Your Guide To Sikkim - #TraveltoExplore

How does it begins????? Either from the nearest railway station or from the airport.

Your first destination to begin with your Sikkim tour would be Gangtok (East Sikkim). Lets find out how to reach Gangtok.

The nearest airport from Sikkim is Bagdogra and railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP).

If you are arriving at NJP, below are the budget and comfort wise options to choose from to travel to Gangtok:

1) You can take an auto from NJP station to Silliguri bus stand where you can find several sharing cabs/taxis heading towards gangtok, cost around INR 350 pp. (These taxis are heavily loaded, approx 10-11 people in 1 cab and the journey is of 4-5 hours).

2) You can opt for a comfortable sharing cab ride by booking a seat through wizzride.com, cost INR 750/pp and there are maximum 5 person in a car as per seat availability.

3) If budget is not a problem for you, you can hire a private cab to reach Gangtok which costs around INR 3000. Alternatively, if you have already booked your sightseeing cab in Gangtok you can ask the pick up to be included for extra cost.

Alternatively, if you are arriving at Bagdogra airport, you only have option 2 and option 3 to travel to Gangtok.

Important Note:

1) Travel time from Silliguri/Bagdogra to Sikkim is 4-5 hours. Hence, opt for early reaching options.

2) Bagdogra is a defence airport and shuts down at 6:30 pm.

3) If you are planning to opt for cabs through wizzride.com from Bagdogra, their last cab leaves at 6:30 pm, post which the only option would be to hire a private cab. And by any chance if your flight is delayed you might have to either waste one day by staying at Bagdogra/Silliguri basis the options available or would have to pay way extra charges for private cabs.

4) If you are opting for private cabs after 7, make sure those cabs are Sikkim registered and not West Bengal registered. As WB cars are allowed upto a certain limit in Gangtok and can also be stopped at Police check posts during night travels. The main reason why private cabs from Bagdogra either denies to travel to Gangtok after 7 or charges extra.

Day 1 Gangtok : You can cover Main attractions i.e, Nathula Pass, Tsomgo/Changu Lake and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir (Permit Required).

Important Note :

1) Things to carry : 8-10 passport size photographs and your ID proof (preferably Aadhar) to apply for permits, Warm Warm clothes, An umbrella, if visiting between April to August as rains are uncertain during these time and camphor to help with breathing issues at high altitudes.

2) Days/ People start early in sikkim around 4 or 5 AM and finishes around 4 or 5 in evening. Prepare yourself for this schedule, throughout your trip.

3) You will need permit to visit many locations in Sikkim, which needs to be taken in a day advance. These permits are arranged by cab drivers for you. Hence, provide your documents to them well in advance to obtain required permits.

3) You will need to rent Snow Boots and Warm Clothes, when heading towards Nathula. Boots costs INR 80-100/pp and Jackets cost around INR 200-300/pp.

4) Stay options in Gangtok can be selected in MG Marg as its near city centre.

Day 2 Gangtok: You can cover Monasteries, Tashi View Point, Banjhakri Falls, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and other local Gangtok sightseeing.

You can stay overnight at Gangtok after the above places; however, we finished these points early and headed towards Namchi, the capital of South Sikkim.

Namchi, a beautifully constructed replica covering the Chaar dham Shiv Temples. So peaceful and close to nature.

We had a night halt at Ravangla, South Sikkim right in front of famous Buddha Park, cost 1000/couple including 1 meal, after Namchi.

A Beautiful morning, waking up to see the beautiful Kanchenjunga views from your window, behind the Buddha Park, Ravangla.

Starting your day with Kanchenjunga Views to exploring Ralang New Monastery, Buddha Park and then Heading towards Rabdentse Ruins, Skywalk at Choeling Monastery and much more.....❤️❤️❤️

And then say goodbye to South Sikkim❤️ and Head towards West Sikkim and cover on the route sightseeing like Rimbi Waterfalls, Kanchenjunga waterfalls etc.

West Sikkim is completely different from rest of the parts of Sikkim as its full of Greenery, Jungles, Sunrises, Sunsets and lakes

Pelling is more of a relax destination and to be close to nature, away from the hustles and bustles of human life❤️

You can enjoy the bird chirping and Sunrise views from your room, while sipping your coffees.

Later you can walk down to the Khecheopalri Lake (A Holy Lake - which is said to be a wish fulfilling Lake, as the localites says that this lake emerged immensely before few years between the Jungle).

Lastly, you can enjoy the sunsets by trekking upto sunset point.

And bid adieu to West and head back to Gangtok for a night halt before starting the most exciting and tiring Journey towards North Sikkim ❤️❤️❤️

Pack your bags and leave for Lachen, a village in North Sikkim and cover the beautiful sightseeing on route like Singhik View Point, Kanchenjunga View point, Naga Falls, Butterfly Waterfalls, Teesta river and have a night stay at Lachen, as the Journey from Gangtok to Lachen would have been very long and tiring yet beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

Important Note:

1) Entering North Sikkim requires permit which needs to be obtained a day in advance (Arranged by driver) keep a check.

2) Plastic water bottles like Kinley, Bisleri etc are not allowed in North Sikkim. Hence, carry the tough plastic bottles we use at homes. The only option in North is to drink local water if you haven’t carried your water enough.

Today is going to be the mesmerizing day for you, as you would be visiting the spectacular Gurudongmar Lake, one of the main reasons, I visited Sikkim❤️❤️❤️

On the way to Gurudongmar Lake, we also covered Kala Patthar, Thangu which was the best decision as hardly anyone was moving towards Kala Patthar (This location has the soft snow unlike other places, its off beat, clean and Beautiful.

And will come across the views of Chopta Valley.

Important Note:

1) Do not intake Heavy Breakfast as the routes to North are very bad and you would be driving to higher altitudes, so keep it light.

2) Keep yourself covered from Head to toe as it would be really cold at Gurudongmar Lake, Thangu Sikkim.

3) Carry camphor tied in handkerchief available to use in case of breathing issue at Gurudongmar Lake or other points covered during today’s journey.

Last Day of your journey, make sure its the best ❤️

Today’s Agenda - Zero Point and Yumthang Valley.

We moved towards Zero Point first to avoid closure of the place if weather conditions would have worsened. Zero Point has the lowest temperature of all the places in Sikkim, best part in our journey was we experienced snowfall here and it was beautiful. The view of Yumthang valley from Zero point is another level ❤️❤️❤️ and believe me camera can never express as much as our eyes can see.

During our return we stopped at Yumthang Valley, my god another Beauty ❤️❤️❤️

There is a hot water spring as well on the return route, but honestly I didn’t find it worth visiting, it wasn’t clean at all and can be missed.

Important Note:

1) We had enough days. Hence, we stayed at Lachung for 2 nights. You can also merge Day 7 and 8 as per your choice and convenience.

2) Camphor and Warm Clothes from head to toe, covering you fully are important for today’s journey as well.

Bidding adieu to the crazy and mesmerizing journey of Sikkim, you head back towards your own destinations????

P.S

Our whole journey was a success as we opted to travel with a localite instead of hiring a cab from transport companies. All the budget and cool stays for us were organized by our Cab Uncle, on the spot, no prebooking or prepayments required for those stays.

Feel free to connect with me in case you need any help with planning your Sikkim tour or you want to go with the Uncle we travelled with.

For more pictures visit our Instagram pstheitchytravelfeets.