Culture · Rongli
Permit morning and bazaar stroll
A first stop on the Silk Route: get the protected-area permit sorted, then walk the old market for tea, supplies and a feel for the trade road.
Photo: Tsen2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The permit is issued in your names for specific dates and a specific vehicle, and your driver, agent or homestay carries the documents to the office. Expect 30 to 60 minutes on a normal day. Offices keep government hours and sometimes close on holidays.
While you wait, walk the bazaar. Wikipedia calls Rongli one of the oldest markets in Sikkim on the old trade route to Tibet. Look at the grocery shops, tea stalls, hardware and the taxi stands. Ask before photographing people.
Buy water, snacks, batteries and medicines before going up, and withdraw cash. Keep your permit paper safe and carry copies, because you will be asked for it at check posts. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How long does the permit take?
Often 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes two hours in busy weeks. Documents must be complete. Offices keep government hours and may stop issuing in the afternoon. Check current status before you travel.
What do we need for the permit?
Original photo ID for every traveller, photocopies and two passport photos each, children included. The permit is in your names and for your vehicle. Indian nationals only.
Can foreigners get a permit here?
No. The Old Silk Route beyond Rongli is not open to foreigners. Foreign visitors can stay at Aritar or Rhenock and see the lake and bazaars. Check current status before you travel.
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