Zuluk, a small village perched on the top of a hill in East Sikkim at a height of 10,000ft with the snow clad Himalayas at the backdrop is a canvas painted by the Divine. It is that location from where one can take a sweeping view of the entire Lower Himalayan ranges. This place had been in the pages of history as the transit point of the famous Silk Route which connected Tibet with India. It was used by traders in the old times as an overnight basecamp where they halted to rest but after the Chinese invasion it had been closed down abruptly.

This simple village is devoid of anything flashy that defines other tourist locations because the rugged nature of the landscape does not allow the poor people to practice any form of occupation. Ironically, this deserted look of scarcity lends the village its ethereal beauty. The winters here are severe with heavy snowfall masking the ground completely. Monsoons are foggy and cloudy, while the springtime and the season after the rains is the time when Zuluk turns into a pretty maiden with wild flowers blooming everywhere and Rhododendron trees of different variety can be seen all over. Night times can be spent around fires with the local people relating old folklores and legends surrounding the place who claim to have seen Yeti or the giant, elusive snowman.

There are many places to visit in and around Zuluk and one can hire a cab for a few days trip. The local Nag Temple, a Hindu shrine in the form of a cave houses the Hindu Mythical God Nag who is worshipped by the people here is worth visiting. The most prominent and attractive place is Thambi View Point (altitude: 11,200 ft) from where you get an unhindered view of the zig-zig roads below and also a breathtaking sight of the sun rising over the famous snow-capped Mt. Kanchenjunga and the other peaks. From here one can drive up toLungthung (13,000ft) after crossing 32 sharp hairpin turns. Padamchen and Nathang valley can also be visited from here. Another spot known as the Eagle’s Nest Bunker, an abandoned army base located few kilometers from Nathan valley offers uninterrupted view of the eastern Himalayas, the peaks of Tibetan Plateau, western China and the river Brahmaputra meandering through the plains of West Bengal.

You can continue driving up to other spots on the silk route like Kalpokhri Lake and visit the sacred Adi Baba mandir built in honour Late Sepoy Bhajan Singh. The Kupup Lake is another attraction where you can visit the world’s highest golf course (13,500ft), an Ice Hockey field and also visit Lhasa(520 kms from here), the seat of Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader. Further up from here you can visit the Memenchu Lake or the Elephant Lake and the Tukla Valley where a war memorial had been constructed to honour British soldiers who died at the battle of Tukla. The famous Jelep La and Nathula pass can be visited from here with special permits from the military.

No hotels or resorts are available here but local villagers offer homestay and cottages to weary travellers. These humble accommodations are clean and comfortable with attached bathrooms. Sufficient amount of blankets and pillows are provided, regular supply of hot water in buckets, a room heater to keep oneself warm along with delicious home-cooked food day and night greets every visitor. You can stay in these cottages and plan your trip to various spots. The best time to visit the village would be after the rainy season and in early April or May. Zuluk can be reached from Siliguri by road (6-7hrs.), from Kalimpong (4 ½ hours) and from Gangtok (3 hrs.). Nearest Airport is Bagdogra Airport and New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station.