7 precautions for visiting Gurudongmar, North Sikkim

1)      1) Don’t smoke or drink the day before your visit or during your journey to Gurudongmar

As this is one of the highest altitude lakes in the world, its extreme height can cause breathing problems and other issues. Most tourists often fail to complete their journey to this destination due to obstruction by landslides or by falling sick because of lower oxygen levels that lead to serious breathing difficulty. So, to ensure health safety, make sure that you do not drink or smoke the previous day and particularly during your trip there. This will make you sick so you have to be alert not to indulge in smoking or drinking if a visit to Gurudongmar is around the corner.

1)      2) Don’t try to reach the lake in one go as its impossible and impermissible

Do you know that majority of North Sikkim falls on sensitive Indo-Chinese border regions? Well, that’s why you need to acquire a list of permits before and during your journey at particular spots. There’s also a scientific reason behind why you should take halts and cover the trip in 2 or 3 days. As someone coming from plains, it’s natural for you to experience trouble in adjusting to the varying oxygen levels as you go higher up. So, if you’re planning a trip to this remarkably high-altitude lake, remember to take halts to help your body get gradually acclimatized to the changes.

1)      3) Make sure to leave very early for Gurudongmar from Lachen

If you’re going to visit Gurudongmar from Lachen, you must make a very early start at 4am in the morning. The weather conditions around the lake remain bearable in the first half of the day and deteriorate as the day goes by. So, do reach early and depart timely before rough winds and harsh temperature envelope the idyllic lake.

1)      4) Stuff up adequately at Thangu as you won’t find any shop for the next 10 hours

Thangu is the first halt to the Lake that’s 2 hours from Lachen. You’ll find no shop on your way to Gurudongmar which is about 40km from Thangu and takes around 4 hours to reach due to the rough terrain. Thus, do pack up sufficient water and other essentials from Thangu as you’ll have to survive on those for the next 10 hours till you return to Thangu again from the Lake.

1)      5) Take required medical help at Thangu

Thangu will be the last civilian area where you’re permits will be checked and where you can opt for a checkup in case of health issues. After this check post, you’ll be on your own without any habitation ahead. So, if you fall seriously ill, you won’t have any doctor or clinic around. Hence, do be cautious about availing service of a medical facility in Thangu, if you feel that it’s needed.

1)      6) Stay calm and don’t get carried away with too many activities in Gurudongmar Valley

At this great altitude, you may experience breathing difficulties or nausea. If such signs show up, you must keep yourself relaxed instead of getting swooped off with the beauty of the place and engaging in strenuous ventures such as playing with the snow and taking up small hikes. Extra investment of energy and lack of oxygen can make you sick. So, try to stay composed when you’re at the Lake to prevent conditions from getting worse.

1)      7) Do have a hearty lunch at Chopta Valley to stabilize health

As you travel downhill from Chopta Valley, you’ll be having the first proper meal of the day. Quench your appetite with warm noodles soup, bread with butter/jam, egg maggi or other hot food. A sumptuous lunch will stabilize your glucose levels quickly if you face nausea, dizziness or headache while going uphill. So, do pay attention to your food intake at Chopta Valley to revive energy and cope better with any problem later.