Uttarey

Bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, West Bengal and Nepal, Uttarey is a small village located on the northern slope of Singalila Range in West Sikkim. It is slowly emerging as a satellite township and is only 150 km from Siliguri and 140 km from Gangtok. This beautiful village with abundant nature lies amidst a valley of herbal plants surrounded by hills which bloom in a never-ending array of Rhododendrons. Uttarey is one of the gateways of Singalila trek. Nature has whole heartedly showered itself in this village and that is very much evident in the never-ending greenery of the area. BOOKING DETAILS OF UTTAREY


Places to see at Uttarey: There is an old monastery that is beautifully decorated with flower garden and beautiful mountains in the surrounding. Then, there is the Singshore Bridge which is the second highest gorge bridge in Asia. The Simphok Khola river flows beside this little village which is admired by a beautiful valley of herbal plants. You can hike along the surrounding mountains to visit a nearby Manghim (temple) or a lake. Eco-tourism in this village can be really exciting, especially for tourists who love nature. You can also make a soft hike to a Trout Fishing Centre nearby and the beautiful Mainbus Waterfalls (4 kms away).

Photos of Uttarey

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Nearby attractions from Uttarey: You can hire a car and go out for a visit to nearby places like Pelling, Pamyangtse, Kaluk, Dentam Valley, Changey Falls, Hee Bermiok, Chaaya Taal, Rinchenpong and other destinations in West Sikkim.

View from Phoktey Dara (Trek from Uttarey)

Things to do in Uttarey: You can trek till Chitrey and get to see trout cultivation in cultivation centre. Those interested in trekking can go for it till the top of Singalila via Chitrey and Chiyabhanjan. Adventure lovers can go out for short treks through forests to Barsey and Hilley or to Mainbus Waterfalls. In Uttarey, you can always take a nature walk along the surrounding hills and forests, take up soft treks to nearby monasteries and waterfalls. From Uttarey, you can also take up a 4 Nights 5 days Phoktey Dara trek from where you can see sunrise over Mt. Kanchenjungha, Mt. Everest and Mt. Kumbhakarna at the same time. This heavenly view has been described by most trekkers as the most beautiful sunrise of the Himalayas.

Uttarey Lake

How to reach Uttarey: If you are traveling by air, then nearest airport is Bagdogra which is some 160 km from Uttarey. The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. Transport is also available from Pelling to Uttarey. Moreover, the place is well connected with Siliguri and Gangtok by cars.

Best time to visit Uttarey: The pleasant climatic condition of Uttarey is favorable for all kind of visitors from any part of the world. The place offers a pleasant climatic condition as the temperature remains moderate in almost all season. So, you can visit this beautiful place during any time of the year. However, if you are planning to see the blooming of Rhododendrons, then March is the best month and winter is best for treks and hikes.

Uttarey guesthouse (Gumbadara)

Lodging and dining facilities at Uttarey: There are now many private hotels and resorts available in the place which also offers dining facilities as well. However, most of the hotels in Uttarey are located in the valley without panoramic views of mountains. There is only one hotel located at Upper Uttarey (Gumbadara), which is around 10 mins by car from Uttarey valley. This hotel has the best panoramic view of Uttarey valley on one side and the rolling mountains up to Jelepla Pass on the other side. This beautiful resort is located at the side of a lake and a monastery. It is a beautiful guest house with all modern facilities like hot water geysers, satellite TV,  dining hall, extra spacious carpeted bedrooms, western bathrooms and a beautiful lobby.

Photographs by Soumya Bhattacharya and others.

BOOKING DETAILS OF UTTAREY