Acclimatise in
Things to do in Gangtok
The capital on the ridge, base for every Sikkim circuit.
The list
The short version: MG Marg, monasteries and permit desks: the city every Sikkim trip runs through.
01
MG Marg
The pedestrian square that anchors every evening.
02
Rumtek
One of the largest monasteries in India, an hour away.
03
Permit desk
Nathula and North Sikkim trips are arranged here.
Know before you go
- Altitude
- About 1,650m
- From Bagdogra
- About 120km
- Role
- Permit + tour base
- Monasteries
- Enchey, Rumtek (nearby)
Official seasons: spring and autumn are the big windows, and the monsoon brings blocked roads and flight delays in heavy weather.
Best time: March-May and October-mid December; expect delays in the July monsoon.
Practicals
Permits & season for Sikkim
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.
Gangtok month by month
Places to visit near Gangtok
All of Gangtok, none of the guesswork
Fixed departures you can join solo, or a private plan around your dates. Prices on the page, real people on WhatsApp.
Keep planning
- Sikkim travel guide
- Bagdogra (West Bengal) to Gangtokroad
- Gangtok to Nathula Passroad
- Flying into Pakyong Airport, Sikkim: flights, cabs and onward connections
- Sikkim permits: the complete guide
- How Many Days for Gangtok? 2, 3, 4 and 5 Day Versionsfrom the journal
- Gangtok in October: Kanchenjunga views and festival weatherfrom the journal