Gangtok districtHQ GangtokBest Mar – May · Oct – Dec16 places6 packages10 stays
East Sikkim in short
East Sikkim, officially Gangtok district since 2021, is where almost every Sikkim trip begins: the capital Gangtok at 1,650 m, the monasteries of Rumtek, Enchey and Lingdum, village stays in Martam, and the permit road up to Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La at 4,310 m. Best October–December and March–May.
Best months
October–December and March–May
Headquarters
Gangtok (≈ 1,650 m), the state capital
Nearest airport
Bagdogra (IXB) ≈ 125 km to Gangtok
Nearest railhead
NJP ≈ 120 km to Gangtok
Altitude range
≈ 400 m (Teesta near Singtam) – 4,593 m (Cho La), higher on the border ridge
Languages
Nepali, Sikkimese (Bhutia), Lepcha, Hindi, English
Permits
None for Gangtok, Rumtek and villages; permits for Tsomgo, Baba Mandir, Nathu La (Indians only) and Cho La
East Sikkim is the name most travellers still use for Gangtok district, the smallest but most populous of Sikkim's six districts. In December 2021 the old East Sikkim district was divided: its southern and eastern parts, including Pakyong, Rongli, Zuluk and the Old Silk Route, became the new Pakyong district, and the rest was renamed after its headquarters. What remains runs from the Teesta and Ranikhola valleys near Singtam and Ranipool up through Gangtok to the high passes on the Tibet border.
Gangtok is the heart of it: a capital built along a ridge at about 1,650 m, with the pedestrian MG Marg, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, the Do Drul Chorten and a ring of hill-top viewpoints, from Tashi View Point to Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok, that look across to Kangchenjunga on clear mornings. Enchey Monastery stands on the ridge above town, and across the valley rise Rumtek, the Karmapa's seat in exile, and Lingdum near Ranka.
East of Gangtok, NH310 climbs more than 2,600 m in about 54 km. It passes through the fir and rhododendron forest of Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary to Tsomgo Lake at 3,753 m, Baba Mandir at about 4,000 m and Nathu La at 4,310 m on the India–China border. Since September 2025, Indian travellers can also visit Cho La on escorted trips. All of this needs permits and Sikkim-registered tourist vehicles, and Nathu La is for Indian nationals only.
Below Gangtok the district turns rural. Martam and Sang are farming villages of paddy terraces and cardamom on the far side of the Ranikhola, with family homestays, while Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary covers the forested ridge to the west. Most visitors spend two to four nights here, and we tell them plainly: one day for the town, one for the high road, and one, if they can, for a village.
Highlights
What brings people here
Gangtok and MG Marg
Sikkim's capital on its ridge at 1,650 m: a car-free main street for evening walks and momos, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology's museum of thangkas and manuscripts, the Do Drul Chorten's 108 prayer wheels, and the ropeway over the town. Two nights is the minimum.
Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir
A permit day trip up NH310 to a glacial lake at 3,753 m, often frozen from January to March, and on to Baba Mandir, the Army shrine to Sepoy Harbhajan Singh at about 4,000 m. Indians and foreigners in groups can go through a registered agent.
Nathu La
The India–China border pass at 4,310 m, 54 km from Gangtok, on the old trade route to Lhasa. Indian nationals only, with a permit filed a day ahead, usually Wednesday to Sunday. Snow can close it in winter; check current status before you travel.
Rumtek and Lingdum
Across the Ranikhola valley, Rumtek is the main seat in exile of the Karma Kagyu, rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa and inaugurated in 1966, with the Golden Stupa holding his relics. Nearby Lingdum, completed in 1999, is spacious, quiet and rarely crowded.
Enchey and the dawn viewpoints
Enchey, a Nyingma monastery on the ridge above town with a winter masked dance, and the hill-top viewpoints of Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok, where Kangchenjunga turns pink and gold on clear mornings from October to February.
Martam and Sang villages
An hour or so beyond Rumtek, farming villages of paddy terraces, cardamom and family homestays at about ₹1,500–2,500 per person with meals. Walk down from Rumtek to Martam, eat at a family table and visit Sang's 1912 Kagyu monastery.
