Aritar travel guide

Peaceful lakeside town

Aritar, Sikkim

Quiet hill destination in East Sikkim known for its lake monasteries and scenic viewpoints ideal for relaxation and short getaways.

Best time to visit Aritar

Oct–Apr is the season, with Oct–Nov and Mar the pick for clear, mild weather; the Jun–Sep monsoon brings heavy rain and landslides.

MonthVerdictTemperatureRainCrowdsWhat to expect
JanuarygoodlowCold, dry and clear; chilly mornings and nights
FebruarygoodlowCool and mostly dry; nights still cold
MarchbestlowMild, mostly dry days; views can turn hazy
AprilgoodmediumWarm days with some afternoon showers; hazier views
MaymixedmediumFrequent pre-monsoon showers; mountain views often hidden
JunemixedlowMonsoon sets in; rain most days and landslide risk on roads
JulyavoidlowHeaviest rain; landslides often block the hill roads
AugustavoidlowVery wet; landslides can cut roads for days
SeptembermixedlowRain easing late in the month; lush, but roads still risky
OctoberbestmediumClear, fresh skies return with Kanchenjunga views; Puja holiday rush
NovemberbestmediumDry, cool and clear; good mountain views
DecembergoodmediumCold nights, clear days; busier over Christmas–New Year

How many days to spend in Aritar

One day covers Aritar Lake (Lampokhari), the Mankhim viewpoint and Aritar Gumpa; a second allows the 1895 Dak Bungalow, village walks and unhurried mountain views.

How to reach Aritar

Getting around

Hire a car with driver to reach Aritar and get around; Mankhim, Rhenock and the waterfalls are spread along steep hill roads with little public transport.

