East Sikkim
East Sikkim is the part of Sikkim around Gangtok, the state capital, running up to Tsomgo Lake and the Nathu La border pass and down through the farm villages of Aritar and the Silk Route to Zuluk. Go for monasteries, high lakes and mountain roads; October to December and March to May are the best months.
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East Sikkim, in brief
East Sikkim is the most visited part of the state and the easiest to reach. Gangtok, the capital, sits on a ridge at about 1,650 m, about 114 km from Siliguri, and most journeys into Sikkim start here. From the town, roads climb east to Tsomgo Lake at 3,753 m and Nathu La at 4,310 m on the border with Tibet, and south-east to the farming villages and old trade route around Rongli and Zuluk.
In 2021 the old East Sikkim district was split into Gangtok district and the new Pakyong district. Travellers still use the old name for the whole area, and so do we. Gangtok, Rumtek, Tsomgo and Nathu La lie in Gangtok district; Aritar, Rongli and Zuluk lie in Pakyong district, along with Pakyong airport.
The region packs a lot into a short distance. In a single day you can go from subtropical valleys where oranges and cardamom grow to bare, snow-covered ridges above 4,000 m. That makes it rewarding but also demanding: altitude, weather and permits all shape what you can do, and plans need some slack.
Most visitors spend three or four nights in Gangtok with day trips to Tsomgo, Nathu La and Rumtek. With five or six nights you can add the Silk Route through Aritar and Zuluk, which feels quieter and more rural. East Sikkim also links easily with Kalimpong and Darjeeling to the south and with North Sikkim to the north.
Why go
Reasons to go, plainly
A clean, walkable capital with monasteries, viewpoints and good food, and the base for most trips.
A glacial lake at 3,753 m, frozen in midwinter and ringed by rhododendrons in spring.
The border pass at 4,310 m on the old road to Lhasa, open to Indian nationals with a permit.
The largest monastery in Sikkim and the seat in exile of the 16th Karmapa.
Hairpin roads, sunrise over Kangchenjunga from Thambi and quiet homestays at about 3,000 m.
A gentle farm village with a long forest lake, a good first or last night on the Silk Route.
The map
Where to go in East Sikkim
A boot-shaped lake and farm homestays below the Silk Route
Sikkim's capital on a ridge above the Ranikhola valley
The border pass at 4,310 m on the old road to Lhasa
The Karma Kagyu seat across the valley from Gangtok
A glacial lake at 3,753 m on the road to Nathu La
Hairpin bends and homestays on the old Silk Route
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginPackages
Routes through East Sikkim
Budget tier prices per person, twin sharing. Every package also comes in Value and Comfort tiers, and every route can be changed.
Experiences
Hours worth planning around
Where we book
Stays in East Sikkim
A long-running, family-run guest house on Bhanu Path, a short walk below MG Marg. Rooms are simple and warm, the garden is quiet, and the welcome …
An established mid-range hotel on Tibet Road, a few minutes' walk from MG Marg, with rooms that look out over the valley towards Kangchenjunga on clear …
A heritage hotel built in the 1930s as the royal guest house of the Chogyals of Sikkim, now run by Elgin Hotels. It has period rooms, …
A large, full-service resort on the outskirts of Gangtok with a spa, indoor pool and landscaped grounds. It is the most resort-like stay in the region …
Zuluk has no hotels in the usual sense, only family homestays in the small village and army settlement. Rooms are basic but warm, and the price …
Aritar has a good spread of family homestays around Lampokhari lake and the surrounding villages. They are clean, friendly and cheap, and most include dinner and …
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginDaily budget
What a day in East Sikkim costs
Budget
₹1,800–2,500
per person per day: a guesthouse or homestay twin room shared, local meals, shared jeeps and a share of a pooled permit vehicle
Value
₹4,000–6,000
per person per day: a good mid-range hotel, meals in decent restaurants, and a private car shared between two for sightseeing and permit days
Comfort
₹8,000–14,000
per person per day: heritage or resort rooms, most meals in the hotel, a private SUV with driver throughout and a guide for monastery visits
Per person per day, twin sharing, for planning. Budget builder →
Month by month
East Sikkim through the year
East Sikkim by travel style
The calendar
Festivals worth the dates
Pang Lhabsol honours Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim and remembers the blood-brotherhood oath between the Lepcha and Bhutia peoples. …
Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year at the end of the harvest, celebrated mainly by the Bhutia and Lepcha communities. In the …
Losar is the Tibetan New Year, celebrated across Sikkim by Buddhist communities. Rumtek, the main seat of the Karma Kagyu school in …
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginGetting there
Arriving in East Sikkim
The nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) near Siliguri, about 124 km and 4.5–5 hours by road from Gangtok. New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the main railway station, about 120 km away. Pakyong airport, about 30 km from Gangtok, has had irregular commercial flights; check current status before you travel. From Siliguri, NH10 follows the Teesta river through Sevoke and Rangpo to Gangtok in 4–5 hours by reserved car (₹3,500–5,000) or 4.5–5.5 hours by shared jeep (₹350–450 a seat). Landslides close NH10 several times a year, especially in the monsoon, when cars detour via Kalimpong and Pedong or Algarah, adding 1–3 hours. For Aritar and Zuluk, turn off at Rangpo towards Rorathang, Rhenock and Rongli.
