| Travel information |
Indian Visa
Passport should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India. Foreigners holding other nationalities (other than the country where applying for visa), should submit proof of long-term (at least three years) permanent residence in the country (where applying). For citizen of other countries, a reference has to be made to their country of residence for which an additional fee is applicable and will involve extra processing time. Please refrain from making inquiries about the status of application during this time.
Tourist Visa
Is given for 6 months normally, rest specifically depends on the country of residence. The applicant is required to produce/submit documents in proof of his financial standing. Tourists traveling in groups of not less than four members under the auspices of a recognized travel agency may be considered for grant of collective tourist visa.
Indian Visa Fees
The fee structure depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. The existing fee structure is:
Transit Visa US$ 5.00
Visas with validity upto six months US$ 30.00
Visas with validity upto one year US$ 50.00
Student Visa US$ 50.00
Visas with validity between one to five years US$100.00
Visa fees indicated in US$ are payable in local currencies as well. Visa fees are not refundable except in cases where a visa already issued is cancelled thereafter. Visa fee are subject to change, please check with the Indian mission in your resident country for more details, or email us. |
Sikkim Entry Regulations & Formalities
In addition to an Indian visa, foreigners must obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim . The permits can be obtained from all Indian missions, Tourism Office, New Delhi , Sikkim Tourism Office, Calcutta and Sikkim Tourism Office, Siliguri on the strength of an Indian Visa.
Foreigners are issued a permit for initial period of 15 days duration on the spot without any delay provided photocopies of Passport and Visa details along with two passport photos of applicants are made available then and there. It can be extended for further 30 days of 15 days each. The extension of permits can be obtained from Foreigners Registration Office (FRO), Gangtok and Superintendent of Police of North, South and West Districts.
For those interested in going for trekking in the interior regions of the state, you also require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) OR Protected Area Permit (PAP) which is obtainable in Gangtok from the Police Check Post and Department of Tourism which is available for certain specified area for groups consisting of 4 or more foreigners subject to the condition that the trekking program is arranged through a registered local travel agency.
While travelling through us, we will handle all official formalities for you. |
Access to Sikkim
By Flight: The closest Indian Airport is at Bagdogra, 124 km from Gangtok, where scheduled flights operate from Kolkata ( Calcutta ), Delhi , Guwahati and other states of India . Travel time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours. Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation also operates a daily helicopter service flight from Bagdogra to Gangtok (20 minutes). For detailed information regarding flights to Bagdogra, from all sectors in India , please contact us
From Kathmandu : Fly to Bhadrapur in the east Nepal (1 hour), then drive to Kakarvitta (Nepal-India border, 35 km), to Siliguri (37 km) and to Gangtok (110 km., 4 hrs). Or fly to Biratnagar also in the east.
For detailed information regarding flights to Bhadrapur, from all sectors in Nepal , please contact us
By Rail: The closest Railhead is at New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri which are connected to Kolkata ( Calcutta ), New Delhi , Guwahati and other major Indian cities. For detailed information regarding trains to New Jalpaiguri, from all sectors in India , please contact us
By Road: Gangtok is at a distance of 110 km from Siliguri and will take 4 hours from Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Gangtok is connected by road with Bhadrapur , Nepal , (5 Hrs), Darjeeling , (4 Hrs), Kalimpong (4 Hrs), and with Bhutan , Phuntsholing (6 Hrs). |
Accommodation
Sikkim does not have any international standard deluxe hotels, however, in the last 3-5 years many tourist class hotels & resorts have sprung up in the main cities & towns, such as Gangtok, Lachung, Lachen, Pelling, Yuksom, Rabongla, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, etc., that offer quality accommodations.
In the smaller towns, accommodation facilities are still quite basic. And during the peak holiday seasons in July & August there is often difficulty in getting rooms. Hotels & Resorts we work with are listed here; |
Insurance
All travellers visiting Sikkim (or for that matter any country outside) are strongly recommended to provide for their own trip insurance at home that adequately covers for medical, emergency rescue expenses, trip cancellations, baggage loss or any other eventual mishaps.
All of our staffs on field trips are adequately insured by the company that covers for medical assistance, accidents or deaths. |
Clothing & Accessories
Warm clothing is required throughout but more specifically from October to April. In general dressing in layers is recommended. Few change of clothes such as shirt, sweater, jacket & cotton inner linings with tops & bottoms, comfortable walking shoes, pair of pants should suffix.
During the month of October to April more heavy woolens or down clothing & boots will be required.
Other recommended accessories - water bottle, water purification tabs, chap stick, suntan lotion, utility knife, flash light, battery operated shavers, dusk mask or bandana, medicine for common colds, headache, fever, stomach disorders & diamox for altitude sickness. A good guidebook & a route map are strongly recommended. |
Customs
There is no prohibition on still & video cameras, tape recorders or any other electronic equipment for personal use as long as they are declared in the customs declaration form at the point of entry. |
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