On the foothills of the Himalayas, the tiny state of Sikkim is often referred to as the "Switzerland of the East". Lofty, mist-clad mountains dominate the skyline of Sikkim. The gurgling river of the Teesta rushes through the hilly terrains lending the region breathtaking beauty. Travel.mapsofindia brings you complete information on how to reach Sikkim:
How to Reach Sikkim by Air:
Sikkim does not have any airport in it. But the nearest Airport is Bagdogra (near Siliguri) in West Bengal, which lies only 125kms away from Gangtok the capital of Sikkim. Bagdogra is connected to cities like Delhi and Kolkata by regular flights.How to Reach Sikkim by Road:
Although the state of Sikkim lies at the foothills of the Himalayas, it has a good network of roads. Sikkim can be entered through northern areas of West Bengal. Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri are directly connected to Gangtok and other cities of the state. But during the monsoon seasons sometimes, landslides create temporary problems in road transport.How to Reach Sikkim by Rail:
Sikkim does not have any rail network in its boundary. The nearest Railways Station is New Jalpaiguri (near Siliguri), which is connected to Gangtok by road. New Jalpaiguri boasts of an extensive rail network with major Railway Stations in India, such as Kolkata, Delhi. It is also conveniently linked to the cities of Northeastern India like, Guwahati.Entry Formalities
- Foreign Nationals: The Foreign nationals require a Restricted Area Permit to enter Sikkim. 15-day permit is issued by Indian Missions abroad. The Tourism Officer at the border town of Rangpo can issue a 2-day permit to foreign tourists to enable them to enter the state and acquire the full 15-day permit. Sikkim Tourist Information Counter in cities namely, Gangtok, Bagdogra, Siliguri, Kolkata, Delhi are authorized to issue permits.
- Indian Nationals: Indian nationals do not require any permit to enter Sikkim excep for a few restricted areas.