Permits
Paperwork to know
Indian nationals do not need a permit for Gangtok, Rumtek or Aritar. They need permits arranged through a registered travel agent for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La (Nathu La permits a day ahead, and the pass is usually closed to tourists on Mondays and Tuesdays), and a Protected Area Permit for Zuluk and the Silk Route, issued at Rongli. Foreign nationals need the Sikkim Inner Line Permit, formally a Restricted Area Permit, to enter Sikkim; it is free and issued at Rangpo, Bagdogra airport, Sikkim House in Delhi and the Sikkim Tourism office in Siliguri. Foreigners can visit Tsomgo Lake on a day trip with a Protected Area Permit in a group of two or more, but cannot go to Nathu La or Zuluk. Rules and fees are indicative. Check current status before you travel.
Guides
Read before East Sikkim
Indian nationals need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek or Aritar, but need permits through a registered agent for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and the …
A budget traveller can see Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Rumtek and Aritar on about ₹1,800–2,500 a day by sleeping in guesthouses and homestays, eating in …
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginQuestions travellers ask
Questions about East Sikkim
How many days do I need for East Sikkim?
Four to six days covers the region well. Three or four nights in Gangtok allow a day each for the town, Tsomgo with Nathu La, and Rumtek, plus a spare day for weather. Add two or three nights for the Silk Route through Aritar and Zuluk if you want a quieter, more rural side.
What is the best time to visit East Sikkim?
October to December gives the clearest skies and mountain views, and March to May brings flowers and milder weather. January and February are cold, with frozen lakes and occasional road closures from snow. June to September is the monsoon, with rain, cloud and landslides that disrupt trips to Tsomgo, Nathu La and Zuluk.
Do I need a permit to visit East Sikkim?
Indian nationals need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek or Aritar, but need permits through a registered agent for Tsomgo, Nathu La and Zuluk. Foreigners need the Sikkim Inner Line Permit to enter the state, can visit Tsomgo with an extra permit, and cannot go to Nathu La or Zuluk. Check current status before you travel.
How do I get to Gangtok from Bagdogra or NJP?
By reserved car, the 120–124 km drive takes about 4–5 hours and costs ₹3,500–5,500 depending on the vehicle. Shared jeeps leave from Siliguri near the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus and from NJP station for about ₹350–450 a seat. SNT buses are slower and cheaper. Allow extra time in the monsoon.
Is East Sikkim good for a first trip to the Himalaya?
Yes. Gangtok is comfortable and well connected, and the high places are reachable as day trips rather than overnight stays at altitude, which suits first-timers. Spend at least one night in Gangtok before going to Tsomgo or Nathu La, and keep a spare day for weather and permit cancellations.
What is the Silk Route in East Sikkim?
It is the name used by travel agents for the old trade route from Kalimpong to Lhasa through Rhenock, Rongli, Zuluk, Gnathang and Jelep La. Today it is a two to four night road trip with homestays at Aritar and Zuluk, the zigzag road and Thambi viewpoint. Only Indian nationals can get the permit beyond Rongli.
How much does a trip to East Sikkim cost?
A budget traveller can manage on ₹1,800–2,500 a day using guesthouses, local food and shared vehicles. A Value trip with good hotels and a private car costs about ₹4,000–6,000 per person a day, and Comfort ₹8,000–14,000. Permit-day vehicles are the biggest variable, so share them where you can.
Is altitude sickness a concern in East Sikkim?
Gangtok at about 1,650 m causes no problems, but Tsomgo at 3,753 m, Nathu La at 4,310 m and the high road above Zuluk at about 4,000 m can cause headaches and breathlessness. Spend a night in Gangtok or Aritar first, climb slowly, drink water and descend if symptoms worsen.
Can I combine East Sikkim with Darjeeling or North Sikkim?
Yes. Kalimpong is about 3 hours from Gangtok and Darjeeling about 4 hours, making an easy combined loop from Siliguri. North Sikkim permits for Lachung and Lachen are arranged in Gangtok, so many trips do Gangtok, then North Sikkim, then return through Gangtok. Allow at least eight nights for a combined trip.