Sikkim Yuksom

Sikkim - Yuksom or Yuksam

A tiny tip of Mt. Kanchenjunga was visible. We had another cloudy trip.

I visited Yuksam in 2012 and again in 2017 - over the five-year gap not much had changed. To me, that means that tourism has not overwhelmed the village. It is still pristine, has locally owned and operated hotels, good small restaurants, and lovely scenery. Of course, the road to get there is covered with bone-rattling pot-holes which might also limit tourism.

Stopping on the way at a Bon Monastery, we watched young monks playing games in front of the gomba.

At another stop, we found fresh vegetables and flowers.

Just before the bridge, there is a set of chortens on the bank of the river.

Then over the Teesta on a rickety one-lane bridge and on toward Yuksom.

Sand mining is not controlled and it is very harmful. The two men below are carrying sand from the river.

On the way to Yuksom, prayer flags fluttered on every hilltop.

From one hilltop we caught a view of the mountains that surround Yuksam.

We arrived in Yuksam late in the day. First thing in the morning we walked to the oldest monastery in Sikkim called Dubdi Monastery.

The monastery was undergoing major repairs this time - on our previous visit it was waiting for repairs. It was damaged by the 2011 earthquake and it was quite damaged inside.

Our group in front of the Gompa.

A small place to burn incense. This will purify the air in the morning prayers.

The front of the Monastery in 2012.

A man hangs his prayer flags outside of the Gompa. Below, details of the windows and below a close up of one of the painted panels inside the doorway.



After Dubdi we walked to the Coronation Throne of Norbugang where the first Choygal King of Sikkim was crowned in 1642. It is said that three lamas were there to crown the king and so Yuksom means the meeting place of three lamas.

Along ledges and next to stones, there are small dome-shaped objects placed near the Gompa. They contain the ashes of people that have passed on and families find peaceful spots for them.

The new prayer wheel hall is in the middle of Yuksam.

Snow-covered mountains surround Yuksam. We had rainy weather and only a few mountain views.

Cardamon was blooming and the fields were full of cardamon. It is the major cash crop in the region.


An old prayer wheel was operated by stream power.

Nature is plentiful in Yuksam from Spectacled Swordtail and Five Bar Swordtail butterflies to all kinds of orchids and birds.



Slaty-backed Fork-tail made for a good photo and the first sighting for me

Kartok Lake is a peaceful place to stop and watch dragonflies and birds.

Red-billed Leiothrix pecking through the ashes of some burnt rubbish.

Brown-throated Tree Creeper was another first for me.

Trekking is the main tourist activity in Yuksom.


Stones were piled up in various arrangements. A local fungus was growing out of the rocks.

A small elfish looking stupa was sitting near the Khecheopalri Lake.

Khecheopalri Lake is a lovely sight from above - it is said that it is the footprint of one of the Buddhist Tara's. The lake is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, who come twice a year to worship the lake and make wishes that they hope are fulfilled. My wish was that this part of Sikkim will never change.