Discover Sikkim

Sikkim is nicely tucked into the Eastern Himalayas. A trip to Sikkim is not complete without breathing in the views of North Sikkim (Lachen and Lachung). A short trip to Pelling is also recommended which offers upclose and intimate conversations with Mount Kanchenenjunga, the world's third tallest peak. Gangtok is the access point for North Sikkim so you could spend 2 days exploring Tsongo lake, Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir and Rumtek monastery from there.

Gangtok siteseeing:

1) Rumtek monastery which is 1 hour drive from gangtok…

2) Tsongo lake (25 kms from gangtok), 

3) nathula pass/ baba mandir (50+ kms from gangtok, 25kms from tsongo lake)

4) within gangtok city --- MG marg (shopping center), 

5) 7 points in gangtok (you can skip this)…

Our driver was a nice person. Talk to him about siteseeing around gangtok.. 

Driver name: Karma – 9609851237

Gangtok is 140 km from Bagdogra Airport. You can take a vehicle from the airport to gangtok. No need of booking anything in advance.

Things to book in advance

- hotel in gangtok

- north sikkim tour

Pelling siteseeing:

Visit Pelling which is about 4-5 hrs from gangtok. You could stay at Mt Pandim (Elgin group hotel). The view of Mount Kanchenjunga from the hotel is just amazing.

Pelling is 150 km from Bagdogra Airport and 135 Km from Gangtok.

North Sikkim Trip

North sikkim can be done only thru tour operators. They charge for the complete package including travel from/to gangtok, hotel stay/food/permits in north sikkim.

I would suggest you keep a day in gangtok before heading to north sikkim cause you would need to acclimatize. You can do the local site seeing in gangtok on the first day.

Day 1 

Drive from Gangtok to Lachen village in North Sikkim. Lunch on the way. Sight seeing of waterfalls and places. (5 hrs. drive). Stay at Lachen.

Day 2

Drive to Gurudongmar lake at 17500 ft. Its about 2:30 hrs -3:00 hrs one way. Ideally leave early so that you reach Gurudongmar at around 10:00 AM. Remain there for 1 -1:30 hr and then return. You can see tibet along the way. Gurudongmar is accesible only to Indian citizens. You would find army bunkers along the way to the lake.

Lunch back at Lachen. Drive from Lachen to Lachung in about 2 hours.

Day 3 

After breakfast an excursion to Yumgthang valley and Shingbha Rhododendron sanctuary and Hot spring. Return to Lachung for Lunch. After Lunch drive from Lachung to Gangtok. Its a 4-4:30 hour drive. Sight seeing and lunch on the way. Tour ends with a drop to Gangtok.

You would require passport size photographs and photocopies of your Identity card/passports as the same is required for the permit.

We did not plan to cover Zero point. You coud ask the Tour operators about it. Zero point would have to be covered from Lachung as a base. i.e. on Day 3.

IMP NOTE: Our driver was a nice chap… talk to him first and see if he can organize your north sikkim trip. i.e. don’t go thru the tour operators but thru him since it will cost less. The tour operators anyway would ask someone like him to organize your trip.

Driver name: karma/denzing – 9474649411

Lachung (North Sikkim) is

116 Km from Gangtok

48 Km from Lachen

24 Km from Yumthang

38 Km from Donkiala (Zero point)

33 Km from Yumosomdong

26 Km from Katau

Lachen (North Sikkim) is

122 Km from Gangtok

48 Km from Lachung

28 Km from Thangu

60 Km from Gorudongmar

27 Km from Chungthang

Tour operators for North Sikkim: we went thru yak and yeti tours…

1) yak and yeti travels -  info@yaknyeti.com, visitsikkim@yahoo.com, slg_yaknyeti@bsnl.in, 

cost: Rs. 14,200- ( traveling in group of  two persons).  Inclusive or all meals, hotel stay, travelling, permits etc.

Satish Bardewa, Tel:+919434117418/+919933008822, visitsikkim@yahoo.com

www.yaknyeti.com www.summitsikkimhimalaya.com

2) Prabir Sen travels.. Costs a bit less than yak and yeti but yak and yeti is better…

Prabir Sen -- www.fortunalachung.com

e-mail address: prabsen@gmail.com

3) Marco Polo travels.

