| Sikkim Inner Line Permits |
| Standard Permits In addition to an Indian visa, foreigners must obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim. The permits can be obtained from the Sikkim Tourism Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Darjeeling and Siliguri. Foreigners are issued a permit for initial period of 15 days duration on the spot. You will need to provide photocopies of your passport information page and visa page, along with two passport photos. The date of entry must be stated on the permit application. There is no charge. The permit can be extended for a further 30 days (15 days at a time). The extension of permits can be obtained from the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) at Gangtok, located at Kazi Road, Tel: 223041. After leaving Sikkim, foreigners are not permitted to enter again for three months. Special Permits The standard permit allows trips to Gangtok, Rumtek, Pemayangtse, and Phodang, but requires foreigners to stay on the National Highway. For those interested in going for treks in the interior regions of the state, you will also require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or a Protected Area Permit (PAP) which is obtainable in Gangtok from the Police Check Post and Department of Tourism. To visit Tsongo Lake requires a one-day permit and Yumthang in North Sikkim requires a five day permit. These places must be visited through an authorized travel agency (with a minimum of four people), so it is best to have the travel agency arrange the permit. A special permit is also required to trek in the Dzongri area of West Sikkim (the only area allowed in Sikkim. Two mountains in the Dzongri area, Jopunob and Thingchen Khang (both around 6000m), can be climbed without having to pay the usual fee required for a mountaineering peak, as long as the climbs are combined with a trek. |
| India and China want to open the Nathu La border crossing by 2011 for tourism. We will keep you updated. |