Nathula — Attraction in Dongkya Range

Though my husband was not too keen on visiting Nathula Pass, he finally had to give in to my whining. We had pre-booked a tour with a tour operator from NJP beacuse we did not want the hassle of reaching Gangtok late and searching for cheap deals. Sumos, Scorpios, Innovas and other SUVs are allowed or rather can endure the bumpiness. We had booked 4 middle seats though we were 3 so that we could have a comfortable journey. Do keep communicating with your tour guide regarding the driver and his details because the driver who was supposed to drive us their ditched at the last minute and our permits were also not done. We wasted precious minutes while the substitute driver went to get it done. By the time it started was 9, though we should have started by 8. The driver was scary because of the fog and the climate changes every hour towards Nathula. If you have not carried warm clothes, do not worry, the drivers stop on the way. When we reached, it was not snowing but extremely cold. Up there you realize the hardships the soldiers go through to protect us. I had difficulty climbing the short flight of steps and they live their there 365 days. What looked amusing was, the border of India-China was marked by a barbwire and there was a Chinese sentinel posted on the Chinese side. No photography is allowed there. The Indian counterpart was explaining their daily routine and what happens during unrest. The Chinese have a view till a certain point and you would see the board marking when the Chinese View starts and ends. You are even provided a certificate that you have visited Nathula. Comes with a cost of Rs 120. People should visit this place to understand the ordeals undertaken by these soldiers with a smile just to keep us from harm's way.

Very Important points to follow - Ensure that the permit has your name spelled correctly. Even the abbreviations should be proper. A minor mistake of "G.E', instead of "G.W." would send your car back. This happens at the last check post. They do not check at the other posts hence you might not know. So double check the names on the permit list and also keep your ID proofs as per the chronology of the list. The sentries are obsessed martinets. They want everything in order. Do not click photographs within the army posts. You will see a lot of army posts en route to Nathula. Your driver will advise you the same. Ask your driver before clicking pictures. Pregnant women, people suffering from Asthma, Diabetes are advised not go to Nathula. Spend a day or two in Gangtok to get acclimatized to high altitude. Drink at least 5 litres of water a day prior to visiting Nathula. Your brain needs oxygen and then will be provided by the water (H2 + O2 = H2O) . Carry camphor. It will temporarily help in breathing. Head might get heavy at high altitude. Only Indian Nationals are allowed, no foreigners are allowed. So , foreign nationals, if you have been advised by your tour operator that you would be allowed to go there, kindly do not fall...

The pass was surveyed by J. W. Edgar in 1873, who described the pass as being used for trade by Tibetans. Francis Younghusband used the pass in 1903-1904, a diplomatic British delegation to Lhasa in 1936-37, and Ernst Schäfer in 1938–1939. In the 1950s, trade in the Kingdom of Sikkim utilized this pass. Diplomatically sealed by China and India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the pass saw skirmishes between the two countries in coming years, including the clashes in 1967 which resulted in fatalities on both sides. Nathu La has often been compared to Jelep La, a mountain pass situated at a distance of 3 miles (4.8 km).

The next few decades saw an improvement in ties leading to the re-opening of Nathu La in 2006. The opening of the pass provides an alternative route to the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, and was expected to bolster the economy of the region by playing a key role in the growing Sino-Indian trade. However, while trade has had a net positive impact, it under-performed, and is limited to specific types of goods and to specific days of the week. Weather conditions including heavy snowfall restricts border trade to around 7 to 8 months.

Roads to the pass have been improved on both sides. Rail routes have been brought closer. It is part of the domestic tourist circuit in south-east Sikkim. Soldiers from both sides posted at Nathu La are among the closest along the entire Sino-India border. It is also one of the five Border Personnel Meeting points between the two armies of both countries. 2020 border tensions and the coronavirus pandemic has affected tourism and movement across the pass.

Nathu La is a mountain pass on the Dongkya Range that separates Sikkim and the Chumbi Valley at an elevation of 14,250 feet (4,340 m). The pass is 52–54 kilometres (32–34 mi) east of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Yatung Shasima, the headquarters of the Yadong County (or the Chumbi Valley).

Nathu La is one of the three frequently-used passes between Sikkim and the Chumbi Valley, the other two being Cho La and Jelep La. Historically, Nathu La served Gangtok, while Cho La served the former Sikkim capital Tumlong and Jelep La served Kalimpong in West Bengal. Nathu La is mere 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Jelep La, as the crow flies, but the travel distance could be as much as 10 miles (16 km).On the Tibetan side, the Chola route led to Chumbi, the Nathu La route led to a village called Chema and the Jelep La route led to Rinchengang, all in the lower Chumbi Valley.

Even today, heavy snowfall causes the closure of the pass, with temperatures as low as −25 °C (−13 °F) and...

I am going to write some very important points for tourist specially if they had family or old age person. Below are the points from my personal experience:

1. Nathula is about 2.30 to 3 hrs distance from Gangtok.
2. reserved cab takes Rs 7000 and sharing Rs 1300 approx
3. journey is safe for any body except for asthma or heart patients.
4. in the way there will be people forcing to buy oxygen cylinder and camphor but true fact is these are not at all required ( except for asthma, heart patients and other breathing patients) so better avoid it.
5. snow boots are useless, avoid it if you can. Your normal shoes has more friction and does good job.
6. dress warmly. At Nathula it’s cold and wind blows.
7. before 12 pm, you have to pass permit check post and before 5pm you have to return back permit check post . NOTE: nathula closes at 1pm and army will send back every tourist.
8. only big cars like xylo and others are allowed to nathula, so better before one day contact cab or tour agencies for tour. You need to give them voter card photo copy and your selfie in whatsapp to cab tour agencies and they will take care. They may ask some advance and it’s ok.
9. while you reach near Nathula, you may see snow on roadside. It’s better to play snow there and spend some quality time there.
10. during journey you may see yak ride, remember to ask price first they are too costly. Even for photo selfie cost Rs 100.
11. MOST IMPORTANT: never climb the stairs at nathula. Believe me, it’s dangerous because it has ice covered on stairs. I repeat ice, not snow. So every body struggle there to stand also and fells and get hurts. Don’t take kids else you and children will get hurt too badly. This is ice covering stairs, not snow. At the top is only a small boundary separating India china border which doesn’t worth to see if you have family getting hurt struggling to stand walk on ice covering stairs.
12. your can see other borders and bunkers from down without climbing stairs. And great valley view.
13. Till April you can see snow and there after snow melts.
14. Indian army is very well behaved and does great job protecting our land and peoples in those harsh weather. So you can proudly say there Bharat Mata ki Jai. I and other...