Experience the beauty of the Himalayas!

Sikkim & Darjeeling is located in the northeastern part of India and is popularly known as Chicken Neck of India, which links the rest of India to the northeastern state of Assam & beyond. It is very strategically located with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China, lying within a driving distance of 1 to 5 hours. It is truly, the only dry port in India.

The area is famous for 3 Ts, (Tea, Timber and Tourism). The place Darjeeling is synonymous with Tea, as it produces the world's best quality Tea, also known as the "Champagne of the East." Tourism is a major source of livelihood for the people of the area. The government has focused on improving local tourism infrastructure. This is also evident from the fact that this area, is home to tourist attractions such as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, one of the largest high altitude zoo in India, and only places where conservation breeding of Red Panda, Snow leopard & Tibetan Wolf happens. The area also houses the only skywalk in India, which is located in Pelling, Sikkim. There are many more Tourist places, one comes across while traveling to this area.

A) By Air.
Bagdogra Airport – Direct flight from CCU, DEL, GAU, HYD, BLR, MAA, BOM, AMD & BKK. Pakyong Airport (Sikkim) – Presently only spice jet flight are operating from CCU & DEL (Flight are very erratic and can be cancelled anytime). Nepal (Bhadrapur Airport which is 60 kms from Siliguri) Nepal (Birathnagar Airport which is 140 kms from Siliguri).
B) By Rail
New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP) is the main station for the area, and has good train connectivity with rest of India. All trains starting from Trivandrum, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Jammu, Jaipur, New Delhi etc bound for Guwahati will have to pass through NJP Railway Station.
C) By Road Bhutan - Jaigaon (Indian side) / Phuentsholing (Bhutan side).
Nepal – Panitanki (Indian side) / Kakarvitta – Jhapa (Nepal side). Bangladesh - Chengrabanda (Indian side) / Burimari (Bangladesh side). Well connected with all cities & towns of India. The Asian Highway Number AH2 passes through Siliguri which houses the Bagdogra Airport & New Jalpaiguri Railway Station for Sikkim & Darjeeling.

The area can be visited throughout the year. However, during monsoon the roads connecting, Pelling, Lachung, Lachen & Namchi, get even more rough & challenging. We recommend, other than experiential tourist, to avoid visiting, these area during the months of July, August & till mid September.

Cultural – For cultural tourists, the area offers nature, landscapes, monasteries, flower nurseries, etc. Adventure – The area offers activities like hiking, trekking, cycling, rafting and paragliding, etc. Special Interest Group-For such groups, the area offers Tea Tasting session, Interaction with Monks, Culinary classes on local cuisine, experience mountain livelihood etc. Other Activities - Special community services such as charity, support to orphanages etc.

Communication plays a very important role in staying connected, wherever one goes. Telecom operators like BSNL, Airtel & Vodafone-Idea have good connectivity in our area.

Sikkim & Darjeeling is completely safe when it comes to travel, especially when females are concerned. Women of the area are very active and play a major role in family’s decision-making & big contributor to livelihood to the family.

• The documents required for availing the services of Tshangu Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula  & North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang Excursion, Yumesomdong (Zero Point), Katau, Lachen, Chopta Valley & Gurudongmar Excursion) are:
• 06 passport size photographs of each member travelling whether Adult or Child with their name, age & gender written behind each photograph.  
• Original along with photocopy of the photo ID of each member travelling, whether adult or child.
• Valid Passport, Election ID card, Driving License or any documents issued by Central or State Government having Photo, Name and the address will be considered as valid ID Proof only. Aadhar Card & Pan Card are not accepted as valid ID Proof for issuance of Sikkim Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
• Upon your arrival, our office representative will hand over a blank envelope, in which you will have to put all the above documents and leave it at the hotel reception in Gangtok, at the time of check in. 
• For Children below 18 Years and does not have Passport, in such case they will have to carry their School / College ID. In such a case, it is also advisable to carry photo copy along with the original Birth Certificate (in English / not regional language). 
• There has been cases of tourist, who have landed in entry points with their Passport but did not bring the original OCI / PIO cards (OCI / PIO cards, are not considered as Indian proof & is considered as an invalid document, without the Passport in original). Such tourists were not eligible to enter & entry was denied.

