Nathu-La, India-China Border, Sikkim: Also Known as the Old Silk Route
Nathu-La the India-China Border, also known as the old silk route, was on my agenda when I went to Sikkim in the last week of December. The place and my trip is still itched in my memory and I have so many photographs from this place. At an altitude of 14,420 feet, what separates us from China is a thin barbed fence. Chinese soldires mingle quite freely with the Indian tourists. From what I have read, foreign toursists are permitted only upto Changu Lake and as of now cannot visit Nathu-La border from the Indian side.
A View into China from the Nathu-La Border, Sikkim
.
The border currently is a far cry from what is written in this 1999 Asia Times article on the Nathu-La Border. Apparently in 1999 they did not let anyone take photographs or talk to the Chinese soldiers at Nathu-La. As of now (2006), I was allowed to use my SLR quite freely poiting it as far as I could into the Chinese territory. The atmosphere at the border was quite merry and everyone was free to use there cameras and talk and shake hands with any Chinese or Indian soldiers. Of course the soldiers on both the sides talk with caution and within whatever brief they are given (my guess). The 1999 article also says that there is a sign saying:
”You are under enemy observation now,” warns a signpost on the winding 50-km road up from Gangtok.
I don’t think there are any such signs on the road to Nathu-La now in 2006. At least I didn’t see anything like this.
But my biggest question is what is China’s policy regarding the tourists? Do they let their people visit the border as tourists?
First, the photographs are awesome. Quite a sunny day it was. Well, similar minglings and camera clickings happens at Wagah border also but I was surprised to know of only barbed wire separating the two countries.No idea about what and how much China allows their people to visit the border.Nice post.
nice picture.Did you ask the Chinese soldier why they attacked us in 1962? 😮 😮
Thanks Cuckoo, it was a sunny day to begin with but around 2 in the afternoon the visibility was just a few feet, the mountain weather changes so quickly. At the point where they let us mingle with Chinese soldiers, there is just a barbed wire separating us. I have not been to Wagha, but maybe one day.I am glad you like the picture Ketan. I wonder why that question didn’t even occur to me!
It’s good that the kind of SLR (Single Lens Reflex) that you use is more popular at the Indo-China border these days, than the other kind (Self Loading Rifle)!
Apt observation Sidhu.
Great pics! Thanks a lot. Being foreigners, we were not allowed to go to Nathu-La or beyond Yumthang for that matter, so I really enjoyed the pics. On the 1962 question, the soldier would probably have told you they were just taking back what was theirs in the first place. Isn’t that always their excuse? 😛
Phebes, so what places have you seen in Sikkim? Do you blog? Maybe Sidhu will ask that question when he goes to Nathu-La and will let us know the answer 🙂
hi,,ur blogs awesome…am planning to visit gangtok in May…very keen to go to Nathula,,,How much could it cost from Gangtok to Nathula ?
Aarti if I remember correctly it was 700 rupees for the day trip but that was 2007.