Tourism to popular destinations in North Sikkim, including Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake, has officially resumed as the district administration began issuing travel permits from March 9. The decision was announced by the administration of Mangan District in coordination with the Tourism Department.
According to Mangan District Collector Anant Jain, tourists can now obtain permits for travel to Lachen and nearby areas from Monday. The permits will be issued through the district collectorate in Mangan as well as through authorized travel operators, following government guidelines.
The issuance of tourist permits to these destinations had been suspended since 2023 after a glacial lake outburst flood caused severe damage to roads and bridges across North Sikkim. The disaster disrupted connectivity in the region and forced authorities to temporarily halt tourist movement for safety reasons.
With restoration work progressing and connectivity gradually improving, the administration has now allowed controlled tourism to resume. As part of these efforts, a newly constructed Bailey suspension bridge over the Taram Chu River on the Chungthang–Lachen road has been opened to facilitate movement.
The bridge, which is around 400 feet long and has a load capacity of 12 tons, was inaugurated last month for regulated vehicular movement by Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth. Officials believe the bridge will play an important role in reconnecting the remote tourist destinations of North Sikkim.
However, to ensure safety and protect the structure of the bridge, the district administration has issued strict traffic guidelines. Only light vehicles within the permitted load capacity will be allowed to cross the bridge. In addition, only one vehicle will be allowed to pass over the bridge at a time to avoid structural stress.
The Superintendent of Police in Mangan has been instructed to deploy sufficient police personnel near the bridge to monitor traffic and ensure that the safety rules are strictly followed. Heavy or overloaded vehicles will not be allowed to cross the bridge under any circumstances.
The reopening of tourist permits has been welcomed by travel operators and local communities, who rely heavily on tourism for their livelihood. With improved connectivity and regulated travel arrangements, authorities hope tourism in North Sikkim will gradually return to normal while ensuring safety for visitors and residents alike.
