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By Air
The closest airport is at Bagdogra, which is 124-km from
Gangtok (about 4 hours drive) and
connected by air with all-important Indian Metros. For all further details
please contact any one of the Sikkim tourism offices.
By Rail 
The
nearest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri, which is 125-km (about 4 hours
drive) from Gangtok. NJP is well connected with all major
cities of
India . Gangtok, railway bookings
can be made at the booking counter of the Sikkim nationalised transport
terminus.
By Road
Gangtok is connected with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri by the
national highway 31 A. the Sikkim nationalised transport plies regular bus
services between Gangtok and Siliguri and within Sikkim. Private buses,
jeeps and taxis are also available from Siliguri and Bagdogra. Bookings
can be made at the SNT terminus, Siliguri.
SIKKIM HELICOPTER SERVICE
Height Of Luxury
For the more discerning traveller, Sikkim Tourism is proud to present the
Sikkim Helicopter Service from Gangtok to
Bagdogra airport and back. The five-seater helicopter offers an exclusive
mode of transport not merely to enable connection flights, but to also see
Sikkim from an entirely new view.
Sikkim helicopter service also conducts, besides the regular runs to
Bagdogra airport and back, special mountain flights. Come and see the
majesty of the Himalayan
peaks from close up like never before. Feast your eyes on the grandeur and
the sheer size of the great Mount Khangchendzonga,
the third highest peak in the world, or check out the symmetrical beauty
of Mount Sinilochu, considered by many as the most beautiful peak in the
entire Himalayan range. Or fly over Gangtok
and get a comprehensive view of the layout of the town with it's many
winding roads and alleys.
Special flights are also conducted over West Sikkim and North Sikkim for
a bird's eye-view of the monasteries and the exotic valley of flowers. All
passengers on these sightseeing flights are awarded official certificates
of participation by the STDC as souvenirs.
For a detailed break up of the flight and their schedules, please contact
your nearest Sikkim Tourist Information Center.
PERMITS AND RESTRICTIONS
Foreign tourists need to obtain a permit to visit
Sikkim. The easiest way is to request one when
applying for your Indian visa. They are usually valid for two weeks from
entry into the state, which allows enough time to visit the towns and
villages at a fairly leisurely pace but places constraints on time if
trekking.
The permit covers the main southern belt from Gangtok across to
Pemayangtse. Certain area in central Sikkim and the sensitive border
regions with Tibet are completely off limits to foreigners. Other parts of
Sikkim are open for tourism but not included in the regions covered by
your permit.
For those areas you require an endorsement of your permit, a simple quick
and free service, which is provided at the tourist information Office in
Gangtok. Visa extensions and trekking permits for certain regions can also
be obtained in Gangtok. Certain restricted areas, like Changu Lake,
Yumthang and Dzongri, only allow foreigners in groups, accompanied by
representatives of approved travel agents.
DISTANCE CHART
Gangtok To Bagdigra: 124-km
Gangtok To Siliguri: 110-km
Gangtok To Kalimpong Via Tista: 75-km
Gangtok To Jalpaigurhi: 125-km
Gangtok To
Darjeeling
: 94-km
Gangtok To Pemayangtse
Via Singtam Rabangla & Legship:
112-km
Gangtok To Singhik: 72-km
Pemayangtse To Yuksom: 21-km
Darjeeling
To Pemanyantse:
72-km
Gangtok To
Tsongo: 40-km
Gangtok To Lachung: 126-km
Gangtok To Yumthang: 149-km
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