"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things" ~ Henry Miller

Destinations


Sikkim: Getting There & Around

Sikkim is well connected by rail and air to the rest of the country through Siliguri in West Bengal. There are no airports or railway stations in Sikkim. The primary means of transport within Sikkim is by road. To get to Sikkim you must first reach Siliguri.

a) By Air: The nearest airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri in West Bengal. It is connected by daily flights from New Delhi and 6 flights from Calcutta (excluding Thursdays) every week. It is 115 kms from Gangtok and takes about 4 1/2 hrs. Recently a 4-seater helicopter service from Bagdogra to Gangtok has started and takes about 20min. (Please check flight schedules as they are apt to change)

b) By Rail: The broad guage railway station is New Jalpaiguri, near Siliguri. The Dadar Guwahati Express is the only direct train from Mumbai. From Calcutta, it is easily accessible by both rail and road. From Delhi, the New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani passes through New Jalpaiguri. ((Please check railway schedules as they are apt to change)

c) From nearby hill stations: If you are planning a visit to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik or Bhutan, you can combine the trip with extensions to Sikkim or vice versa.

Within Sikkim jeeps are the most popular form of transport. Most jeeps are Mahindra Commander 4 wheel drive, but there are also a limited number of Sumos. In certain areas, Maruti vans are also used. From New Jalpaiguri/ Bagdogra to Darjeeling or Gangtok, 28 seater mini buses also ply. Individual (private) jeeps have a maximum capacity of 10 persons whereas vans take 4 persons. In North Sikkim only shared jeeps are available with the maximum no of persons being 7.

More about Sikkim
An Overview
Geography
History
People & Culture
Economy
Festivals
Off the Beaten Track
Wild Life
Adventure
Monastery Magic
Gangtok
Tourist Information
Accommodation
Climate
FAQ

Travelogues
Journey to Remember
Rumtek Diary
Yumthang Valley


Trekking
Freedom From Fear
Classic Dzongri Trek
When Climbers Trek


Among all the hill stations and tourist places in the Himalayas, Sikkim has the best roads. Roads are maintained by the Indian Army.

Compiled by Romola Butalia


Home | Back | Top | Feedback


Editor: Romola Butalia       (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved.