Getting there
How to reach Sikkim, what cabs really cost, and how to survive on the ground
Ninety-five percent of visitors enter through Siliguri, Bagdogra or NJP in West Bengal and drive up the Teesta valley. Here is the honest version of distances, fares and the rules drivers will not tell you about.
Gateways compared
| Gateway | To Gangtok | To Pelling | Pros | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagdogra Airport (IXB) | 124 km · 4.5–5.5 h | 135 km · 5–5.5 h | Daily flights from all metros; all-weather landing | Afternoon landings mean driving the hills after dark |
| Pakyong Airport (PYG) | 30 km · 1–1.5 h | 115 km · 4.5 h | Would cut 3.5 hours off the drive | No scheduled flights since June 2024; confirm before booking |
| STDC helicopter, IXB to Burtuk | 35 min | — | Spectacular | Single helicopter, 5 seats, 10 kg bags; often suspended in rain or fog |
| NJP railway station | 120 km · 4.5–5 h | 127–130 km · 5 h | Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi; prepaid taxis outside | Shared jeeps need 10 seats filled, or take an auto to SNT terminus |
| Siliguri SNT terminus | 114 km · 4–4.5 h | 125 km · 4.5–5 h | SNT buses ₹200–₹350; shared jeeps ₹500–₹800 a seat, 6 AM–2 PM | Cramped with luggage or kids |
The three border checkposts
- Rangpo (NH10, Teesta valley): for Gangtok, Rumtek, Tsomgo, Nathula and all of North Sikkim. Foreigners get or stamp their RAP/ILP here.
- Melli (Teesta–Rangit confluence): for South and West Sikkim (Namchi, Ravangla, Temi, Pelling, Yuksom). Rafting hub, ₹1,000–₹1,500 a head.
- Reshi / Rongli (Silk Route gate): for Aritar, Zuluk, Nathang and Kupup via Kalimpong. Rongli SDPO issues Silk Route permits 8 AM–3 PM.
2026 taxi and SUV rate card (private vehicle, per vehicle)
Standard season Jan–Mar and Jul–Sep; peak Apr–Jun and Oct–Dec. Small car = WagonR/Dzire (2–3 pax). SUV = Innova/Xylo/Scorpio (4–6 pax). Bagdogra transfers are also sold at the STDC prepaid counter at fixed rates.
| Route | Distance / time | Small car | SUV | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagdogra / NJP to Gangtok (one way) | 124 km · 4.5–5 h | ₹3,500–₹5,500 | ₹4,500–₹7,500 | Peak weeks up to ₹9,000; shared seat ₹500–₹800 |
| Bagdogra / NJP to Pelling (one way) | 135 km · 5–5.5 h | ₹4,000–₹6,000 | ₹5,500–₹8,500 | Via Melli, Jorethang, Legship |
| Gangtok full-day city + Rumtek | 53–67 km · 7 h | ₹3,000–₹4,500 | ₹6,500–₹10,500 | Half-day 5-point ₹2,000–₹4,500 |
| Gangtok to Tsomgo + Baba Mandir | 110 km round trip | ₹4,000–₹5,500 | ₹6,500–₹10,500 | Excludes Nathula and PAP fees |
| Gangtok to Tsomgo + Baba Mandir + Nathula | 125 km round trip | SUV required | ₹7,000–₹10,500 | + ₹2,000–₹3,000 vehicle permit + ₹200–₹500 per person; closed Mon–Tue |
| Gangtok to Zuluk (Silk Route via Tsomgo/Kupup) | 93 km · 4.5 h | ₹4,500–₹6,500 | ₹9,000–₹14,000 | + about ₹500 Silk Route vehicle permit |
| 2N/3D North Sikkim SUV (Lachung, Yumthang) | 3 days dedicated | Not permitted | ₹24,000–₹37,000 | Zero Point / Katao extra ₹3,500–₹4,000 in cash |
| 3N/4D North Sikkim SUV (Lachen, Gurudongmar, Lachung) | 4 days dedicated | Not permitted | ₹42,000–₹64,000 | + ₹1,500–₹2,000 PAP vehicle fee + ₹300/night driver halt |
| Gangtok to Pelling via Temi, Ravangla, Namchi | 130 km · 6 h | ₹4,500–₹6,500 | ₹6,500–₹10,500 | Sightseeing transfer adds 20–25% |
| Pelling full-day sightseeing | 74 km · 7 h | ₹4,500–₹6,500 | ₹6,500–₹10,500 | Yuksom or Uttarey extension ₹4,500–₹6,500 |
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Entry tickets, rentals and food
- Gangtok ropeway ₹110 · Pelling Skywalk ₹100 · Buddha Park ₹50 · Char Dham/Samdruptse ₹50–₹100 · monasteries and falls ₹20–₹50 (cash).
