Dzuluk or Zuluk or Jhuluk or Jaluk is a small hamlet located at the height of around 10,000 feet (3,000 m) on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in East Sikkim of the Indian state Sikkim (Pincode 737131). This place is relatively an emerging and offbeat destination in East Sikkim. Today it is fast emerging as a new tourist destination. It derives Zuluk tourism importance from the excellent view of the eastern Himalayan mountain range, including the Kanchenjunga.
It was once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India. The silk route that connected Lhasa (Tibet) to Kalimpong was in use even a few decades ago until the Chinese invasion of Tibet. It was commonly used by traders traveling to Tibet through Jelep-La (“La” stands for mountain pass) as an overnight base. The route started from Kalimpong and passed through Pedong, Aritar, Dzuluk, and Jelepla to Chumbi valley in Tibet.
Zuluk Location
Located at the height of around 10,100 feet on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in East Sikkim, Zuluk or Dzuluk is a small village that was once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India. It is relatively an emerging and offbeat destination in East Sikkim. This small village accommodates a population of around 700 people. There is also an Indian Army base at Zuluk, used as a transit camp for the army movement to the Chinese border, a few kilometers away. It is the very first village within this whole Silk Route circuit to offer homestay facilities for tourists. 14 kms away from Zuluk, the Thambi View Point offers a panoramic view of the entire Mt. Khangchendzonga range. Zuluk is open to Indian nationals only who need to apply for Protected Area Permit.
Wild forests surround Dzuluk; some of the woods are completely virgin. Sighting of Deer, Wild Dog, Himalayan bears the red panda is not very uncommon. Some tigers have also reportedly been sighted in the area.
Various birds can also be seen, such as Blood Pheasant, Himalayan monal, Kalij pheasant, Snow Pheasant, and others. During the summer months, the area and its surrounding hills are covered with thousands of blooming rhododendron. Dzuluk during these months is a riot of colors due to the variety of rhododendron that can be seen here.
For more information about Sikkim Tourism, visit Sikkim Tourism Government Website.
Zuluk Tourism Guide:
How To Get Permit For Zuluk
Zuluk, in East Sikkim, is located in the restricted area of Sikkim. A special Inner Line Permit is required to reach Zuluk. And all tourists are required to carry-
- Passport or Voter ID card for Adult
- Passport or Birth Certificate for Child (Below 18) and one Photo ID card (School ID / Aadhar etc.)
- 4 Copies of Passport Size of Photo
- Photocopies – 4 No. of the above documents
Best Time To Visit Zuluk
Dzuluk, at an altitude of about 10,000 ft, offers pleasant weather during most of the year. The summer temperature would be near 20 °C (68 °F), with a substantial difference between the day and night. Heavy to hefty rain showers are expected here during rainy seasons. The winter may see snowfall in the area of about 3–5 feet (0.91–1.52 m) of snow.
- October to February — winter, cold, and snow.
- March to May — cold.
- June to September — the monsoon season.
The following Do’s & Dont’s can make your trip to Zuluk enjoyable.
The DO’s for Zuluk Tourism
- Clothing & Luggage: Travel as light as possible with the most miniature minimum clothes, toiletries, and other essential commodities & as these areas are cold throughout the year, it is advisable to carry warm woolen clothes, woolen mittens, and gloves, cap, etc. During the month of Dec to Feb, Zuluk is very cold and often experiences heavy snowfall. Please carry heavy woolen garments during winter.
- Food and Drink: Drink only bottled water. Please carry your water from Rongli, Pedong, or Siliguri. Since this area doesn’t have a single shop, it is always advisable to bring dry foods like biscuits, chips, dry fruits, fruits, etc. Foreign Liquors / Alcohols are not also available in Zuluk.
- Health Facility & Health Precautions: It is advisable to carry specific medicines as there are no pharmacy shops in Zuluk. Always have a kit of the essential emergency medicines you might need for diarrhea, fever, etc., band-aids, and an antiseptic ointment. The nearest health facility /medicine shop is available at Rongli.
- Card Payment & ATM: Credit/Debit Card is not accepted in Zuluk. In Zuluk, there is also no ATM. Please carry cash for all your transactions.
- Telephone / Mobile phones: Mobile coverage in Zuluk is minimal and may not be available from all the places in and around Zuluk. Data connectivity is also inferior in Zuluk. It is advisable to carry mobile phones from two different mobile service providers.
- Where ever you find Pine forest beware of leeches. So, Walk carefully.
The DONT’s for Zuluk Tourism
- Do not expect modern facilities out there as this is an economically poor village, and people out there have been providing homestay for the last few years only. Rooms are ok type, running water, commode in the bathroom, but no TV and Geyser. Hot water will be provided on demand.
- If you have breathing issues, avoid staying at Gnathang Vally; stay in Zuluk. On the way to Kupup, visit Gnathang.
- Do not overthink. Just take precautions and enjoy your holiday.
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