Goecha La

Goecha La is a Himalayan mountain pass in Gyalshing district of Sikkim, at an elevation of 4,940 m. From the pass the south-east face of Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, comes into view, and it also serves as a base camp for climbers aiming at that peak. It is said that officials who first saw this view were so struck by it that they chose it for the Rs 100 note.

The approach is a trek through Kanchenjunga National Park. A typical route runs by road from Siliguri to Yuksom, then on foot through Sachen, Tshoka and Dzongri, with a rest day and a hike up to Dzongri La (4,417 m), before going on to Thansing and the pass itself. Some days involve long distances and the altitude changes quickly, so acclimatisation matters. Peaks seen along the way include Kangchenjunga, Pandim, Kabru, Simvo and Jopuno. Winters bring clear weather, while the pre-monsoon months are misty.