Siliguri to Gangtok: shared taxi, cab fare, distance and road status

Where the shared taxis leave from

In Siliguri, shared taxis for Gangtok leave from the SNT bus stand on Hill Cart Road. There is also a line of them outside the main exit at NJP station. They run from around 6 am until about 3 pm and leave when all ten seats are full. Get there in the morning. A taxi that fills at 2 pm reaches Gangtok after dark, and nobody enjoys the last stretch of that road at night.

At Bagdogra there is a Sikkim tourism prepaid taxi counter in the arrivals hall for private cars, and shared cabs gather in the parking area outside.

SNT, Sikkim's state transport, runs buses from its Hill Cart Road stand a couple of times a day. They are cheap and safe, and slower than a taxi.

Is there a flight to Gangtok?

Pakyong airport is about 35 km from Gangtok, but its scheduled flights have been patchy for a couple of years, and weather often sends planes back to Bagdogra. For now, plan your trip around Bagdogra or NJP. If Pakyong flights are running when you travel, treat them as a bonus.

The road: NH10 and the detour

The main road is the NH10. It runs from Sevoke past Coronation Bridge and follows the Teesta up through Melli and Rangpo, where you enter Sikkim, then climbs through Singtam and Ranipool to Gangtok. It is narrow in places and runs right along the river.

The NH10 closes several times a year, for landslides in the monsoon and for repair work at other times. In July 2026 the 20th Mile stretch shut for three mornings for emergency repairs, and a closure near Chitrey in August 2025 pushed traffic onto the detour. That detour climbs through Lava and Algarah and adds about one and a half to two hours.

Check Sikkim Police or NHIDCL updates the evening before you travel. We check the road every morning for our own guests anyway, so if you are travelling with us you do not need to worry about it.

Things that catch people out

• Indian nationals do not need a permit for Gangtok, but keep a photo ID handy for the Rangpo checkpost. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Restricted Area Permit. We arrange it for our guests, and you should check the current process if you are travelling on your own.
• A taxi from Siliguri can drop you in Gangtok, but it cannot take you to Tsomgo Lake, Nathula or North Sikkim. Those trips need a Sikkim-registered vehicle and a permit, so book them separately in Gangtok, or let us bundle them in.
• Shared taxis drop you at a stand, not at your hotel. Hotels above MG Marg can be a steep walk with luggage, so budget for a local cab for the last kilometre.
• Carsick? Sit in front, eat light and ask for a stop at Teesta Bazaar or Rangpo. Most drivers stop for tea anyway.

Let us handle the drive

NJP and Bagdogra pickups are routine for us. Our Gangtok and Pelling tour covers the car, hotels, Tsomgo Lake permits and sightseeing. If you are heading higher, look at the North Sikkim tour with Gurudongmar and Yumthang, or the slower Sikkim honeymoon trip. Need only a drop? Message us your date and pickup point for a fixed price. For permits and the best time to go, see our Sikkim destination guide and the full Sikkim travel guide.