Gangtok to Nathula pass : 3 days itinerary for Gangtok

Kalimpong, Pedong, East Sikkim (Gangtok, Tsngmo lake, Nathu-la pass) 10 days Himalayan escape Itinerary

When the Journey is as good as the destination....keep driving! After all life isn't a marathon, It's an adventure. If you have 3-4 days at hand - after having done with KALIMPONG & PEDONG, do also check out Gangtok! It’s a lively city, and a great way to get the feel of Sikkim. Also make a nostalgic trip to Nathu-la pass and see how our soldiers hold fort even under sub zero deg temperature- so savor the experiences as they come along...

This route lies on the historic Silk Road that connects India to Lhasa via the Jelepla Pass and can be broken into Kalimpong 3 Days, Pedong 3 Days and East Sikkim 4 days.

Gangtok, the state capital of Sikkim is a popular hill station that is nestled in the eastern reaches of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 1,650 feet. It comes under the East Sikkim district - considered very sensitive, due to sharing its borders with China and Bhutan.

Tsongmo lake as seen on the drive from Gangtok to Nathu-la pass

What documents do I need to visit Sikkim?

Carry a photo ID (voters id/ passport). At Rango check post you may be required to provide the same. Aadhar card will not work in Sikkim.

How to reach Sikkim?

From New Delhi : is almost 1500 kms ie a long way from Delhi by road, and passes via. Agra, Lucknow, Gorakhpur (Uttar pradesh) - Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga (Bihar), Siliguri, Kalimpong (West Bengal), in case you think of coming by road.

Fastest route : is by flight from New Delhi to Gangtok (Pakyong airport) will cost avg Rs.5000/pp one way (by low cost airline).

Cheapest and Comfortable budget route : is by train. There are several trains that go uptil Assam, and even further Northeast. New Delhi to New Jalpaiguri /Siliguri Jn is almost a 24 hrs journey by train -that can be very tiring. You can then break the journey at Pragyaj Jn or any convenient place in this route, depending on the train. A basic sleeper berth could cost approx Rs.1000/-. Do check the IRCTC website or app for train details. 

 

How is the weather in East Sikkim?

Rainfall- July is the wettest month in most places

Max temperatures are from July till Nov, a good time if you feel the cold unbearable.

Snowfall - The mean temperature varies with altitude and slope.You will see snowfall at high altitudes, towards Nathu-la pass from Jan till April, and it’s biting cold during this time.

Where can I stay in Gangtok?

Gangtok is a top tourist destination of Northeast India, and you will find plenty of resorts, homestay & hotels in the range of Rs.1000/ and over on MMT (MakemyTrip), Booking.com & even google.

At a budget traveler, I stayed at : Hotel Pandim - Rs.400/- dorm Secretariat road, Below Royal Palace, Gangtok pH :- 09832080172. Very comfy & offered great views of the Kanchenjunga (see pics below)

People and Languages of East Sikkim

East Sikkim is constituted mainly by Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha communities. The Lepchas and Bhutias are the original settlers of Sikkim, however they presently comprise much smaller segments of the population. with Nepali being predominantly spoken in this region.

Day 1 

There are frequent shared sumos that ply from Kalimpong to Gangtok, Rs.350/ pp, and since I was leaving from Pedong I had to start an hour earlier. The vehicle is a bit biggish and takes a while to reach its capacity, so I got my bags piled up and went in search of some breakfast. 

Right opposite the taxi stand are a few cafes that serve reasonable burgers, sandwiches and a variety of  delicious food, you see I’m not a big fan of momos - if you are then… good for you!

Kalimpong is a bustling hilly town, the market is quite popular with locals from nearby areas and shared vehicles are the norm. The 74 kms 2.30 hrs drive is going to get really curvy; so time to shut my eyes in order to avoid feeling giddy.- It works sometimes...

Try your best to book your stay prior to reaching Gangtok, get inputs about local conveyance to reach the stay, Ola / Uber are not operational in Gangtok as yet. I was lucky that my host was in the taxi stand vicinity so I got a free ride to my hostel.

Gangtok is the great base for travel through the state especially North Sikkim. The right climate and solitude is just perfect for a longer stay should you want to. 

