Dzongri Trek - Goechala Trek

The Goechala trek is surrounded by magnificent mountains. There are 14 other major summits in addition to the Kanchenjunga. That's a major reason for any trekker to flock to this trek. Trekkers take into account Goechala to be the most accessible trek of Nepal's huge mountain. Earlier the Goechala trail was not so well-known. Although, during the Nepal Civil War, which existed from 1996 to 2006, the situation changed.

During that time, Nepal was closed to trekkers due to unrest, and trekking to the world's highest peaks was out of the question. It was a huge setback for the hikers, who scrambled to find other options. Goechala became a common trekking spot at the time. Several trekkers used to flock to the Dzongri pinnacle to witness a spectacular view of the world's third tallest peak, as well as the Singalila range. Rhododendron forests abound on the route to Goechala. The trekkers will spend a wonderful time strolling through these thick forests' via wooden-log paths. You'll also get to explore Samiti Lake while trekking on the paths of Goechala. The glimpse of the water and Mt Pandim's reflection in the lake will surely be a treat to the eyes.

 

When to visit Goechala trek? 

April to the end of June and mid-September to October are the best months to trek on the Goechala trail. However, avoid trekking in January and February as during these months the route becomes inaccessible. 

 

How to reach Dzongri from Sikkim?

You can travel from Sikkim to Yuksom by taxi and to reach Dzongri from Yuksum you will have to travel a long distance of about 4 days.

 

Day 1: The trek to Gochela starts from Yuksom. You can travel to Yuksom by taxi. On the way from Sikkim to Yuksom, you will come across many beautiful natural scenes. This path is surrounded by hills and trees. This route is worth seeing in the rainy season. On reaching Yuksum, you will have a vision of amazing natural beauty. Mountains covered with clouds, small houses, and a beautiful path will fascinate you. First of all, you will need to reach Sachen during the Goechala trek. Sachen is 8 kms from Yuksom. On the way, you will also see the waterfall flowing which is quite adorable. Because the journey is long, you can stop and eat food in the middle. Upon reaching Sachen, you will find a site for camping where you can set up your tent and spend a night.

 

Day 2: After breakfast, you can start your journey from Sachen to Tshoka. This journey will also be about eight kilometres. On the way, you will be able to see different species of birds. In the middle of the trek, you will find a stoppage called Bakhim where you can relax for a while. This place is situated at an altitude of 2300 meters. After crossing the beautiful path of the forest, you will finally reach Tshoka. Tshoka is the second place after Sachen where you can enjoy camping. After reaching here, you can also visit the monastery present here.

 

Day 3: You can start your journey to Dzongri in the morning by spending a night in Tshoka. The sight of Tshoka in the golden sun of the morning is made on sight. Although the journey ahead will be a bit more difficult than before, the beautiful colorful flowers and mountains seen in the middle of the journey will make this journey exciting. After a long journey of four and a half hours, you can rest for some time in Phedang.

 

Day 4: To reach Dzongri from Phedang, you have to travel up to 2.3 km. After reaching Dzongri, you can do camping there and start the journey to the Dzongri top in the early morning. Dzongri top is a 21-minute walk from Dzongri. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the early morning sunrise.

 

How to reach the Goechala trek? 

By Train: New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station to Goechala. Several trains operate from the NJP station. You can simply catch a train to Kolkata and then take another train to reach NJP. However, let me tell you that a direct North-East train also operates from Delhi or the north part of India to NJP. Hence, if you do not want to take trains then you can also book a ticket for the North East train from Delhi railway station. 

By Flight: You can also take a flight to Bagdogra from where you can simply hire a taxi or catch a bus to reach the Goelchala trek. However, taking a flight to reach Bagdogra will cost you much as compared to flying to Kolkata.