Kupup village, the last inhabited village in India, en route to Doklam.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Sahay Singh
GANGTOK
Eight years after witnessing a stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops, Sikkim’s Doklam is opening up for tourists.
Located 68 km east of the State’s capital, Gangtok, and at an altitude of 13,780 feet, Doklam is a plateau in Chumbi Valley at the tri-junction of Bhutan, China, and India. It became a flashpoint in June 2017 when China attempted to build a road in territory claimed by Bhutan.
India intervened to safeguard its strategic interests and safeguard Bhutan, an ally. China stopped the construction activities at Doklam, also known as Donglang, after more than two months of controlled stand-off.
“We are preparing to open Doklam for visitors in September, when the tourist season starts in Sikkim. It is one of three sites the Defence Ministry identified in Sikkim for battlefield tourism in India,” the State’s Additional Chief Secretary handling the Tourism and Civil Aviation departments, C. Subhakar Rao, told The Hindu.
A view of Nathula Pass, in East Sikkim.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
The other two sites are Nathu La and Cho La, where a series of clashes between Indian and Chinese troops took place from September to October 1967. Sikkim, then an Indian protectorate, became India’s 22nd State in May 1975 following a referendum where the majority of the State’s people voted for a merger.
“Nothing much needs to be done at Nathu La, which is already a tourist spot about 58 km from Gangtok. At the other two Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan sites (Cho La and Doklam), we are constructing cafeterias, restrooms, wayside amenities, and parking spaces jointly with the Army,” Mr Rao said.
While Nathu La is situated at an altitude of 14,140 feet, Cho La is perched at 17,780 feet above sea level. Cho La is a pass accessible in all-wheel-drive vehicles from Tamzey, where the Army has a medical facility where tourists experiencing altitude-related health issues can be treated.
The road to Tamzey bifurcates about a kilometre above the Changu or Tsomgo Lake, which is more than 16 km short of Nathu La, situated on the Old Silk Route.
Army officials said work at the battlefield tourism sites has been on track despite harsh conditions.
“A fourth site in Sikkim, Gurudongmar Lake, is also on the battlefield tourism circuit as a Shaurya Gantavya (destination of valour),” an officer of Colonel rank at a forward location said.
About 190 km from Gangtok and at an altitude of about 17,800 feet, Gurudongmar is one of the highest lakes in the world. The lake in the Mangan district is named after Guru Padmasambhaba and is considered sacred by Buddhists and Sikhs.
The only other northeastern State with Shaurya Gantavya sites is Arunachal Pradesh. These sites include Tawang and Walong, where Chinese and Indian soldiers fought in 1962.
Published – July 25, 2025 03:37 pm IST
