Lachen

Lachen is a town in the Indian state of Sikkim that can be reached via a six-hour road journey from the state capital, Gangtok. Located at the foot of the Himalayan mountains, Lachen sits at an elevation of 2,750 m (9,000 ft). A large Buddhist monastery built in 1858 is a noteworthy regional landmark. Because of its remoteness, the night skies around the town remain essentially pristine, with a rating around class 2 in the Bortle scale. According to the person who recommended this destination to EarthSky, Lachen is regarded as a “Himalayan gem” and, in terms of stargazing, provides “ultra-clear sky, no light pollution, and high altitude.”