Important Notes for Inbound:
- Tiger Hill in Darjeeling cannot be guaranteed at the time of sunrise as there is a limitation on the total number of vehicles permitted to visit every day, in case the visit cannot be done early in the morning, the point will be visited anytime during the day.
- Visit to Ghoom Monastery cannot be done while returning from Tiger Hill due to new traffic regulations, this visit can be done during the day tour or at the time of toy train ride.
- Tickets for Toy Train can be purchased 120 days prior to date of travel as per railway guidelines, we would require full name, age and gender of all pax to procure the same.
- Tibetan Refugee Centre in Darjeeling and Cottage Industry in Gangtok have only opened the emporiums for visitors at the moment and visit to the workshops is restricted.
- Sikkim is plastic free as such plastic water bottles are not available/allowed in Sikkim. Guests are advised to carry steel/glass reusable bottles and they can fill RO/filtered water from the hotels.
- Currently there is no extra certificate/RT PCR required to visit Bengal and Sikkim, however the guests are advised to be fully vaccinated and WHO approved vaccinated certificates.
- Some Monasteries in remote areas are open to visit, but the visit is possible provided the caretaker is available as many times the caretakers move to other monasteries for prayers.
REGARDING SIKKIM INNER LINE PERMIT ALSO KNOWN AS RESTRICTED AREA PERMIT:
For entering Sikkim a normal Inner Line permit/Restricted Area Permit is required. This permit can be obtained on any one of the following procedures
- At the time of applying for the Indian Visa itself, the clients need to mention that they will visit Sikkim and accordingly a 15 days inner line permit/restricted area permit is stamped on the visa.
- On arrival in Darjeeling we need to produce the original passport with valid Indian Visa at the District Magistrates office and 15 days inner line permit/restricted area permit can be granted. It takes half day.
- While entering Sikkim the permits can be issued on the spot at Rangpoo Check Post (while going to Gangtok) or Melli Check Post (while going to Pelling). It takes 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on group size. A serial numbered form at the check post needs to be filled and submitted along with photocopies of passport and Indian visa and 01 passport size snaps
The following can be granted Inner Line permit/Restricted Area Permit to visit Sikkim ONLY by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi or the Indian High Commissions abroad.
• Foreigners travelling with Diplomat Passports/Official Passport like Red Cross etc.
• Citizens from Republic of China, Peoples Republic of China, Pakistan, Myanmar, Taiwan, Nigeria.