• By Flight
  
• By Train
  
• Siliguri to Gangtok
  
• Inner Line Permit (ILP)
  
• Obtaining Inner Line Permit
  
• Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
  
• Travel Agencies
  
• Places to Stay
  
• Places to Eat and Chill
  
• Sikkim Tourism Offices
  

By Flight

Shortest possible way to reach Sikkim is by arriving at Bagdogra airport of North Bengal, which is the nearest airport and has regular flights from Kolkatta, Delhi and Guwahati. From Bagdogra it is about 124 kilometers drive to Gangtok, around 4 or 5 hours on hilly road.

From Kathmandu to Bagdogra, there is no direct flight, hence the best way is to take a flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur(south-eastern Nepal) in Jhapa District, which is close to West Bengal Border, then take a texi to Kakarbhitta. From Kakarbhitta find daily service taxi or bus to Siliguri, Darjeeling or to Gangtok.

By Train

If you are planing to reach Sikkim by train, the closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri, which is again in Bengal. This railway station connects to Kolkatta, Delhi, Guwahati and other major cities of India.

Trains like Darjeeling Mail, Testa Torsa, Kanchanjanga Express, Rajdhani express, North-East Express arrives and departs from this station. You can check train schedules from official Indian railways site. From Kolkatta it takes about 12 hours to reach NJP and from Delhi it's about 25 to 32 hours.

Siliguri to Gangtok

Helicopter Service : The fastest way to reach Gangtok from Siliguri(Bagdogra) is via Pawan Hans Helicopter Services Limited (PHHL) with sitting capacity of 5. Helicopter operates daily 11.45 am and 2.30 pm from Bagdogra airport, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Gangtok, and fare is around Rs. 2000, luggage Limit is 10 Kg per passenger.

By Road : National highway 31A is not so wide, but it is 93 km long, of which 51 km is in West Bengal and 42 km is in Sikkim. This highway is lifeline for Sikkimese Community, it's open throughout the year and everyday numerous public and private vehicles run through it carrying essential commodities, people and tourists.

From Siliguri or NJP and Bagdogra you can hire and reserve a taxito Gangtok, which will cost you around Rs.1500/-, or you can come in a shared taxi from Sikkim National Transport (SNT) at Siliguri, that will cost you approx. Rs.120/- per person. This road mostly runs parallel to Teesta river, offering nice views of mountains, thick forests and river,but beware if you are not used to hill road drives, you might fall sickduring the road journey.

Inner Line Permit (ILP)

An Official travel document issued by the Government of India, a security measure to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India. Hence, all Foreigners are required to obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim, since Sikkim shares border with China, Bhutan and Nepal.

Obtaining Inner Line Permit

You can obtain Inner line permit directly from Indian Embassies and consulates abroad for any protected areas such as Sikkim in India. Within India You can obtain Inner line permit for Sikkim at Sikkim Tourism Offices in New Delhi, Calcutta and Siliguri, and also at Rangpo Checkpost in Sikkim. Applicant must provide two passport photos, photocopies of passport and India visa, and the permit is issued for 15 days, which can be extended further anytime at Foreigners Registration Office(FRO) at Kazi Road in Gangtok.

Restricted Area Permit (RAP)

Normally a foreigner can visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodong and Pemayangtse for a period of fifteen days with Restricted Area Permit. But for Tsomgo Lake, Yumthang valley and Dzongri,foreigner group must consist of least four persons or more, and the trekking must be arranged by a travel agency which is registered and recognized by the State / Indian Goverment. Permit to visit Dongri (Lepcha's settelment) will be issued only by the representatives of the Sikkim government in New Delhi. Foreigners should follow these routes toDzongri : "Pemayangtse - Yoksum - Zongri" and "Rangpo - Gangtok - Yoksum - Zongri". Other Restricted areas than those mentioned above in Sikkim can also be visited with a Special permit, which can only be obtained from ministry of home affaris, which is relatively difficult toget but travel agencies can help.

Travel Agencies

Most of the tourists consult local travel agencies before hand, because they are cheaper (no middleman), and they take care of all the permits (within Sikkim), arrange vehicles and return you back to your flight safely even in strikes etc. Please check out our list of local Travel Agencies.

Places to Stay

Sikkim is filled with all kinds of budget hotels, but you might want to take a look at our hotels list.

Places to Eat and Chill

After a long day, you might want to relax and hangout in local restaurants. Checkout some of good places in Gangtok.

Sikkim Tourism Offices

• Delhi : New Sikkim House, 14 Panchsheel Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021. Phone : (001) 26115346, 26115172
• Kolkatta : 4C Poonam Building, 5/2 Russell Street, Kolkatta - 700017. Phone : (033)815328/297516/298983. Fax : 2458479
• Siliguri : SNT Colony, Hill Cart Road, Siliguri. Phone : 2517528/2512646
• Gangtok : Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Gangtok. Phone : (03592) 221634, Fax :205647