Pakyong

Sikkim's airport town, where flights come and go irregularly

Altitude1,400m Nights0–1 BestMar – Apr · Oct – Nov

Photo: sarvajanik · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

In brief

Pakyong is a hill town at about 1,400 m, 31 km south-east of Gangtok and headquarters of Pakyong district since 2021. It is best known for Pakyong Airport, Sikkim's first, opened in 2018 on a reshaped ridge. Scheduled flights have been irregular and often suspended, so most travellers still fly into Bagdogra. Check current status before you travel.

The local story

A ridge rebuilt for an airport

For most of its history Pakyong was a farming area and a small bazaar on the road that runs south-east from Gangtok towards Rorathang, Rongli and Rhenock. Families grew maize, rice, ginger, cardamom and vegetables on the slopes, and the town served the villages around it with a market, schools and government offices. Until 2018 Sikkim was one of the few Indian states without an airport. Visitors flew to Bagdogra in West Bengal and spent four or five hours on the road, or took the small helicopter service when it was flying.

Pakyong's ridge was chosen for the state's airport, and the Airports Authority of India spent close to a decade cutting and filling the hill to make room for a runway, held up on one side by a reinforced earth wall reported to be among the tallest in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pakyong Airport on 24 September 2018, and the first commercial flight, a SpiceJet service from Kolkata, landed on 4 October 2018. Fog, cloud, a short runway and airline decisions have since made services patchy. In 2021 Pakyong became the headquarters of a new district carved out of East Sikkim.

Pakyong Airport was inaugurated on 24 September 2018 and received its first commercial flight, a SpiceJet service from Kolkata, on 4 October 2018. It was Sikkim's first airport.

When it opened, Pakyong was described as India's 100th operational airport; its runway sits on a ridge at about 1,400 m, built up with a very tall reinforced earth wall.

Pakyong became the headquarters of Pakyong district in 2021, when Sikkim created two new districts, Pakyong and Soreng, from its existing four.

About Pakyong

Most people meet Pakyong from a car window on the way from Gangtok to Rongli, Aritar or the Silk Route, and the road passes right below the airport. It is a working hill town rather than a resort: a bazaar, government offices for the new district, schools and farmland spilling down the slopes. What makes it worth a pause is the airport itself, a runway laid along a ridge with deep valleys on either side, and the view from the road above it across East Sikkim.

The honest word on flying here is that Pakyong is not yet a dependable gateway. Since the first flight in October 2018, scheduled services have started, stopped and restarted several times, held back by fog and low cloud, a short runway that limits aircraft loads, and airline schedules. At the time of writing we would not plan a trip around a Pakyong flight without a firm booking and a back-up via Bagdogra. Check current status before you travel. On the ground, Pakyong is 31 km and about 1–1.5 hours from Gangtok.

What to see and do

The ridge-top runway

Pakyong's runway lies along a reshaped ridge at about 1,400 m, with steep drops on both sides. From the roads above the airport you can see its full length and the valleys around it. It is a striking piece of mountain engineering, opened in 2018.

Flying into Sikkim, when flights run

When scheduled flights operate, Pakyong cuts out the four- to five-hour road from Bagdogra. Services have been suspended for long periods since 2018, so treat any flight as a bonus, book a refundable fare and keep a Bagdogra plan. Check current status before you travel.

A gateway to the Silk Route and Aritar

The road from Gangtok to Rongli, Aritar and the Silk Route runs through Pakyong. It makes a natural tea stop, and a good place to break the drive or spend a night if you land late or need an early start towards Rongli.

Farm villages of the new district

Around the town, terraces of maize, vegetables, ginger and cardamom fall away into the valleys. Sikkim declared itself a fully organic farming state in 2016, and the small farms around Pakyong are a good place to see what that means in practice.

Bazaar breakfasts

Pakyong's bazaar has small tea shops and eateries serving sel roti, aloo dum, puri, momos and sweet milky tea at local prices. It is a cheap and filling stop on the way out of Gangtok.

How to get there

Shared jeep from Gangtok: Shared jeeps run from Gangtok to Pakyong through the day, about ₹80–150 a seat and 1–1.5 hours over 31 km via Ranipool. Jeeps to Rongli and Rhenock also pass through Pakyong. Ask at your hotel for the current stand.
Air: Pakyong Airport opened in 2018, but scheduled flights from cities such as Kolkata and Delhi have been irregular and often suspended. Check current status before you travel. Bagdogra airport, about 4–5 hours away by road, remains the dependable option.
Road from Siliguri: From Siliguri or NJP, Pakyong is about 100–110 km, roughly 4 hours by reserved car via Rangpo, at ₹3,500–5,000. NH10 along the Teesta has had long closures since October 2023, when cars detour via Kalimpong. Check current status before you travel.

Where to stay

Most travellers do not sleep in Pakyong; Gangtok is close enough for an airport run, and Aritar and Rongli are better bases for the Silk Route. If you need a bed near the airport for an early flight or a late landing, the town has a few simple hotels and lodges around the bazaar and on the airport road, at roughly ₹1,200–2,500 a room. Homestays in the surrounding farm villages are also appearing, but they change often, so ask your driver or a Gangtok agent for a current recommendation and confirm by phone.

