Try "Sandakphu", "toy train", "homestay", "Gangtok in April"
Route · Darjeeling
Darjeeling to Gangtok is about 95–100 km and 4.5–5.5 hours, via Peshok, Teesta Bazar, Melli and Rangpo on the Teesta. Shared jeeps cost about ₹400–500 a seat. The Teesta valley road has had long closures since the October 2023 flood, so check current status before you travel.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARJEELING | GANGTOK | Shared jeep | 4.5–5.5 h | ₹400–500 |
| DARJEELING | GANGTOK | Reserved car | 4–5 h | ₹4,500–6,500 A C |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
Shared jeeps for Gangtok leave from the Chowk Bazaar motor stand in the morning. They usually run down the Peshok road to Teesta Bazar and along the river past Melli, where the road enters Sikkim, and Rangpo, then up to Gangtok. When NH10 is closed, jeeps divert via Kalimpong and other hill roads, which adds an hour or more and can raise the fare.
A reserved car is the comfortable option for families and groups, and lets you stop at the Peshok tea gardens and the Lovers' Meet viewpoint. Not every Darjeeling taxi is permitted to go deep into Sikkim; many hand over at Gangtok's entry point or at the border. Ask clearly before you book.
Local tip: Foreign nationals must carry a Sikkim Inner Line Permit, which can be arranged at the border checkposts or in advance online; Indians need only photo ID.
Questions people ask
Usually, but it has been unreliable since the October 2023 Teesta flood damaged NH10 along the river. Closures, one-way traffic and diversions via Kalimpong and other hill roads are common, especially in the monsoon. Allow a buffer day and check current status before you travel.
Indian citizens need only valid photo ID. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Inner Line Permit (ILP), which can be issued at the border checkposts (Melli on this road, or Rangpo) or obtained in advance online, with passport and visa. Rules change from time to time, so check current status before you travel.
About ₹400–500 a seat in 2025–26, from the Chowk Bazaar motor stand in Darjeeling. Jeeps run in the morning and take 4.5 to 5.5 hours. Diversions after landslides or road closures can add time and sometimes cost. Book the day before in peak season if the counter allows.
It is a good plan. Kalimpong is about 50 km from Darjeeling, and from there Gangtok is roughly 75 km more. Breaking the journey gives you a night in Kalimpong and avoids five hours in one jeep. When NH10 is closed, the Kalimpong route is often the one in use anyway.
Plan with a local
Where you want to go, how many of you, and roughly what you want to spend a day. A planner who lives in these hills replies within one working day with a route and every rupee written down.