A rooted story
On the road between Lhasa and Kolkata
For much of the 20th century, the mule tracks of East Sikkim were one of the main links between Tibet and British India. Wikipedia's article on Gangtok records that in the early 1900s the town became a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa and Kolkata, then Calcutta, and the article on Gangtok district notes that the route over Nathu La was first opened up during the British Younghusband expedition to Tibet in 1904. Mule caravans carried goods in both directions, and Gangtok's bazaar grew in part on that traffic. The traffic peaked, according to the same district article, between 1950 and 1959, when the pass was used to supply the Chinese forces then in Tibet. After the India–China war of 1962, Nathu La was sealed, and the border trade that had shaped Gangtok stopped for 44 years. It reopened in July 2006, as Wikipedia's article on Nathu La records, through a trade mart at Sherathang below the pass, on set days in the warmer months. When you drive up NH310 to Tsomgo and Nathu La, you are following, roughly, the line of that old trade road.
Source: Wikipedia: Gangtok; Gangtok district; Nathu La
Places
Where to go in East Sikkim
Every place shows its altitude and best months, so you can plan the climb and the season together.
There is no working airport or railway in Gangtok district. Fly to Bagdogra (IXB) or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), then drive about 120–125 km to Gangtok, 4.5–5 hours on NH10 via Sevoke, Melli, Rangpo and Ranipool. NH10 closes after monsoon landslides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Lava, or via Algarah, which adds 1–2 hours. Shared jeeps from Siliguri's SNT terminal and the stands near NJP cost about ₹350–550 a seat; a reserved small car costs about ₹3,000–4,500. Pakyong Airport has had no scheduled flights since June 2024, and the Sevoke–Rangpo railway is not expected before late 2027. Check current status before you travel.
Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam or Sang. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir need a protected-area permit through a registered agent, usually filed the day before with ID and photos. Nathu La is for Indian nationals only, about ₹200 per person, usually Wednesday to Sunday. Cho La opened to domestic tourists in September 2025 on limited, escorted trips. Foreigners need the Sikkim restricted area permit, applied online on the e-FRRO portal, and may visit Tsomgo on a one-day pass in a group of two or more. Sikkim also charges a ₹50 tourist fee at hotels. Check current status before you travel.
On a budget, two people can manage East Sikkim for about ₹2,500–3,500 per person a day: a clean budget hotel in Gangtok at ₹1,500–3,000 a room, a shared Tsomgo and Baba Mandir seat at ₹800–1,200, a three-point taxi tour at ₹1,200–1,800 a car, and momos and thalis at ₹150–300 a meal. At mid level, add a good hotel at about ₹4,000–8,000 a room, a reserved small car at ₹3,000–4,000 a day and a reserved SUV for Tsomgo and Nathu La at ₹6,500–9,000. Premium hotels such as Mayfair and Taj Guras Kutir run about ₹12,000–30,000 a room. All figures are indicative 2026 rates.
Shared jeep Siliguri–GangtokGangtok
≈ ₹350–500 a seat
Gangtok sightseeing, small car (7 or 10 points)Gangtok
≈ ₹2,500–4,000 a car
Homestay with dinner and breakfastMartam
≈ ₹1,500–2,500 per person a night
Reserved small car from Gangtok, one wayMartam
≈ ₹1,500–2,000
Reserved SUV, Tsomgo + Baba MandirBaba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
≈ ₹4,500–6,500 a car
With Nathu La added (Indians only)Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
≈ ₹6,500–9,000 a car
Cho La permitCho La
≈ ₹1,120 a person (2025 rate)
Vehicle permit, two daysCho La
≈ ₹11,000–12,000 a vehicle (2025 rate)
EntryEnchey Monastery
Free; a small offering is welcome
Taxi from MG Marg, one wayEnchey Monastery
≈ ₹200–300
Indicative 2026 prices. Fares, fees and room rates change with season: check current status before you travel.
