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| Lunch prepared locally. |
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| Kanchenjunga range in the background. |
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| Tsomgo lake |
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| Chinese flag, Nathu La summit. |
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| At the summit, Nathu La |
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| Tibetan prayer flags. |
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| Setting out from Gangtok. |
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| Tsomgo Lake |
Brian Mendonca
Would we reach the almost mythical Nathu La? That was the question on all of our minds. Even before we stepped into Sikkim yesterday.
Today was the day of reckoning. Anil, our driver arranged the passes for us and we were at the base of Nathu La at about 1 p.m. today.
The cousins Maegan and Dwayne bounded up the steps, but my sister Vanessa and myself had second thoughts in the chill air. The icy winds made breathing difficult.
Just as we were turning back we heard someone say, 'Is it worth it, climbing all that way?' He was hastily reassured that the view is gorgeous. That made up our minds and we set out.
When we met Dwayne and Maegan who were already up, it was an emotional moment. We were at 14,140 feet. No mean achievement.
'You are under enemy surveillance,' read a notice board on the way up. The area is in the hands of the Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army.
The army has a kiosk selling T- shirts with lettering that says you have been to Nathu La. They even provide a certificate signed by the officer on duty. I picked up both.
On the way back we stopped at Tsomgo lake where Maegan and Dwayne took a ride on a yak.
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All photos taken on 21 October 2025 on the road from Gangtok, Sikkim to Nathu La.
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