Uttarey, Varsey & Sribadam

The word Uttarey is derived from Utey-Tarey literally means Call and Bring Together in Limboo language. Quixotic, eternal, and beautiful beyond words, one has to witness and experience it to believe it. It is a postcard-like scenery, lush mountains, and tranquil surroundings. Splendid landscapes and magical wildlife make this place a lovely destination. With the amazing views, the Valley is also known for its splendid sunrise and sunset views at different vantage points. Each season has its unique charm. The best season to visit Uttarey & Varsey is Spring and Autumn as it offers the best and colorful view. During this season, the valley is covered with bright colourful blossoms of wildflowers. Heavy rains are a norm from mid-May to September end to September.

Uttarey is a small settlement close to the Nepal border in West Sikkim at an altitude of 6600 feet. It is situated nearly 30 kilometers from the popular tourist destination of Pelling. Uttarey is quite popular among tourists for the serene environment and the attraction of places around. From the higher places of Uttarey hills, view of Mount Kanchenjunga can be seen. Nearby places to stay are Pelling, Uttarey, Bermiok, Okhrey, and Varshey / Barsey. Tourists can reach Uttarey from Pelling or Dentam. Tourists visiting Uttarey generally reach Rinchenpong or in Chayataal. Then they travel to Uttarey via Hee, Bermiok, and Dentam.

Uttarey is the best place to start a trek to Varsey & is famous for its tranquility and natural beauty. The place provides a beautiful view of the Himalayan mountains and is yet relatively less traveled by tourists as most are interested in mass tourism destinations. It is a bit offbeat hence allows a more serene atmosphere to be enjoyed. The adventurous one travels during winter as during this period the mountains around here are covered with snow allowing heavenly views. Places to visit from Uttarey are The Titanic Park, The Kagyu Gumpha (Gumpha is the local for monastery), Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park, Trout Farm, The trout farm, Mainebass Waterfall and Chewyabhang Pass just 10 kilometers of Uttarey and is the gateway to Nepal.

The climatic condition of Uttarey and Varsey is suitable for all visitors from different climatic habitats of the world as the place experience a moderate climate i.e. neither so cold nor so hot but remains moderate. The place is calm, silent, and a clean environment. Uttarey experiences heavy snowfall during winter seasons. Its a tourist paradise for all sections of traveler. It is eco-friendly and is popular among adventure tourism, educational tourism on botany, zoology, ornithology, ethnology, and also an ideal place for the leisure holiday, village-tourism, nature lover, bird watchers. It offers walks and trekking trails with nature’s panoramic view. Some of the well-known villages in which host tourists in the respective homestay are Sherpagawn Tribal Heritage Home Stay, Banduckey Limboo Tribal Home Stay, Ferek Lepcha Tribal Heritage Home Stay and Sherpagawn Tribal Heritage Home Stay. Each of them is unique with different languages, customs, traditions, culture, wellness, and different food habits especially for nature and village environment lovers, cultural and heritage seekers, etc.

Sribadam literally means open space or flat land in the Limboo tribal language. The experience of staying in the wooden cottages and meditate in the nearby gumphas is just out of the world experience, it reminds of Reshi or Munis i.e. hermitage. We offer such a package for a spiritual outing. Beautiful surroundings and nested in the lap of nature this village offers various activities. Birding and village walk is best among them. There are two routes to reach Sribadam One is via Darjeeling - Jorethang - Soreng; the other one via Melli – Jorethang – Soreng, Guests can visit the place during Monsoon also enjoying the trout fishing and also for the Meditation. The village is surrounded by Lush green forests, rivers, waterfalls, a meditation center, holy water wheel, and monasteries.

