Count the bends at
Zuluk (Silk Route)
Thirty-two hairpins on the old silk route.
- Altitude
- About 10,000ft
- Signature
- 32 hairpin bends
- Foreigners
- Not permitted
- Permit
- Protected corridor, via agency
Zuluk is a tiny hamlet at about 10,000ft on the old silk route, famous for the view across its 32 hairpin bends stacked up the hillside. The road is a protected corridor: the official PAP page states foreign tourists are not allowed, and Indian visitors travel with permits and registered vehicles.
Kupup lake, the Elephant-shaped lake and Thambi view point complete the loop.
Quick answers
Zuluk (Silk Route) at a glance
Why is Zuluk restricted?
It sits in a sensitive border corridor; permits run through registered agencies for Indian nationals only.
When to go
Plan around these months
Nearby
Close enough to combine
Things to do
What you're here for
Thambi viewpoint
The full hairpin staircase in one frame.
Kupup Lake
The high lake by the army checkpoint.
Facts checked against the official Sikkim tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26