Can I walk down the hairpin bends from Lungthung?

Not practically — the hairpins are a vehicle road with no pedestrian path and the descent is steep. The view of the bends from Lungthung is the draw, not a walking route down them.

What is the altitude at Lungthung?

Approximately 2,900m — lower than Nathang Valley above it (4,200m) but higher than Zuluk below it (2,591m). Altitude effects at this elevation are minimal for most visitors who have acclimatised in Gangtok.

HeritagePermit required

Lungthung Village

3,000mAltitude

ZulukCity

Apr – Jun, Sep – NovBest Season

YesPermit Needed

Zuluk · The story

About Lungthung Village

Lungthung is a tiny village on the Old Silk Route at around 3,200m in East Sikkim, halfway between Zuluk and the Nathang plateau. Its fame rests on the zigzag road below the village — from Lungthung you can see multiple loops of the Old Silk Route switchbacks at once, with tiny vehicles threading the hairpins. The village itself has a few traditional stone houses and offers excellent views toward Kanchenjunga and the lower Zuluk valley. Most Old Silk Route tours stop here for photographs on the way up or down.

Why visit

Why go to Lungthung Village

Overlook of the famous zigzag switchbacks

From Lungthung the full scale of the road engineering is visible — multiple loops of the Old Silk Route hairpin bends, carved into the mountain face below.

The 32 hairpin bends viewed from above

From the Lungthung pullout you can see a significant section of the 32-hairpin descent below — the road zigzagging down the cliff face in a pattern that no single hairpin gives you. It is the one viewpoint on the Silk Route where the engineering of the road becomes the spectacle.

—Want to experience Lungthung Village?

Getting there

How to reach Lungthung Village from Zuluk

Lungthung is a roadside stop on the Old Silk Route in East Sikkim, approximately 12 km north of Zuluk on the route toward Nathang Valley. From Gangtok via Rongli and Aritar: approximately 5–6 hours. The Lungthung pullout is on the right side of the road heading north — most drivers know it and stop automatically on Old Silk Route circuits.

When to go

Best time to visit Lungthung Village

October and November for the clearest atmospheric conditions — the post-monsoon air at this altitude gives the longest sight lines down the hairpin bends and across the valley. March to May is the second window: spring light and morning cloud inversions produce dramatic photography conditions. The Silk Route road is generally closed December to early March due to snowfall above 3,000m.

Practical notes

Things we always tell our guests about Lungthung Village

The viewpoint for the zigzag bends is just above the village — ask your driver to stop at the pullout.
Wind can be strong — windproof layer recommended.
The 32 hairpins are most visible from the northern end of the Lungthung pullout — walk 50m past the main viewpoint for the better angle.
The road below the hairpins is the one you just drove up or will drive down — watching another vehicle navigate the bends from above gives a real sense of the gradient.
The pullout can be windy at this elevation even on warm days — carry a windproof layer.

Frequently asked