Damthang: Discover Tendong Hill and Lepcha Culture

Damthang can be explored from different perspectives: the history of Tendong Lho Rum Faat offers an introduction to Sikkim’s Lepcha culture, while nearby Tendong Hill helps put the surrounding area in context with specific elevation and distance figures. A hill run from 2023 is also part of the stories associated with the place. When planning a holiday rental, you can consider whether you are mainly interested in the cultural setting or would like to explore Damthang as part of a longer trip through Sikkim.

Tendong Hill: elevation, culture and a dated run

Tendong Hill is in the vicinity of Damthang, at 2,640 metres above sea level. The route from Damthang Bazaar to Tendong Hill was reported in 2019 as a 7-kilometre uphill climb. If the hill is relevant to your plans, it is worth avoiding the assumption that specific stages can be inferred from this figure alone.

The sacred stone Longchok is located on Tendong Hill. It is about 12 feet high and was brought there from Yuksom in West Sikkim. The stone’s name, approximate height and origin make it a distinctive cultural landmark in the area.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat is also part of the wider region’s cultural context. The celebrations began in Sikkim in 1993. In 1997, the festival was declared a state festival and added to Sikkim’s almanac calendar. It is considered one of the oldest traditional festivals of the Lepcha community in Sikkim. If you want to plan your trip specifically around the festival, check the dates for your travel period.

Another clearly dated event is the first Tendong Run: in 2023, the 3-kilometre uphill run went from Damthang Bazaar to Tendong Hill. For trip planning, it is useful to distinguish cultural references from a single sporting event: they offer different reasons to explore Damthang and its surroundings.

Damthang as part of a wider trip through Sikkim

A longer route through the state of Sikkim also passes through Damthang. It runs from Gangtok via Rumtek, Sang, Sirwani and Temi to Damthang, then continues via Rabong, Kewzing, Tashiding, Yusum, Pelling, Dentam, Rinchenpong, Soreng, Sombaria and Jorthang to Namchi and Rangpo. In this route sequence, Damthang lies between Temi and Rabong.

These topics can offer different points of focus when choosing a holiday rental in Damthang. Perhaps you would first like to learn about Lepcha traditions and the festival’s historical dates; perhaps you are more interested in the area around Tendong Hill or Damthang’s place on a longer itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Singtam, Namchi, Geyzing, Rhenock.

Back to the main travel overview: South Sikkim.