Things to do in Aritar

  1. Paro Taktsang — Cliffside monastery (5.5 h · Nu 1000)
  2. Kanchenjunga National Park — UNESCO biosphere (8 h · ₹200)
  3. Tsongmo Lake — Glacial alpine lake (1.5 h · Free entry)
  4. Gurudongmar Lake — Sacred alpine lake (1 h · Free entry)
  5. Nathula Pass View Point — Historic mountain pass (1 h)
  6. Rinpung Dzong — Historic fortress (2 h · Nu 500)
  7. Yumthang Valley — Valley of flowers (4 h · No separate entry fee)
  8. Buddha Park — Giant Buddha statue (1.5 h · Rs 50)
  9. Paro — Historic valley town
  10. Mahatma Gandhi Marg — Pedestrian shopping street
  11. Zero point — High altitude snow (1.5 h · Free entry)
  12. Sky Walk Pelling Sikkim — Glass skywalk (1 h · ₹20)
  13. Drukgyel Dzong — Historic ruins (1.5 h · Paid entry)
  14. Rumtek Monastery — Major Buddhist monastery (2 h · ₹10)
  15. Pemayangtse Monastery — Historic monastery
  16. Kanchenjunga Falls — Powerful waterfall (1 h · Free entry)
  17. Dzongri — High altitude trek
  18. Samdruptse — Guru statue hill (1 h · ₹30)
  19. Thambi View Point — Silk Route views (1 h · Free entry)
  20. Kanchenjunga View Point — Mountain viewpoint (1 h · Free entry)
  21. Chele La — High mountain pass (1.5 h · Free entry)
  22. Thangu Valley — Alpine valley
  23. Khecheopalri Lake — Sacred wish lake (2 h · Free entry)
  24. Kyichu Lhakhang — Ancient temple (1 h · Nu 500)
  25. Phuentsholing — Border city
  26. Baba Harbhajan Singh Shrine — Memorial shrine (1 h · Free entry)
  27. The Seven Sisters Waterfall — Multi stream waterfall (30 min · Free entry)
  28. Rabdentse Ruins — Ancient ruins (1.5 h · ₹25)
  29. Temi — Organic tea estate
  30. Siddheshwar Dham (Char Dham Mandir) — Char Dham complex (1.5 h · ₹50)
  31. Nathang Valley View Point — Snow valley (2.5 h · Free entry)
  32. Aritar Lake — Boating lake (1.5 h · ₹10)
  33. Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary — Rhododendron forest (6 h · ₹55)
  34. Ta Dzong — National heritage museum (2 h · Nu 500)
  35. Paro International Airport — Airport viewpoint (1 h · Free entry)
  36. Hanuman Tok — Scenic temple complex (1 h · Free entry)
  37. Chopta Valley View Point — Scenic valley (2 h · Free entry)
  38. Dumgtseg Lhakhang — Unique temple (1 h)
  39. Kharbandi Monastery — Hill monastery (1.5 h · Free entry)
  40. Ganesh Tok — Hilltop temple view (45 min · Free entry)
  41. Do Drul Chorten — Sacred stupa (45 min · Free entry)
  42. Bheem Nala Fall — Tall waterfall (30 min · Free entry)
  43. Ha — Remote valley
  44. Zangtopelri Lhakhang — Buddhist temple (45 min · Free entry)
  45. Tashi View Point — Kanchenjunga viewpoint (45 min · Free entry)
  46. Kala Patthar, Sikkim ᤔᤠᤁ ᤗᤢᤱ — Snow viewpoint (1.5 h · Free entry)
  47. Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary — Maenam trek (5 h · Paid entry)
  48. Elephant Lake — Elephant Lake (1 h · Free entry)
  49. Kila Goenpa Nunnery — Cliffside nunnery (3 h · Free entry)
  50. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology — Tibetan museum (1 h · INR 10)
  51. Lachung Monastery — Buddhist monastery (1 h · Free entry)
  52. Dzongdrakha Goenpa — Cliff monastery (2 h)
  53. Zuri Dzong — Ancient fortress (1.5 h · Free entry)
  54. Karpo Lhakhang (White Temple) — White temple
  55. Enchey Monastery — Historic monastery (1 h · Free entry)
  56. Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary — Rhododendron park (2.5 h · Paid entry)
  57. Lachen Monastery — Hilltop monastery (1 h · Free entry)
  58. Singshore Bridge — High suspension bridge
  59. Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) — Black temple (45 min · Free entry)
  60. Flower Exhibition Centre - Ridge Park. — Orchid display center (1 h · INR 10)
  61. Green lake lodge — Glacial lake trek (10 h · Paid entry)
  62. Darap Village Walk — Traditional village (2 h · Free entry)
  63. Old Harbhajan Babaji Mandir — Army shrine (1 h · Free entry)
  64. Rinchenpong — Historic hill town
  65. Phodong Monastery — Historic monastery (1 h · Free entry)
  66. Pal Karma Zurmang Shedup Chokhor Ling Lingdum Monastery (Ranka Monastery) — Ranka monastery (1.5 h · Free entry)
  67. RIMBI WATER FALLS — River waterfall (1 h · Free entry)
  68. Yumthang — Natural hot spring
  69. Tashiding Monastery — Sacred monastery (2 h · Free entry)
  70. Ralong Monastery — Buddhist monastery
  71. Mankhim Top Kanchenjunga View Point — Sunrise viewpoint (1.5 h · Free entry)
  72. Kabi Lungchok — Historic treaty site (45 min · Free entry)
  73. Chungthang — Confluence town
  74. Dubdi Buddhist Monastery - Yuksom, West Sikkim District, Sikkim, India — Oldest monastery (2 h · Free entry)
  75. Norbu gang, Coronation throne of Namgyal Dynasty — Coronation site (45 min · Free entry)
  76. Rhenock Gumpa, Monastery — Hilltop monastery (1 h · Free entry)
  77. Hee Water garden — Waterfall garden (1 h)

Aritar, Sikkim, photo 2

Aritar, Sikkim, photo 3

Aritar, Sikkim, photo 4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Aritar?

Oct–Apr is the season, with Oct–Nov and Mar the pick for clear, mild weather; the Jun–Sep monsoon brings heavy rain and landslides.

How many days are enough for Aritar?

1–2 days. One day covers Aritar Lake (Lampokhari), the Mankhim viewpoint and Aritar Gumpa; a second allows the 1895 Dak Bungalow, village walks and unhurried mountain views.

How do I reach Aritar?

By air: Bagdogra (IXB) — 120 km by road. By train: New Jalpaiguri (NJP) — 110 km by road. By road: From Gangtok — 68 km, about about 4 h. Via Pakyong or Rangpo.

What are the top things to do in Aritar?

Paro Taktsang, Kanchenjunga National Park, Tsongmo Lake, Gurudongmar Lake, Nathula Pass View Point, Rinpung Dzong.

Plan your Aritar trip

Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.

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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.