Hotel information:

Gangtok

1) The Nor-Khill, Gangtok

Telephone : 91-3592-205637, 200170, 200171, 220064

Fax : 91-3592-205639

email : norkhill@elginhotels.com

They are heritage hotels.

reservations@elginhotels.com

   http://www.elginhotels.com/index.html

   http://www.elginhotels.com/theelgin.html 

2) Mayfair

 Phone  +91 359 2250009

   Fax  +91 359 2250009

   e-Mail  gangtok@mayfairhotels.com

3) Tashi Delek

http://www.hoteltashidelek.com/

M G Marg,

Gangtok 737 101,

Sikkim, India

Phone: (+91 3592) 202991, 202038, 204156 / 57 / 58

Fax: (+91 3592) 202362

e-mail : reservations@hoteltashidelek.com

4) Denzong Inn 

Denzong Cinema Chowk, Lall Bazaar Road,

Gangtok 737 101

Sikkim, India

Phone: (+91 3592) 202692

Fax: (+91 3592) 202362 

e-mail : denzonginn@rediffmail.com

5) orange village resort

http://www.orangevillageresort.com/gallery.htm

Direct Line : +91-3592-251442 / 251443. Mobile: +91-94342-35565. Fax: +91-3592-251518. 

orangevillageresort@rediffmail.com

6) the royal plaza

http://www.theroyalplazahotel.com/

The Royal Plaza, Upper Syari, Gangtok - 737102, Sikkim.

Tel : +91-3592-280032 /280232; Fax : 03592-281112; 

Email : trp@sarovarhotels.com

7) the royal demazong

http://www.theroyaldemazong.com/

The Royal Demazong(A Mountain Resort), GRBA Road, Chongay Tar,P.O. Raj Bhawan,

Gangtok-737103,East Sikkim. Phone: +91-3592-203043/44 Fax: 203045

Mobile:+91-94340 -24070 / 98320 - 87334  / 99330 - 07780(EPBX). 

Email:info@theroyaldemazong.com, sikkiminfo@yahoo.com

8) hotel heruka

http://www.hotelheruka.com/

Hotel Heruka.

Near New Taxi Stand, 

31 A, National Highway, Deorali, Gangtok, Sikkim.

Ph: 03592-280793.

 Mobile: +91-9832544234. 

E-mail: hotelheruka@gmail.com

9) samrasa resort

http://www.saramsaresort.com/

9474982226

enquiry@saramsaresort.com

Pelling

1) Elgin Mt Pandim

http://www.elginhotels.com/index.html

reservations@elginhotels.com

2) norbughang

http://www.sikkiminfo.net/norbughang/

Norbu Ghang Resort

Pelling - 737113

West Sikkim

Ph: (03595) 250566, 258272, 258245

Fax :  (03592) 258271 

3) tashi gang

http://www.tashigangresort.com/

Hotel Tashigang,

Yuksom, West District

Sikkim

Ph. No. (03595) 241202 / 241203

Darjeeling

1) The Elgin, Darjeeling

Telephone : 91-354-2254082/2257226/27

Fax : 91-354-2254267

email : elgin@elginhotels.com

reservations@elginhotels.com

   http://www.elginhotels.com/index.html

   http://www.elginhotels.com/theelgin.html 

2) Mayfair, Darjeeling

http://www.mayfairhotels.com/darjeeling_about.aspx?page=darjeeling&sid=abt&lid=ovr

   Phone  +91 354 2256 376

   Fax  +91 354 2252 674

   e-Mail  darjeeling@mayfairhotels.com

3) windamere

http://www.windamerehotel.com/windamere.asp

reservations@windamerehotel.net

reservations@windamerehotel.com

4) the viceroy

http://viceroyhoteldrj.com/

V I C E R O Y - Hotel.Restaurant

17, Gandhi Road

Darjeeling-734101, West Bengal, India

Near Clock Towers, The Mall, Darjeeling

+91-354- 22 56165,22 59556

+91-354-22 59556

Reservation@viceroyhoteldrj.com,viceroydarj@sancharnet.in

5) fortune park

http://www.fortunehotels.in/

http://www.fortunehotels.in/HotelResort/main.aspx?ID=5+yeWJcHG7GSduIbKhSshg==&PType=PHvq0A5geZ3y1ymDUQbVHA==

Fortune Resort Central, Darjeeling

Robertson Road,

Darjeeling - 734101

Tel: 0354-2258721/22/23

Fax: 0354-2258720

e-mail: centralresort@fortunehotels.in

6) sinclairs

http://www.sinclairshotels.com/

http://www.sinclairshotels.com/darjeeling/index.php3

Hotel Sinclairs Darjeeling 

181/1, Gandhi Road 

Darjeeling 

West Bengal 734 101 

Tel : (+91 0354) 2256431, 2256432, 2256948, 2256949 

Fax : (+91 0354) 2254355

darjeeling@sinclairshotels.com

7) cedar inn

http://www.cedarinndarjeeling.com/

Cedar Inn

Jalapahar Road, Darjeeling

West Bengal, India - 734101

Phone: +91-354-2254446/2253598

Fax: +91-354-2256764

Email: cedarinn@satyam.net.in