The Draw of Gurudongmar

I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM another phenomenal motorcycle trip across Sikkim, and it has got me reminiscing about why this small part of the country holds such a special place in my heart.

- ROHITH ASHOK

I first travelled to Sikkim in 2017. I was on a solo motorcycle ride without much of a plan. I was not well informed and did not have high expectations. This meant that I often found myself in a pickle, but there were also a few times when the places and experiences I discovered left me spellbound. Gurudongmar Lake, in specific, was one such instance.

Considered sacred by many, Gurudongmar Lake, at 17,100 ft, is one of the highest lakes in the world. I, of course, did not know any of this the first time I rode there. Inclement weather, the absence of roads and a famously unreliable motorcycle made my journey to the lake a story in itself.