Barsey or Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary or Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is one of the major attractions of South West Sikkim. The entry permit to visit Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary can be easily obtained from Hilley. It is situated at an average elevation of 3049 meters. Varsey in West Sikkim is a beautiful hill resort and is relatively off the major route. It is spread over an area of nearly 105 square kilometers in the Singalila Range in western Sikkim. With Nepal to the west and West Bengal to the south across the Rambong Khola stream, it is ideally located along a trek route from Sandakphu or Phalut. The rhododendrons bloom during Spring. It is a tourism destination for a leisure holiday, village-tourism, nature lovers, bird watchers, and trekkers. It offers walks and trekking trails with nature’s panoramic view. Varsey can be reached from three destinations. They are Hilley, Dentam, and Soreng. The easiest and the most popular entry is from Hilley. Since it is approachable by road and Varsey is only 04 kilometers trek. A village of Sherpa’s known as Gorkhey is home to a few homestays and it is ideally located near the entrance gate of Varshey Rhododendron Sanctuary. The rhododendrons bloom during Spring. It is a tourism destination for tourists and travelers alike. Be it a leisure holiday, village-tourism, nature lover, bird watchers, trekkers. It offers walks and trekking trails with nature’s panoramic view. Thumki Danra Trek, Achalley Trek, Phoktey Danra Trek, Barsey Rhododendron Trek, Above Alpine Level Rhododendron / Primula / Lake trek, Neydham (Nuepdichenphu) Trek & Ranidhunga / Tinjurey Trek are some of the popular treks from here. Some of the other trek routes are Uttarey Dzongri Round Singalila Trek, Goechala Trek, Sandakphu-Phalut Trek, Tosar Lake Trek.

Places of Interest

• Titanic Park
• Kagyu Gumpha
• Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park
• Chayataal
• Trout Farm
• Mainebass Waterfall
• Chewyabhang Pass
• Singshore Bridge
• Varsey
• Lameni Pokhari
• Kal Kamal Pokhari
• Thulo Dhap
• Deoningaly Dhap
• Begha Sheep Farm
• Sopakha-Charan Tar
• Jhankri Dhunga
• Chhangay Twin Waterfalls
• Tinjurey – Three Hills
• Dentam Valley
• Nunthaley Jor Pokhari
• Hee & Bermiok
• Rinchenpong-Kaluk

Communication: 

Airways: There are Two Nearby Airport i.e. Pakyong Airport (PYG) & Bagdogra Airport (IXB). Gangtok to Bagdogra Airport (IXB) is approximately 110 kilometers and is 04 to 05 hours drive by national highway 10. Pelling, Kalimpong, Darjeeling Gangtok is well connected by road from both the airport. Pakyong Airport 130 kilometers from Uttarey and will be same as from Bagdogra. Earlier chopper service took 30 minutes to reach Gangtok from Bagdogra Airport rung by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation. Twice daily at 11:00 AM and at 2:00 PM.  It is a five seated chopper with limited baggage. The chopper can be chartered in Sikkim if booked well in advance. Bagdogra is the major Airport in this region. 

Railways: The nearest major Railway station is New Jalpaiguri Railway Station nearly 120 kilometers and is 04 - 05 hours drive by National highway 10. Sikkim has no railway system but a project by railway is on and the station will be Rangpo. The nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), Siliguri Junction, and Siliguri Town Station and is assessable from all the major towns/cities of Sikkim. NJP is well linked up with the rest of the country with frequent trains. 

Roadways: The network of roads in Sikkim is good compared to its difficult terrain. Gangtok is approximately 150 kilometers from Uttarey. The road network is decent. Pelling, Chayataal, Namchi, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and other destinations are well linked with Sreebadam & Uttarey. Sikkim government is laying a road from Uttarey in West Sikkim to Chiwa Bhanjyang in Nepal. The road is at an altitude of about 10,500 feet and will be the first road link between Sikkim and Nepal which share almost 100 kilometers long common border. Varsey is nearly 04 kilometers easy trek route from Hiley and it takes around 01½ hours to 02 hours. The route followed is Siliguri - Jorethang - Soreng - Kaluk - Hee - Birmiok. Three offshoot routes are Rinchenpong from Kaluk, Pelling after Dentam, and Chayataal after Dentam. Namchi, Soreng, Pelling, Geyzing all are within a short distance from Sribadam.  It is nearly the same time from Gangtok. Sreebadam to Rinchenpong is 08 - 09 kilometers. Rinchenpong to Uttarey is roughly 40 kilometers, Kaluk to Uttarey is nearly 55 kilometers and Pelling is nearly 30 kilometers.