . This offbeat East Sikkimese tourist spot is ideal for orchids and beautiful landscapes. The hospitality of the local people along with the wonderful mountain view and organic vegetables memorize your trip. If you love nature, this place will be ideal for you.