Across the lake the area is demarcated as the Kyongsala Alpine Sanctuary, this is a protected area for delicate alpine flora which includes Rhododendrons, Gentians, Primula, Himalayan Rhubarb, Iris and the famous Blue Poppy. A must visit for nature lovers.

Kyongsala Alpine Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary 31 Kms east of capital town of Sikkim, Gangtok. It is situated around the area adjoining the Tsomgo Lake along the Nathula Road, the part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. The sanctuary covers an area of about 31 km² and extends from the 15th Mile police check point up to and along the ridges bordering the Rong Chu Valley and Lake Tsomgo.

Kyongsala Alpine Sanctuary

The region is rich in both flora and fauna with rare, scarce ground orchids and rhododendrons interspersed among elevated junipers and taller silver firs are among the major plants present. The State Tree of Sikkim - Rhododendron Niveum and Cypripedium Tibeticum which is on the verge of extinction, is also found here.

There are steep cliffs that are snowbound throughout the year, as also open areas used by livestock in summer, until a recent ban by the government on grazing in forest areas. The State Bird of Sikkim, Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, is found here in significant numbers. Species like Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal Lophophophorus impejanus, The Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota , Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda, Gold-naped Black Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus, Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus, Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis and Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris are found here.