Goecha La, Mountain pass at 4940 meters in Gyalshing district, Sikkim, India
Goecha La is a mountain pass standing at 4,940 meters in the Gyalshing district of Sikkim. The route to reach it winds through rhododendron forests, past suspension bridges, and across alpine meadows with constantly changing terrain.
The pass gained recognition when its southeastern view of Kanchenjunga was chosen to appear on India's 100-rupee banknote. This selection made it a symbol of the region's mountain beauty in the eyes of the public.
Local communities value this pass as a link to their mountain heritage and traditional ways of traveling through the Himalayas. Visitors encounter people who have walked these routes for generations and understand the land as home.
The journey to reach it takes at least ten days with several stages and rest stops for acclimatization along the way. The route demands patience during the climb and care when dealing with altitude changes.
From this pass, sunrise reveals eight Himalayan peaks, with Kanchenjunga being the highest among them. These views are among the lesser-known experiences that trekkers discover here, often surprising first-time visitors with their scale.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