Local tips

Never book a tight onward connection on a Pakyong flight; keep a day in hand and a Bagdogra fallback.
Morning flights are more likely to operate than afternoon ones, because cloud often builds over the ridge after midday.
If your Pakyong flight is cancelled, ask the airline about rebooking via Bagdogra before you take a taxi down the hill.
Fix taxi fares to Gangtok before leaving the airport, as shared transport from the terminal is limited.
Stop for tea in the bazaar on the way to Rongli or Aritar, as it is one of the last good snack stops before the valley.

02,7005,400

Altitude1,400 m

Hill-station height: cool evenings, a sweater most of the year.

What it costs here

Shared jeep Gangtok to Pakyong₹80–150 a seat

Reserved taxi Gangtok to Pakyong Airport₹1,500–2,500

Reserved car Pakyong to Siliguri or NJP₹3,500–5,000

Flight to Pakyong, when operatingVaries widely; often ₹4,000–10,000 one way

Tea and sel roti in the bazaar₹40–80

Simple hotel room in town₹1,200–2,500 a room

Indicative, 2025–26. Check current status before you travel.

Best months: Oct – Dec · Mar – May
Nights we suggest: 0–1
From Gangtok: ≈ 31 km · 1–1.5 h
Altitude: ≈ 1,400 m
Known for: Pakyong Airport, district headquarters, farm villages
Network: Jio, Airtel and BSNL good in town

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Pakyong

Viewpoints · 30–45 minutesWatching the ridge-top runway at PakyongPakyong · Free

Culture and history · 2–3 hoursA walk through Pakyong's organic farm terracesPakyong · Free · tip a local guide ₹300–500

Food · 30–45 minutesSel roti and tea in Pakyong bazaarPakyong · ₹50–150 pp

Adventure · 1–1.5 hours by carThe ridge road from Pakyong down to RorathangPakyong · Part of your car hire

On the map

Pakyong and its neighbours

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Trips that stop here

Go to Pakyong on a ticket

Value Gangtok5 nights · Reserved car Gangtok, Pakyong and Aritar for families Gangtok · Pakyong · Aritar ₹19,000per person
about ₹3,150 a day

Comfort Gangtok9 nights · Reserved car The grand East Sikkim loop Gangtok · Rumtek · Pakyong · Zuluk ₹48,000per person
about ₹4,800 a day

Close by

Nearby places

town1,650 m Gangtokगान्तोक A royal hilltop capital since 1894, built for walking

river town330 m Rangpo The border town where NH10 crosses into Sikkim on the Teesta

village1,400 m Aritar A boot-shaped lake, a Rai hilltop shrine and quiet homestays

market town830 m Rongli The permit town at the foot of the Silk Route

Ways to travel

Long weekends Family trips Food trails Off-season and monsoon

Questions people ask

Questions about Pakyong

Is Pakyong Airport operational?

Pakyong Airport opened in 2018, but scheduled flights have been irregular, with long suspensions caused by weather, a short runway that limits aircraft loads, and airline decisions. Some services have restarted from time to time. Check current status before you travel, and keep Bagdogra as your fallback.

Which airport should I fly to for Gangtok?

For most trips, Bagdogra in West Bengal is the dependable choice, about 4–5 hours by road from Gangtok. Pakyong is much closer, 31 km from Gangtok, but its flights have been irregular. Book Pakyong only with a refundable fare and a day in hand.

How far is Pakyong from Gangtok?

Pakyong is about 31 km from Gangtok, roughly 1–1.5 hours by road via Ranipool. Shared jeeps cost about ₹80–150 a seat; a reserved taxi to the airport costs about ₹1,500–2,500. Traffic at Ranipool can add time at peak hours.

When did Pakyong Airport open?

Pakyong Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 September 2018, and the first commercial flight, a SpiceJet service from Kolkata, landed on 4 October 2018. It was Sikkim's first airport and was described at the time as India's 100th operational airport.

Why are flights to Pakyong often cancelled?

Fog and low cloud often close in over the ridge, especially in the monsoon and on winter afternoons. The runway is short, which limits aircraft size and loads, and airlines have repeatedly suspended routes. Morning flights in October to May are the most reliable when services run.

Is Pakyong worth a stop?

As a short stop, yes: for the view of the ridge-top runway, a cheap breakfast in the bazaar and a walk through farm terraces. As a destination for several days, not really. Most travellers pass through on the way to Rongli, Aritar or the Silk Route.

Are there hotels in Pakyong?

Pakyong has a few simple hotels and lodges around the bazaar and airport road, at roughly ₹1,200–2,500 a room. They suit an early flight or late arrival. Gangtok, 31 km away, has far more choice, and Aritar is better for a village stay.

Is Pakyong a separate district?

Yes. In 2021 Sikkim created two new districts, Pakyong and Soreng, and Pakyong town became the headquarters of Pakyong district. The district was carved out of the old East Sikkim district and includes the Rongli area, gateway to the Silk Route.

What is the best time to visit Pakyong?

October to December gives the clearest skies and the best chance of flights operating, with March to May also good. June to September brings heavy rain, cloud over the airport and landslide risk on the roads. Winter is cool and dry at about 1,400 m.