Mostly. In December 2021 Sikkim reorganised its districts: East Sikkim was renamed Gangtok district, and its southern and eastern parts, including Pakyong, Rongli, Zuluk and the Old Silk Route, became the new Pakyong district. Travellers and drivers still say East Sikkim, often meaning both. Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La remain in Gangtok district.
How many days do we need for East Sikkim?
Three nights in Gangtok covers the essentials: one day for the town's monasteries and viewpoints, one for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir (with Nathu La for Indians), and one for Rumtek and Lingdum. A fourth night in a Martam homestay or a spare day for winter snow closures makes the trip easier.
What is the best time to visit Gangtok and East Sikkim?
October to December gives the clearest skies and Kangchenjunga views, and March to May brings rhododendrons and mild weather. January and February are cold, with a frozen Tsomgo Lake and possible road closures. June to September is monsoon, with landslides on NH10 and few mountain views.
How do we reach Gangtok from Bagdogra or NJP?
By road, about 120–125 km and 4.5–5 hours on NH10. A reserved small car costs about ₹3,000–4,500, and shared jeeps from Siliguri about ₹350–550 a seat. NH10 closes after monsoon landslides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Pakyong Airport has no scheduled flights. Check current status before you travel.
Can foreigners visit Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La?
Foreigners can visit Tsomgo Lake on a one-day permit through a registered agent, in a group of two or more, after obtaining the Sikkim restricted area permit online. Nathu La, and the Old Silk Route around Zuluk, are closed to foreign nationals. Rumtek, Enchey and Gangtok need no extra permit. Check current status before you travel.
Do Indians need a permit for Gangtok?
No. Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam, Sang or the town viewpoints. Permits are needed only for protected areas: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, Nathu La and Cho La, arranged through a registered agent with ID and photos. Sikkim charges a ₹50 tourist fee at check-in.
What does a trip to East Sikkim cost?
Indicatively, a budget 3-night Gangtok trip with Tsomgo costs about ₹7,000–11,000 per person, twin sharing, with shared transport and budget hotels. Value trips with a private car and 3-star hotels cost roughly double, and premium stays at Mayfair or Taj Guras Kutir far more. Check current rates before you travel.
Is altitude sickness a problem in East Sikkim?
Gangtok, at about 1,650 m, rarely causes problems. The Tsomgo day trip climbs to 3,753 m and Nathu La to 4,310 m within hours, so headaches and breathlessness are common there. Spend a night in Gangtok first, walk slowly, drink water and limit time at the top. People with heart or lung conditions should take medical advice.
Are Zuluk and the Old Silk Route in East Sikkim?
Not any more, officially. Since the 2021 reorganisation, Zuluk, Nathang, Rongli, Aritar and the Old Silk Route belong to Pakyong district, though many operators still sell them as East Sikkim. They are open to Indian nationals only, with permits via Rongli. We cover them on our Pakyong district pages.
Little known
Things most visitors to East Sikkim never hear
Each one is sourced, so you can check it yourself.
Gangtok district is the most populous of Sikkim's six districts, according to the 2011 census figures summarised by Wikipedia, even after Pakyong was carved out of it in 2021.
Source: Wikipedia: Gangtok district
The district borders Bhutan to the east and Tibet to the north-east; the Indian Army controls most of the area east of Gangtok, which is why visits there need permits.
Source: Wikipedia: Gangtok district
Gangtok first became a pilgrimage place after a monastery was built at Enchey in the 1840s, half a century before the Chogyal Thutob Namgyal moved his capital there in 1894.
Source: Wikipedia: Gangtok; Enchey Monastery
The Kagyed dance at Gangtok's Tsuklakhang, held days before Losoong, is performed by monks who come from Pemayangtse Monastery in West Sikkim.
Source: Wikipedia: Kagyed
Banjhakri Falls park near Gangtok was proposed in 2004 to revive interest in Sikkim's shamanic traditions, and displays figures of Nepali, Lepcha and Limbu ritual healers.
Source: Wikipedia: Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park
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