Pakyong and the Silk Route · Road guide
Rangpo to Zuluk
Rangpo to Zuluk is about 60 km via Rorathang and Rongli, usually 3.5 to 4 hours. The last 30 km above Rongli is inside the Silk Route protected area, so Indian travellers need a permit from Rongli. Foreigners are not allowed beyond Rongli. Check current status before you travel.
Photo: Atimit Kundu · CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Your options
How to make the trip
Shared jeep to Rongli, then local vehicle
4–5 h · ≈ ₹300–500 a seat to Rongli, plus ≈ ₹1,500–2,500 for a local vehicle the last stretch
Take a shared jeep from Rangpo to Rongli via Rorathang, finish the permit there and hire a permit-registered local vehicle for the last 30 km. No shared jeeps run through for tourists, and services thin out after midday, so start early and check current status before you travel.
Private car
3.5–4 h · ≈ ₹4,500–6,500 per vehicle for the Silk Route day (small car to SUV)
A reserved car takes you through Rongli, where the driver or your homestay finishes the permit, then up through Lingtam and Padamchen to Zuluk. Your driver must be familiar with the road. Plan to reach Rongli before about 2 pm because offices can stop issuing in the afternoon.
From Bagdogra / NJP
6–7 h · Not advised in one day with sightseeing
From Bagdogra it is about 90 km to Rangpo and then about 60 km to Zuluk, around 6 to 7 hours without stops. We suggest a first night at Aritar, Lingtam or Padamchen instead. NH10 closes after monsoon landslides; the alternative is via Kalimpong and Algarah or Lava, so check current status before you travel.
Fares are indicative. Landslides, snow and check-post timings change journeys: check current status before you travel.
On the way
Stops worth the time
- Rorathang junction
- Rongli permit office
- Lingtam
- Padamchen
Send ID scans to your homestay a day ahead so the Rongli permit is ready, and carry two passport photos per traveller.
Questions travellers ask
Rangpo to Zuluk: questions
Do I need a permit for Zuluk?
Yes. Indian nationals need a Silk Route protected-area permit, processed at Rongli through a registered agent, driver or homestay, for about ₹200–500 per person. Foreigners are not allowed beyond Rongli. Check current status before you travel.
How long does Rangpo to Zuluk take?
Allow 3.5 to 4 hours in a private car, including 30 to 60 minutes at the Rongli permit office. In shared transport, 4 to 5 hours or more. Landslides, convoys and monsoon rain can add hours.
Can I do Rangpo to Zuluk and back in one day?
It is possible but tiring and not advised: about 120 km round trip on winding roads, plus permit time. Better to stay a night at Padamchen or Zuluk so you also see Thambi sunrise. Check current status before you travel.
Is the road open in monsoon?
Often, but slides on NH10 and on the Rongli road can block it, and visibility is poor. We advise winter or the clear months of March to May and October to December. Check current status before you travel.
Either end
The places this road joins
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Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
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