| Sikkim Transport |
| Air Sikkim does not have any airports or railways because of its rough terrain, however, the first airport of the state is expected to be ready by 2011 in Pakyong, 30 km from Gangtok. The closest airport, Bagdogra Airport, is near the town of Siliguri in West Bengal, about 124 km away from Gangtok. A regular helicopter service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra. The flight is thirty minutes long, operates only once a day, and can carry 4 people. The Gangtok helipad is the only civilian helipad in the state. In Gangtok you can buy tickets at the Sikkim Tourism Office (Tel: 221634). The journey from Gangtok to Bagdogra by road takes 4 hours. Buses and jeeps run regularly between Gangtok and Siliguri which is 12 km from the airport. Fixed price taxis go direct and cost Rs 1500. Jeeps may give slightly better prices. Train The closest railway stations to Sikkim are at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri. From there are connections to Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati and other major Indian cities. From the station there are shared jeeps and taxis available to Gangtok. Road The Sikkim National Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately run buses, tourist taxis and jeeps ply throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri. Towns in southern and western Sikkim, including Gangtok, are connected to the northern West Bengal hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. The journey from Gangtok to Darjeeling takes 4 hours. The state is connected to China by the Nathu La pass. See the individual transport sections for each town for more public transport information. |