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Sikkim & Darjeeling · East Sikkim (Old Silk Route)
What Aritar is really like
Aritar sits quietly at 1,500m in East Sikkim around the boot-shaped Lampokhari Lake and a few old stone paths. It's the southern entry to the Old Silk Route that once connected Tibet to the Bay of Bengal — and the combination of the lake, a forest monastery and the Mankhim hilltop temple makes it one of the most undervisited corners of Sikkim. We start our Silk Route circuits here rather than pushing straight to Zuluk — arriving in Aritar the evening before, waking to fog on the Lampokhari before other visitors arrive, then driving north through Rongli. Guests who've done the route without the Aritar night say it's the one addition they'd make next time. The old stone mule tracks around the lake are unlike anything else in East Sikkim.
Why visit
Why travellers love Aritar
Lampokhari Lake — East Sikkim at its prettiest
A boot-shaped natural lake ringed by pine and rhododendron, with a single island connected by a small bridge. Morning mist, boating, a 45-minute shore circuit. Almost no other tourists.
Mankhim temple viewpoint
Ridge-top temple sacred to both Hindu and Lepcha traditions — a forest walk up from the village, valley panorama from the top. Kanchenjunga visible on clear winter mornings.
Southern entry to the Old Silk Route
The ancient Tibet–Bengal trade road begins here. Stone caravanserai ruins and old paved paths hint at centuries of commerce. Best combined with the Zuluk circuit to the north.
Authentic homestays
Aritar has well-run family homestays serving the growing Old Silk Route tourism niche — considerably more peaceful than Zuluk and a natural complement to it.
Things to do
View all 131 in Sikkim & Darjeeling →Things to do in Aritar
4 experiences our travellers ask for again and again
—Want to see these in person?
How many days
How long should you spend in Aritar?
One night for the lake, monastery and Mankhim. Two nights if doing the full Old Silk Route from Aritar to Zuluk.
1 night
Lake & ForestArrive afternoon, lake circuit + monastery (Day 1). Mankhim Temple trek + Old Silk Route drive toward Rongli (Day 2 morning), continue to Zuluk.
2 nights
Old Silk Route baseDay 1: Lake + monastery. Day 2: Old Silk Route drive toward Lungthung and back. Day 3: Depart.
How to reach
Getting to Aritar
By air
Bagdogra Airport (IXB)
110 kmBagdogra to Aritar via Siliguri and Rangpo: 3.5 hours. Private cabs are available at Bagdogra. Inner Line Permit required for foreigners.
By rail
New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
108 kmNJP to Aritar via Siliguri and Rangpo: 3.5 hours. Shared jeeps from Rangpo onward to Aritar are available at the Rangpo taxi stand.
By road
Driving in
NH10 from the plainsFrom Gangtok: 90 km via Rangpo (3–3.5 hours). From Rangpo: 40 km (1.5 hours). From Siliguri: 110 km via Rangpo (3.5 hours).
Getting around
The lake, monastery and main village are walkable from most homestays. Mankhim is a 2 km walk up (or vehicle + 20 min walk). The Old Silk Route drive north from Aritar is by vehicle.
Where to stay
Hotels in Aritar
Homestays and basic lodges with lake views are the main options.
Homestays
₹1,000 – ₹2,500 / night (with meals)
Family homestays are the main option — a few near Lampokhari Lake, others on the ridge above. Rooms are clean and simple; home-cooked meals are the norm. Lall's Retreat is the most comfortable property in the area — the upstairs rooms face the lake and the garden is kept year-round. Hot water by geyser.
Examples
Lampokhari HomestaySikkim Tourist Lodge Aritar
Best time
When to visit Aritar
October and November for the crispest Lampokhari reflections and the clearest Kanchenjunga views from Mankhim ridge — the post-monsoon air at this elevation has unusual clarity. March brings rhododendron bloom on the Mankhim trail and orange blossom in the farms below. The approach road from Rangpo is prone to landsliding in peak monsoon (July–August) — access can be cut for one to three days at a time. December to February is cold and quiet but offers the best birdwatching on the lake and Mankhim circuits.
Oct – NovBest
Clear views, dry trails, best lake photography. Peak season.
Mar – MayBest
Rhododendrons on Mankhim ridge, mild temperatures.
Dec – FebGood
Cold and quiet, Kanchenjunga visible on clear days.
Jun – SepAvoid
Heavy rain, road risks from Rangpo, beautiful green but difficult visiting.
Local flavour
Aritar is a farming community — oranges, ginger and cardamom — and the homestay food reflects this. Evenings are very quiet; the lake at dusk with mist coming off the water and no other tourists is the defining Aritar moment. The Mankhim walk in the morning, through forest with excellent birdwatching, is as good as the view from the top. Don't rush it.
—Sold on Aritar?
Frequently asked
Aritar questions we get all the time
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
★★★★★
“The permit process alone would have put us off. They handled everything — inner line, protected area, Nathu La. We just showed up.”
David & Sarah Whitmore
London, United Kingdom
Combine with
Combine Aritar with
Towns that pair naturally with Aritar on the same trip.
Index
More places in Aritar
- Sacred LakeViewpointMonasteryHeritage
Explore more
Other towns in Sikkim & Darjeeling
- East SikkimWest SikkimNorth SikkimSouth SikkimWest Bengal