Tourist Permits for North Sikkim Destinations to Resume

The Mangan district administration is set to resume issuing permits for tourists to visit popular North Sikkim destinations, including Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake, starting March 9. This decision comes after a halt due to damage caused by a glacial lake flood outburst in 2023. The newly completed bailey suspension bridge over the Taram Chu is expected to enhance connectivity in the region. Strict traffic regulations will be enforced to ensure safety as only light vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridge, with a one-vehicle-at-a-time rule in place. Read on for more details about the reopening and safety measures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 09:03 IST

Permits for North Sikkim Attractions Reinstated

Gangtok, Mar 8: Starting March 9, the Mangan district administration along with the Tourism department will begin issuing permits for tourists wishing to explore popular North Sikkim locations such as Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake.

Travel agencies and tourists can obtain these permits either through the district collectorate in Mangan or via authorized travel operators, as per the guidelines set by the government.

According to Mangan District Collector Anant Jain, the district administration and tourism department will facilitate the issuance of permits for trips to Lachen and other North Sikkim areas beginning Monday.

Previously, the Mangan district had halted the issuance of permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake due to a glacial lake flood outburst in 2023, which caused significant damage to roads and bridges.

Additionally, the district administration has released a traffic advisory concerning the newly constructed bailey suspension bridge over the Taram Chu, located on the Chungthang-Lachen Road. This bridge is anticipated to be crucial for restoring connectivity in the region.

The 400-foot-long bailey suspension bridge, which can support a load of up to 12 tonnes, was inaugurated for controlled vehicular movement last month by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.

To maintain safety and ensure the bridge's structural integrity, specific traffic regulations have been established.

According to the District Collector's guidelines, only light vehicles that meet the load capacity requirements will be allowed to cross the bridge.

Moreover, only one vehicle will be permitted to traverse the bridge at any given time to avoid structural stress and guarantee safe passage.

The Superintendent of Police in Mangan has been instructed to assign sufficient police personnel to manage traffic around the bridge and ensure adherence to the restrictions. Heavy or overloaded vehicles will be prohibited from crossing, and strict monitoring will be enforced to uphold the 'one vehicle at a time' policy.