Fast Facts
Area: 7096 sq km
Capital: Gangtok
Latitude: 27-28 deg North
Longitude: 88-89 deg East
Population: 5,70,077
Languages: Lepcha, Bhutia, Nepali, Limbu
Religion: Buddhism
Summer(Mar to June): Cool and Pleasant
Winter(Nov to Feb): Chilly to Very Cold
Best Time to visit: March to August
Geography
Having international borders with Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan on three sides, and a national border with the state of West Bengal on the fourth side, Sikkim is a strategically significant state. It is entirely mountainous, with one-third of the land covered with dense forests of sal, sambal and bamboo, which are mostly inaccessible and unexploited.
How to get there
By Air:
Nearest Airport is Bagdogra in North Bengal which is 124 kms. and approximately 4 hours drive from Gangtok. Airlines operate from Bagdogra Linking Kolkata, Guwahati and New Delhi. Sikkim Tourism operates daily five seater helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra connecting all Civil Flights.
By Rail:
Nearest stations are Siliguri (114 kms) and New Jalpaiguri a.k.a NJP (125 kms) connecting Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Lucknow and other important cities in India.
By Road:
Gangtok is connected by road to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and also to all district headquarters within sikkim.
Entry Formalities
Foreigners must obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim. The permits can be obtained from all Indian commissions, Sikkim Tourism Offices at New Delhi, Kolkata, Siliguri and Rangpo Tourist Lodge on the strength of an Indian visa. The 15 day permit is issued on the spot provided the applicant submits Photocopies of Passport and visa details along with two passport size photographs. Permit can be extended in lots of 15 days each. Extensions can be obtained from FRO (Foreign Registration Office) at Gangtok and Superintendent of Police of the Nort, West and South Districts.
For those interested in trekking in the interior regions of the state, the DOT(Dept. of Tourism) issues Protected Area Permit (PAP) at Gangtok, for groups consisting or two or more foreigners subject to the condition that the trek is arranged through a registered Travel Agency.
