Sikkim Travel Guide 2025 — India's Hidden Himalayan Kingdom

Sikkim — Why This Is India's Most Underrated State

There is a moment on the drive from Gangtok to Tsomgo Lake, somewhere around 3,000 metres, when the clouds clear and the full southern face of Kanchenjunga — the world's third-highest mountain at 8,586m — appears in its entirety above you. Most Indian travellers have never seen anything like it. Sikkim does that to you: it shows you things you didn't expect India to have.

The state has been off the mainstream Indian tourist circuit for decades — partly because of its remoteness, partly because of its permit system, and partly because it simply doesn't have the marketing infrastructure of Shimla or Manali. But what it does have is extraordinary: intact Buddhist monasteries, some of the cleanest and most dramatic Himalayan landscapes in the subcontinent, and a culture that blends Nepali, Tibetan, Lepcha, and Bhutia influences into something genuinely distinct.

Getting to Sikkim

By air to Bagdogra: The main route. Fly to Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri (West Bengal) from Kolkata, Delhi, or Mumbai. From the airport, shared jeeps to Gangtok cost ₹250–350 and take 2.5–3 hours. Private taxis cost ₹2,500–3,000 and take 2 hours.

By air to Pakyong: Sikkim's own airport, 30km from Gangtok. SpiceJet operates limited flights from Kolkata. Check availability — schedule changes frequently.

By train to NJP: New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station near Siliguri is well connected from Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. Shared jeeps from NJP to Gangtok take 4–5 hours and cost ₹200–280.

Permits — What You Need to Know

East Sikkim (Gangtok, Rumtek): No permit needed for Indian citizens. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit (available at the border checkpost at Rangpo).

Tsomgo Lake + Nathula Pass: Protected Area Permit (PAP) — obtainable in Gangtok from the tourism office or through any registered tour operator. Takes 30–60 minutes. Cost: minimal (₹20–50). You must travel in a registered taxi. Walk-in to Nathula is not permitted — only in the taxi with the permit.

North Sikkim (Gurudongmar Lake, Lachen, Lachung): Inner Line Permit — must be arranged through a registered Sikkim tour operator as part of a package. 3-day minimum circuit.

What to See in Gangtok (East Sikkim)

MG Marg — The pedestrian street in Gangtok's centre, flanked by cafes, shops, and restaurants. The evening atmosphere with the mountain air is genuinely pleasant.

Rumtek Monastery — 25km from Gangtok, the seat of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. One of the most important monasteries outside Tibet. The drive through the valley is lovely.

Tashi Viewpoint — Take the Gangtok cable car for views of the city and the surrounding peaks. On clear mornings (pre-9am), Kanchenjunga is visible.

Enchey Monastery — Within Gangtok town — a peaceful monastery on a hilltop with forest walks around it.

Tsomgo Lake — The High-Altitude Day Trip

At 3,753 metres above sea level, Tsomgo (Changu) Lake is a glacial lake considered sacred by the local Sikkimese. The landscape is stark and dramatic — steep mountain walls, patches of snow even in May, and yaks for hire for photographs.

Getting there: Book a shared taxi from Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) bus stand in Gangtok (₹500–600 per person shared), or hire a private taxi (₹3,000–4,000). The permit is arranged by the taxi operator.

Tips: Go early — by 11am the crowds from Gangtok arrive. Dress very warmly (a winter jacket even in October). Altitude sickness can affect unacclimatised visitors — spend your first night in Gangtok before doing the day trip.

Pelling — The Kanchenjunga Viewpoint

Pelling in West Sikkim (4–5 hours from Gangtok by car) has what many consider the best views of Kanchenjunga in all of Sikkim — the mountain fills the entire horizon on a clear morning.

Pemayangtse Monastery — One of Sikkim's oldest and most revered monasteries, 10 minutes from Pelling.

Skywalk — A glass-bottomed bridge built on a cliff edge near Pelling. Vertiginous but popular.

Rabdentse Ruins — The remains of Sikkim's second capital, a pleasant 20-minute walk through forest from Pemayangtse.

North Sikkim — The High Altitude Circuit

The 3-day North Sikkim package (booked through any tour operator in Gangtok) covers:

• Lachung + Yumthang Valley — rhododendron valley at 3,564m (spectacular in April–May)
• Zero Point — the snowfield at 4,562m — furthest point accessible by road in North Sikkim
• Gurudongmar Lake — sacred lake at 5,430m, one of the world's highest

This circuit is weather-dependent. It is closed during monsoon (June–September). October–December and March–May are the best windows.