Acclimatise in
Gangtok
The capital on the ridge, base for every Sikkim circuit.
- Altitude
- About 1,650m
- From Bagdogra
- About 120km
- Role
- Permit + tour base
- Monasteries
- Enchey, Rumtek (nearby)
Gangtok, the state capital, stacks down a ridge at about 1,650m: pedestrian MG Marg, the Enchey monastery, Rumtek an hour out, and the cable car over the town. It is also where every permit gets arranged: Nathula and North Sikkim trips book through registered agencies here.
Official seasons: spring and autumn are the big windows, and the monsoon brings blocked roads and flight delays in heavy weather.
Quick answers
Gangtok at a glance
How many days for Gangtok?
Two for the city and Rumtek, plus 2-3 each for the Nathula-Tsomgo day-circuit and the North Sikkim loop.
Do I book North Sikkim from Gangtok?
Yes: protected-area trips run through registered agencies with vehicle and permit bundled.
Practicals
Permits & season
No ILP, but protected areas (Nathula, North Sikkim beyond Mangan) need permits arranged through registered agencies ahead of travel.
March to May for rhododendrons and clear skies, October to December for the sharpest views; the monsoon closes high routes.
When to go
Plan around these months
Nearby
Close enough to combine
Things to do
What you're here for
MG Marg
The pedestrian square that anchors every evening.
Rumtek
One of the largest monasteries in India, an hour away.
Permit desk
Nathula and North Sikkim trips are arranged here.
Journal
Read before you go
Guide · 4 min
How Many Days for Gangtok? 2, 3, 4 and 5 Day Versions
How many days for Gangtok: two days cover town, three adds Tsomgo, four adds…
Guide · 4 min
Gangtok in October: Kanchenjunga views and festival weather
Gangtok in October: the year's clearest mountain views, Durga Puja energy, day trips to…
Guide · 5 min
How to Reach Gangtok: Flight, Train and Road, Compared
How to reach Gangtok: fly Bagdogra or Pakyong, train to NJP Siliguri, then 4-5…
Guide · 4 min
Is Sikkim Expensive? Honest Cost Per Day, Budget to Premium
Is Sikkim expensive? Not really: daily budgets from backpacker to premium, permit costs, tour…
Guide · 4 min
Pelling in November: Kanchenjunga views
Pelling in November: dry clear days, front-row Kanchenjunga sunrise, the glass skywalk, Rabdentse ruins…
Guide · 5 min
What to Do in Sikkim: 15 Things Beyond the Postcard
What to do in Sikkim: monasteries at dawn, Tsomgo, North Sikkim valleys, Pelling skywalk…
Explore Gangtok
- Where to stay in GangtokLodges ₹1,200-2,500; hotels ₹3,000-10,000.
- Bagdogra (West Bengal) to Gangtokroad
- Gangtok to Nathula Passroad
- Gangtok to Lachungroad
- Things to do in Gangtok
- Things to do in Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake)
- Things to do in Baba Mandir
Facts checked against the official Sikkim tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26