Month Guide · Sikkim

Sikkim Snowfall in January and February: Where It Falls and What Closes

Snow falls high, not in Gangtok. Where to look, what shuts when it comes, which permits you need, and what nobody can promise.

By the ClearEast Trip teamNovember 15, 20267 min read

Sikkim Snowfall in January and February: Where It Falls and What Closes

In this guide

Where snow falls, and what has happened before
What shuts when it snows
Permits for Indian visitors
Cold, altitude and what to pack
How to plan around the uncertainty
Where sources still conflict
Who this suits
Plan it with us

Snow in Sikkim falls in the high places, not in the towns. Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Yumthang and Zero Point are the likely spots, and Lachung and Lachen sit just below them. Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla and Namchi are cold in winter but rarely get regular snow. January has the strongest chance of snow and the hardest cold, and February is milder, with snow lingering up high. Nobody can promise fresh snow on a particular date, and we found no official snowfall-frequency data for any of these places.

Where snow falls, and what has happened before

Snow by place (last checked 15 November 2026; closures come from news reports of past events, not from an official winter notice)

Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi	Cold and clear, rarely any regular snow
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake and Nathu La	Likely in January to March. In snow, permits are stopped. On 30 December 2022 police halted new and issued permits after snow from 27 December. On 8 January 2025 the road was open only to the 10th Mile and permits were halted
Lachung and Yumthang	Snow is common in winter. On 8 January 2025 the road was open as far as Yumthang
Zero Point (Yumesamdong)	Inaccessible on 8 January 2025. Needs extra clearance
Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake	Lachen was accessible on 8 January 2025 but travel to Gurudongmar was not permitted. Winter status of the lake varies by snow

A blanket rule such as "Yumthang is shut from December to March" is not reliable. One site says so, yet news from January 2025 shows Yumthang reachable on a day when Zero Point was shut. What is open depends on the snow that week.

Gurudongmar Lake was closed to tourists for 887 days after the October 2023 glacial lake flood and reopened in March 2026, according to the North Sikkim district magistrate as reported by EastMojo. The road uses a single-lane bridge where one vehicle crosses at a time. We found nothing on its winter status for 2027.

What shuts when it snows

Permits for Tsomgo and Nathu La are stopped first, and permits already issued can be cancelled as a precaution. North Sikkim permits usually continue until roads are blocked. Closed roads cannot be made safe with a four-wheel-drive, so a good operator changes the day rather than pushing on. Spring 2026 showed the other risk: a road breach cut Lachen off and several hundred tourists were stranded until it was cleared.

Permits for Indian visitors

Indian citizens need a Protected Area Permit for North Sikkim (Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang, Gurudongmar) and for East Sikkim (Nathu La, Tsomgo, Zuluk). An Inner Line Permit is not required. For Nathu La, sources say it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open only to group tours booked through an agent, with the permit applied for at least a day ahead, and they disagree on Fridays and on opening hours. Gurudongmar needs a night in Lachen first. Fees are small and change, so ask your operator for the current ones. This comes from a travel-permits guide and several travel sites, not an official notice, so confirm at the Tourist Information Centre on MG Marg in Gangtok or with your operator.

Cold, altitude and what to pack

Nights in Lachung, Lachen and above can fall below freezing. Even in a snowfall week in late December 2022, reports gave 3°C minimums in Lachung and Lachen and 5°C in Gangtok, so expect colder in January. Pack thermals, an insulated jacket, gloves, a cap, grip-soled shoes, your medicines and a power bank. Altitude headaches, dizziness or breathlessness are a reason to go down. Children under 5 and elderly people with breathing problems are advised not to go to Gurudongmar.

How to plan around the uncertainty

Treat snow as a bonus and build the trip around what stays open. Keep a spare day so a closed road does not cost you a sight. Ask any Lachung or Lachen hotel whether heating, hot water and bedding are working before you pay, because some places run reduced service in winter. Book early for Christmas and New Year. Ask your operator on the day before each high-altitude leg whether permits are being issued.

Where sources still conflict

We could not confirm Nathu La's exact open days and hours, Tsomgo's closing day, or whether Zero Point and Gurudongmar will be open in January or February 2027. We found no official winter notice from Sikkim Tourism or the Sikkim Police, so every closure above is from news of past snow events. Last checked 15 November 2026. Check again close to your dates.

Who this suits

Travellers who want a cold, clear Sikkim and are happy if snow is a bonus rather than a promise. If you must see snow on specific dates, go to a place where it is certain, and expect even Sikkim to disappoint in some years.

Plan it with us

Our New Year in Sikkim and Darjeeling trip is on its trip page with the route, price and what is included. For questions about permits or conditions, message us on WhatsApp at +91 90360 21836.

Questions people ask

Does it snow in Gangtok?

Rarely. Gangtok is cold in winter but too low for regular snow. Snow is likely at Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Yumthang and Zero Point.

When is the best time to see snow in Sikkim?

January has the strongest chance, and snow lingers up high in February. No one can promise fresh snow on a given date, and we found no official snowfall-frequency data.

Is Yumthang open in January?

It depends on the snow. On 8 January 2025, after heavy snowfall, the road was open as far as Yumthang while Zero Point was inaccessible. One site claims a blanket closure from December to March, which news reports do not support.

Do Indians need a permit for Nathu La and North Sikkim?

Yes, a Protected Area Permit for both. An Inner Line Permit is not required for Indian citizens. Nathu La permits are arranged through an agent and sources say it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Confirm with your operator.

Is Gurudongmar Lake open in winter?

It reopened in March 2026 after being closed since the October 2023 flood. Travel to it was not permitted on a heavy snow day in January 2025. We found no official winter status for 2027, so ask before you plan around it.

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