Gangtok Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Landslides and route changes mean road journeys can take vastly longer than expected. If flying out of Bagdogra, play safe by making the Gangtok–Siliguri trip a full day ahead.

Land

Train

The nearest major train station is over 120km away at New Jalpaiguri (NJP). There’s a computerised railway booking counter (222016; 8am-1pm Mon-Sat, to noon Sun) at the SNT Bus Stand.

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Air

The nearest airport to Sikkim is Bagdogra near Siliguri, with flights to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. TSA Helicopters (0353-2531959; www.mountainflightindia.com) shuttle from Gangtok to Bagdogra (Rs 2000, 30 minutes) supposedly departing at 10am daily, returning around 1.30pm. However, service is weather dependent and might also be cancelled if bookings are insufficient. In Gangtok, Sikkim Tourism (221634) sells the tickets.

Bagdogra is 124km from Gangtok. If you don’t want to bother going into Siliguri (12km away) for public transport, fixed-price taxis cost Rs 1450 direct Gangtok–Bagdogra. You might get slightly better prices from jeeps in the carpark: look for Sikkim (SK) number plates.

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