Can I travel East Sikkim on ₹2,000 a day?
Yes, outside the permit trips. Dorm beds in Gangtok cost ₹500–800, homestays with two meals ₹1,200–2,000, shared jeep seats ₹100–500 and a plate of momos ₹80–150. One shared Tsomgo seat adds about ₹1,000. The trips that break the budget are Nathu La and the Silk Route, which usually need a vehicle hired by the day.
How do I get a shared seat to Tsomgo Lake?
Go to registered tour desks around MG Marg the evening before, ask two or three for a shared seat on a Tsomgo and Baba Mandir jeep, and hand over a photo ID and passport photos. The desk adds you to the permit and a vehicle, usually for ₹800–1,200. Check current status before you travel, because permit rules change.
Where should backpackers stay in Gangtok?
Around Tibet Road, Development Area and the lanes below MG Marg, where hostels offer dorm beds for ₹500–800 and plain rooms start around ₹1,500. Staying central saves taxi money, because the jeep stands, tour desks and the mall are all close. Ask about hot water and heating before you pay, especially in winter.
How do I get from Rumtek to Aritar by public transport?
Take a shared taxi from Rumtek down to Ranipool, then shared jeeps south to Rorathang and Rhenock, changing where needed, and a local taxi share from Rhenock up to Aritar. It is about 70 km and takes 3.5–4.5 hours with waits, for roughly ₹300–400 in all. Start before 9 am, as jeeps thin out in the afternoon.
Is Aritar worth visiting?
Yes, if you want quiet after Gangtok. It has Lampokhari Lake, one of the oldest natural lakes in Sikkim, with rowing boats, the climb to Mankhim's Rai temple, farm homestays and very few tour groups. It is also on the shared jeep route home through Rhenock, so it costs little extra to stop there.
Do I need a permit for Rumtek or Aritar?
Indian nationals need no permit for Rumtek, Aritar or Gangtok, only photo ID, which Rumtek's gate police check. Foreign travellers need the Restricted Area Permit to enter Sikkim, free from the Rangpo check post or online. Tsomgo needs a separate permit for everyone. Check current status before you travel.
What food should I try in Gangtok?
Momos, steamed or fried, and thukpa, the noodle soup, are everywhere. Try sha phaley, fried bread stuffed with meat; gyathuk, a Tibetan noodle soup; and churpi, the hard yak cheese chewed like a sweet. In homestays you may get gundruk, fermented greens, and sisnu, nettle soup. A full meal in the small places off MG Marg costs ₹150–300.
Can women travel this route alone?
Many do. Sikkim is generally regarded as one of the safer parts of India for women travelling alone, and shared jeeps are full of local families and students. Use the usual care after dark, sit near other women in jeeps if you prefer, and tell your homestay your plans. Some Gangtok hostels offer women-only dorms.
What if NH10 is closed when I need to leave?
Jeeps then take the old road via Kalimpong or, from Rhenock, via Pedong and Kalimpong, which adds two to three hours. That is why this trip ends from Aritar, already on the Rhenock side. Keep your train or flight for the evening, or add a buffer night in Siliguri. Check current status before you travel.