After a short nap and hot shower, I walked the downhill steps from my hostel and melted into the vibes of M.G.Marg. 

Each year in Dec, a Food and Cultural event is held here when Sikkim’s multi-cultural cuisine, along with music and dance performances are showcased, and it's quite popular with both locals and tourists. 

It’s a no vehicular strip with some nice restaurants. Pssst.. Did I tell you ‘liquor is cheaper in Sikkim’, there are several liquor shops, and I really loved the hip, undulated vibes walking down this street. 

Uncle's Biryani  serves great, inexpensive biryani so I decided to have an early dinner and then bought a few bottles of  [you know what] to get wasted back at my hostel. So that was the end of Day 1.

An early morning glimpse of the Kanchenjunga, just before sunrise. Gangtok, Sikkim

A glimpse of the Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Gangtok, Sikkim

Day 2 

TIP: There are several tour operators roundabouts at the tourism office down M.G.Marg, who organise the Nathu-la pass tour, which you need to book a day in advance. Something I missed doing the previous evening. They charge approx Rs.350 to Rs.700 pp depending on the number of pax. Do keep handy your photo ID (voters id/ passport & 2 passport photos), a copy of the document and a few personal details to be submitted. They will do the rest. You should then receive a call/sms next morning with the pickup spot and vehicle number.

For a birds eye view of Gangtok check out the Gangtok Ropeway Rs.150/ approx for a 10 min ride. The Royal Palace was closed due to covid. But It’s definitely on my bucket list. 

The Rumtek Monastery, seat of His Holiness, The Gyalwa Karmapa of the Kargyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.is situated around 23 kms from Gangtok. Cab drivers quoted Rs.600/ so I skipped it, it’ll work out well if you’re in a group.

The Royal Palace- Gangtok, Sikkim

Day 3 

The drive to Nathu-la Pass was truly out of this world. I was stunned by jaw-dropping views of the Kanchenjunga, and even though I hoped there would be snow, it was stark dry. Along the way, there are small shacks that sell maggi, tea and simple meals. It’s a nice way to get slightly acclimatized. 

The majestic Kanchenjunga on the drive from Gangtok to Nathula-pass

   

The majestic Kanchenjunga on the drive from Gangtok to Nathula-pass

Then another halt at Tsomgo lake (also called Changu lake)  at an altitude of 12,400 ft. Both foreign and indian tourists can visit this lake. Foreign tourists however are allowed in a group of minimum two, and with the help of a registered travel agency (you will easily find these at MG road), a visitors permit will also have to be obtained.

In some cases Nathu-La pass may be closed for tourists - security / covid reasons. In which case the cab will take you uptil Baba Harbhajan singh mandir (altitude 13,123 ft asl)  ie. just 4km short of the Nathu-la pass.

The road to Nathula-pass_ Nov 2020

The legend of Baba Harbhajan Singh

It was while leading a pack of mules from Tukla to Deng Dhukla (both remote areas in East Sikkim), that Sepoy Harbhajan Singh of the 23rd Punjab Regiment went missing. 3 days passed, when there had been no news from Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, a search party was sent. It took 3 whole days for the army to find his body. They say It was he who intuitively led the soldiers (search party) to the place his body was found. In course of time it was reported by the soldiers that Baba appeared in their dreams, and directed- a shrine be built at the very place.

This samadhi is in his memory, the faithful say that Baba still visits this place every night. You will find his uniform on a hanger, so that he can do his duty. Baba Harbhajan Singh is revered none other than a saint who answers prayers, grants wishes and safeguards the lives of soldiers posted along the Indian border.

Baba Harbhajan Singh hails from Kapurthala in Punjab. Each year in Sept, he avails his annual vacation. A train berth is reserved in his name, two soldiers accompany him till his hometown. Such is the faith and emotional experience of our armed forces. Baba wished nothing more than to love his country and safegaurd it even after his death.

You should be back in Gangtok by 4 pm

How to go back to Siliguri from Gangtok?

There are both AC & Non AC State-run buses - every 1/ 2 hours a day. Do check the timings from Gangtok bus stand- I think Rs.350/pp (not too sure). Shared vehicles are also available.  

I do hope you enjoyed this blog. Your comments are appreciated. Subscribe for next exciting destination...

Bye for now!