Gangtok, Dec 30: Tourists in Sikkim were satisfied due to the fact their favored spots, like Lachen and Lachung withinside the north and Tsomgo (Changu) Lake and Nathu-la in the eastern part of the Himalayan state, have gotten snow in the last two days.
Across the state of Sikkim, there are about 1,500 hotels and 939 registered homestays. But due to the heavy snowfall, Sikkim police decided late on Thursday to stop giving out permits to visit Tsomgo and Nathu-la starting Friday.
A source stated that “the passes that have already been issued are not valid.”
From what the weather report says, more snow is likely to fall in the next few days in the higher parts of north and east Sikkim. Even though travel to Tsomgo and Nathula is banned, it is expected that the number of tourists will continue to rise until the first week of the New Year.
Lukendra Rasaily, the head of the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), said that even though Lachen and Lachung were still open, tourists should plan their trips around the fact that Zero Point and Yumthang in north Sikkim were closed due to heavy snow.
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Tourist hotspots in the north and east of Sikkim are sensitive from a national security point of view because they are close to the Chinese border. People need permits to visit these areas.
From what the weather report says, more snow is likely to fall in the next few days in the higher parts of north and east Sikkim. Even though travel to Tsomgo and Nathula is banned, it is expected that the number of tourists will continue to rise until the first week of the New Year. The senior meteorologist said that the weather would stay pretty much the same until January 3.