- Snow boots, coat and gloves ₹200–₹300 a set · yak ride ₹300–₹600 · Teesta rafting ₹1,000–₹1,500.
- Cafe meals ₹200–₹350 · sit-down dinners ₹600–₹1,000. Homestays on the Silk Route and in Okhrey include breakfast and dinner.
- ₹50 per tourist Sustainable Tourism fee, collected at your first hotel check-in (children under 5 exempt; valid for a stay of up to 30 days).
Mobile network by place
| Tier | Places | Jio / Airtel | Vi | BSNL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong 4G/5G | Gangtok, Rumtek, Namchi, Pelling, Geyzing, Mangan | Good | Good | Good |
| Moderate 4G | Ravangla, Temi, Aritar, Rinchenpong, Yuksom, Khecheopalri, Borong, Singhik, Chungthang | Good | Patchy | Good |
| Remote valleys | Lachung, Lachen, Zuluk, Uttarey, Okhrey | Weak | None | Best |
| Dead zones | Tsomgo, Baba Mandir, Nathula, Nathang, Kupup, Yumthang, Zero Point, Katao, Chopta, Gurudongmar | None | None | Near army posts |
Last working ATM before each circuit
- North Sikkim: Gangtok, then one SBI/Axis in Mangan. Nothing beyond. Carry cash for Zero Point (₹3,500–₹4,000), gear rental, tea stalls and driver halt.
- Tsomgo / Nathula: Gangtok (MG Marg, Deorali, Tadong). Yak rides, ropeway and rentals are cash.
- Silk Route: Rhenock or Rongli bazaar. Homestay balances are cash.
- West Sikkim: Geyzing and Pelling (2–3 ATMs that run dry in season); Yuksom has one erratic ATM.
- South Sikkim: Namchi and Ravangla bazaars.
Rules that carry fines
- Single-use plastic water bottles are banned statewide; Lachen and Lachung councils fine up to ₹5,000. Carry a flask.
- MG Marg is spit-, litter- and smoke-free with on-the-spot fines.
- Drones are prohibited in all border zones; no photography at the Nathula fence or military installations.
- Sacred lakes: no washing, coins or loud music. Monasteries: clockwise, shoes off, no flash on murals.
Emergency contacts
- All emergencies 112 · Ambulance 108 · Police 100
- New STNM Hospital, Sochakgang (5 km from Gangtok) 03592-202676 · Central Referral Hospital, Tadong 03592-270534
- Sikkim Tourism TIC, MG Marg 03592-202634 / 03592-209090 · STDC helicopter 03592-203960
- Army medical posts with free oxygen: Giagong (Gurudongmar road), Sherathang (Nathula road), Kupup.
Transport FAQs
Bagdogra or Pakyong: which airport should I fly to?
Bagdogra (IXB) has daily all-weather flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad and needs a 4.5–5.5 hour drive to Gangtok. Pakyong (PYG) is 30 km from Gangtok but has had no scheduled flights since June 2024; check an airline actually sells the route before you plan around it.
How much is a taxi from Bagdogra to Gangtok?
A private small car is about ₹3,500–₹5,500 one way and an SUV ₹4,500–₹7,500, rising towards ₹9,000 in peak weeks. The STDC prepaid counter at the airport publishes fixed rates. Shared jeeps from Siliguri or NJP cost ₹500–₹800 a seat.
Can I use Ola or Uber in Sikkim?
No. App cabs do not operate in Sikkim. Transport is by Sikkim-registered taxis and union SUVs, priced per vehicle per route, which is why groups of 4–6 pay far less per head.
Why is North Sikkim so expensive for two people?
A dedicated SUV for 2N/3D Lachung costs ₹24,000–₹37,000 and 3N/4D with Lachen ₹42,000–₹64,000 regardless of how many sit in it. Six people sharing one SUV cut that to a fraction per person.
Is there a helicopter to Gangtok?
STDC runs a Bagdogra to Burtuk helipad service of about 35 minutes with 5 seats and a 10 kg baggage cap, but it depends on a single helicopter and the weather, so it is often suspended. Call STDC on 03592-203960 to confirm before you rely on it.
Call or message the desk, 9 AM to 8 PM IST, every day. We answer in English, Hindi and Nepali and send the rate card for your exact route.