How to reach Gangtok — Bagdogra, New Jalpaiguri and the road up

Gangtok is reached by road, from the plains of West Bengal below it. The measured road times below are our own routing; the rain and landslides add much more.

By air

Bagdogra airport, in West Bengal near Siliguri, is the nearest working airport: about 126 km and 198 minutes by road to Gangtok. Pakyong airport, about 29 km and 61 minutes from the town, opened in 2018 and was the first greenfield airport in Northeast India. Wikipedia says its passenger flights were suspended and that at present none operate, so treat it as closed until you have confirmed otherwise.

By train

The main railhead is New Jalpaiguri Junction in Siliguri: about 118 km and 194 minutes by road on our routing, and 124 km by the national highway in Wikipedia's figure. Wikipedia says the highway from Siliguri to Gangtok is 114 km, and that a railway from Sevoke to Rangpo is under way but not finished.

By road

National Highway 10 links Gangtok to Siliguri and to the hill towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Wikipedia says regular jeep, van and bus services run along it. On our routing Kalimpong is about 138 minutes away, Darjeeling about 174 minutes, Ravangla about 127 minutes and Pelling about 211 minutes. From Delhi it is about 1,473 km, and free-flow routing says 18 hours, which real traffic and the hill roads stretch.

In the rains

Wikipedia says that June to September brings heavy rain, and that landslides often cut the roads into the town.

Next reads

Read things to do in Gangtok and when to visit Gangtok. Then copy the one-day plan or the two days with Rumtek.

Places around Gangtok

The Gangtok guide →

Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals

temple · 8 min from Gangtok

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library

museum · 13 min from Gangtok

Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge

temple · 13 min from Gangtok

Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels

temple · 14 min from Gangtok

Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge

temple · 20 min from Gangtok

Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer

waterfall · 23 min from Gangtok

Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood

monument · 43 min from Gangtok

Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok

temple · 51 min from Gangtok

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