• The above sightseeing falls into Restricted Area. To visit these places a special permit is required, which is issued on the same day of travel by Sikkim Tourism. At times issuance of permit can be delayed due to rush or any uncalculated situations. We will request you to kindly bear with the same. FHEs (File Handling Executive) will guide you on such services. Person with a knee, heart & blood pressure issue and child under 05 years of age should avoid going to Tshangu Lake, Baba Mandir & Nathula as it may be of high risk due to altitude and poor medical facilities. 

Tshangu Lake & Baba Mandir

• In case of closure of Tshangu Lake & Baba Mandir due to landslides or any unforeseen reason, then an alternative sightseeing will be offered to you. The FHE (File Handling Executive) will guide you on the same.

Nathula Pass

• Nathula Pass being a border and restricted area, which at times gets closed, due to security reason without prior notice. In such a case, your tour will only be until Tshangu Lake and there will be no refund for unused services.
• You can opt for Nathula Excursion by paying an additional cost that varies from month to month. It is not possible to hold a permit at the last moment, and a clear window of 72 hrs with proper documents is required to process the permit. Nathula permit shall be confirmed the day before OR on the day of travel, which will be subjected to the permit availability. Nathula is closed to visitors on Monday & Tuesday. No refund is granted if the permit is confirmed by Sikkim tourism and you are unable to make it, for whatever reason (land slide, heavy rainfall, VIP movement, health problem, etc.).
• Nathula Excursion can be guaranteed if you have contacts with the Army. Please use your sources, so that the permit could be procured. The modus operandi is that one requires vehicle’s number and copy of the driver's license a day before the date of travel. Even after taking the required details in advance, and God forbid, for whatever reason, if driver or vehicle failed to report or there is a change in driver or vehicle, then the above exercise in obtaining the permit will be futile. While coordinating this with the army or some other source, please ask the source to take both the army and tourism permission, which saves a lot of time. In worst case, if all the above goes in vain, please don't get disheartened as you will only miss a 4 km drive as a visit to Baba Mandir takes you to the area where Nathula is located.

• Sikkim & Darjeeling is one of the safest places to travel however; one should still exercise caution while travelling. Please ensure that your belongings especially your passports, cameras, wallets and purses are properly secured. Please refrain from leaving such items in locked vehicles while sightseeing, moreover its ones responsibility to take care of one’s belonging while travelling or staying in hotels self cautions are must for all travelers.
• Avoid drinking tap water, which has not been boiled, or ice cubes in drinks at all times, as most water sources in Sikkim & Darjeeling are untreated. One can easily get treated / boiled water at hotels. While on travel, advisable to use bottled drinking water, over water from open source.
• In the past, it has been observed that many visitors have arrived at the destination with a photocopy of the valid identification proof (election ID card or passport) rather than carrying the original. In case the guests are unable to produce original at entry when asked, then it could lead to negligence and the authority could fine the guest accordingly.
• Weather in the hills is unpredictable. We have kept the nature related sightseeing, like Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, flexible. This is done, so that the chance of good view of Sunrise becomes more likely. When the FHE (File Handling Executive) calls for such change, we will request you to take it sportingly & without any apprehension. The decision for Tiger hill visit  has to be done before 5 P.M. No changes will be allowed after the decision is made. In case of any changes, it will be treated as cancellation without any refund. Changes after 5 P.M. cannot be accommodated as the allotted drivers leave the operation premises by 5 P.M. & are not contactable. By Default the vehicle will report at 4 A.M. in the morning, whether the guest go for the sightseeing or not for any reason or eventuality (which could be because of the guest wanting to change after 5 P.M. or bad weather or heavy downpour). As per the local syndicate rule, the bills will be raised by the transport provider to us. For further clarification, please contact the FHE (File Handling Executive).
• With ever-increasing vehicle numbers & limitation of parking space, Darjeeling Traffic Police is come up with new traffic rules effective from 01st September 2019.