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Rolep – A Piece of Heaven in the Silk Route

North Bengal has always been a popular choice among tourists from all over the country as well as from the world. Tourism in North Bengal includes a number of hill stations, some of which include the most popular snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas. Hill stations like Darjeeling, Gangtok and other places like Mirik and Rohini are filled with tourists during the spring and summer months. Even monsoons create a surreal ambience with the freshly washed forests, smell of woods, tea estates and a lot more.

Among these hill stations, one stands with its unique atmosphere of spirituality and mystic - Sikkim. Surrounded by the Himalayas, this place is for any type of tourist be it the nature lover, the travel enthusiasts, adventure seekers and more. While a lot of us are already aware of the ethereal magic of this place, there is one small village, 20 kms from Rongli in East Sikkim named Rolep. Away from the mainland in Sikkim, this place is heaven for bird watchers as well as the ones who come to rejuvenate their tired souls and minds.

Serene and beautiful: While Rolep is a remotely located village and small in size, it is loved for its serenity and beauty. The village is exactly located at the bottom of the Tshangu Lake and Memeantshu Lake. The pristine waters of the Rangpoo ‘Khola’ or Rangpoo River flows along with the length of the village. This makes Rolep an excellent place for trout fishing as well as a source of cool and fresh water.

An ideal holiday destination for all: The uniqueness of Rolep is the different options of spending holidays, despite its remote location and small size. Fishing and angling options are in abundance in Rolep as the Rangpoo River is supplied water all through the year along with number of trouts from the Memeantshu and Tshangu Lakes.

Apart from these activities, one will fall to the charm of the tributaries of Rangpoo, the tea gardens, several monasteries and temples. The place has a rich heritage due to several communities residing there such as Bhutia, Chetri, Gurung, Rai and Sharma. As it is cultural, historical, religious and natural significance, this place is recognized among one of the most popular eco-tourism areas of Sikkim. The place is also a new route for the Old Silk route or the Zuluk trip. As part of the Old Silk Route, Rolep connects to China with the help of the Nathula Route. This also facilitates pilgrimage and travel.

Popular places of interest:  

Following are popular among tourists in Rolep:

• Buddha Cave: This is a local place of worship that attracts numerous pilgrims from different places like Nepal and Bhutan. The cave includes a statue of Guru Rinpoche and is an ideal place for meditation. It is believed that the desire to have child is granted here. There is a water body that surrounds the stone which never gets dry. One has to trek in order to reach here, which is a pleasant experience as the trekking route is through cardamom garden and hanging bridges. It is also considered suitable for campaigning.
• There is also a 40 feet high Buddha Waterfalls and Shokey Khola
• The Chochen Lake (chochen: dry). There is a paddy field that encircles the lake.