VANAMCOVE 
Quiet lake with a walking trail
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Half day · The high lake
- Morning drive
- Lake circuit
- Boating
- Meadow stop
- Return or onward
Geography & terrain
Aritar Lake (Lampokhari) lies in East Sikkim's hills, 75 km from Gangtok on the road toward the Zuluk passes — a high lake ringed by pine forest, its dark water set in the valley between the ridges of the old trade route.
History & culture
The lake's name — Lampokhari, the 'sword lake' — carries the legend of a warrior's sword in its water; the British-era iron boat and the picnic tradition of the old Sikkim families, plus the lake's place on the Tibet-trade route of the past, give Aritar its quiet history.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/night
Mid-range
₹2,500–5,000/night
Comfort
₹5,000+/night
Things to do
- Pine-ringed lake
- Boating
- Meadows
- Ridge views
- Forest birds
Eat & drink
- Momos
- Thukpa
- Gundruk (fermented)
- Kinema curry
Getting there
- Fly
- Bagdogra (IXB) — 124 km / 4 hr
- Train
- New Jalpaiguri (NJP) — 125 km
- Road from Bagdogra / NJP
- 4–5 hr to Gangtok
- Getting around
- Shared taxis — Sikkim's carpool culture
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
- Jan · Snow
- −5–8°C · Snow rain
- Feb · Snow
- −3–10°C · Snow rain
- Mar · Good
- 2–14°C · Light rain
- Apr · Best
- 7–20°C · None rain
- May · Best
- 12–25°C · None rain
- Jun · Good
- 16–30°C · Moderate rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 18–28°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 17–27°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Best
- 14–26°C · Moderate rain
- Oct · Best
- 8–20°C · None rain
- Nov · Cold
- 2–14°C · None rain
- Dec · Snow
- −2–9°C · Snow rain
Practical info
- Language: Nepali; Hindi/English common (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Dec, Mar–May
- Connectivity: Patchy on high roads — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The lake is highest-fresh and cool year-round — layers always
- Mornings hold the calmest water and the mist
- Pairs with Rhenock's heritage lanes for the East-Sikkim day
Frequently asked questions
What is Aritar Lake?
A pine-ringed high lake of East Sikkim — boating and meadow walks on the old trade-route country.
Is it hard to reach?
No — a driveable half-day excursion from Gangtok on the Zuluk road.
What is the legend?
Lampokhari — the sword lake — carries the story of a warrior's blade in its water.
Quiet lake with a walking trail
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