If you’re making a last-minute plan to go from Kolkata to Gangtok, you are most likely to avail a bus service. This was the same for me as I got a luxury option by Shyamoli Paribahan, from the Red Bus app and booked two sleeper beds.
How to reach Gangtok?
Kolkata to Siliguri bus journeys have become quite convenient after the introduction of luxury bus options. But they are expensive compared to a few train compartments. So, let us first go through all the options before you choose the best way to reach Gangtok from Kolkata:
By Flight
If you come by flight, you will have to book a ticket from your destination to Bagdogra. From here there are both private and shared car facilities that can take you to Sikkim.
Bagdogra is also the destination you need to land if you plan to visit Darjeeling and Kalimpong. So, if you have more than two days, you might want to explore these places as well.
By Train
A train that takes you to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the closest that you can get to Sikkim. If you do not get a direct train from your destination to NJP, you will get plenty of options if you come to Kolkata. Kolkata to Siliguri trains run every day and there are multiple options to book.
By Car
Reaching Kolkata to Siliguri by car will take over 18 hours to complete, but the scenery will be worth it. If you bring your personal vehicle, you will navigate your way through Krishnagar, Murshidabad, Malda, Kishanganj, Siliguri, and then uphill towards Gangtok.
If you reach Siliguri by train, bus, or flight, you can book a shared car or private car from the car depo. There are taxi services running throughout the day to take you Gangtok. However, if you reach towards late evening or night, you have to stay over at Siliguri before going to Gangtok the following day.
By Bus
Kolkata to Gangtok bus journey comes with a break, as you need to change your transport when you reach Siliguri. Buses to Siliguri come from Kolkata, Durgapur, Berhampore, Asansol, Guwahati, Patna, Dharbhanga, and Balurghat. Once you reach Siliguri you can either book a private car, shared car, or a public bus to reach Gangtok.
Kolkata to Gangtok bus journey
There are multiple bus options at different timings but choosing an overnight bus saves a lot of time. The one we booked left Kolkata at 7 pm and reached Siliguri at 7 am the following day.
While a train journey would have taken about the same time at a lower cost, there were some reasons that you’d think is valid to avail this option instead.
Features of Kolkata to Siliguri bus by Shayamali Paribahan
- There were two options and price points one for seating and sleeping
- The cost was Rs. 1200 for seats and Rs. 1500 for beds when I traveled in February 2023 but they have increased to Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2000 respectively in 2024
- Luggage is safely kept away with personalized tags for identification
- Female travelers can book twin beds only with another female
- There are multiple pick up options that you can check from Red Bus while booking
- The bus stops for dinner at 10:30 pm where you get a Dhaba-style restaurant to order food
- It again stops at 4 am for using restroom facilities and refreshments
- One bottle of water each, personal ac, nightlamp, charging slot, a small space to keep shoes and other belongings are facilities that make this worth the cost
- Clean bedsheets and warmers keep you cozy through the night as a beautiful dawn awaits
The bus stops at Siliguri and you can avail the restroom facilities at their company office. All restroom facilities (including this one) aren’t the most hygienic so it is best to avoid using them if possible.
Siliguri to Gangtok jeep services
Bank opposite to the office of Shyamoli Paribahan is the place where you can book a jeep for your trip to Gangtok. Jeep services are available in both shared and private options.
While private cars can cost around Rs. 2000 and more, shared trips are cheaper. But you have to wait for the jeep to fill up. The entire process for us took around 2 hours and we finally left for Gangtok around 9 am.
Beware of scam
When we went to book our jeep from Friends Tours and Travels, we got scammed. Typically, people from north east India have thinner and shorter stature. So, they book 15 to 16 people in an SUV, which isn’t supposed to be allowed.
We wanted an entire row to ourselves and the ticket cost was Rs. 400 each. We booked the entire row as they had told us that it would come to Rs. 1200 for three seats.
We paid for three hoping that the entire row belongs to us. But as soon as the jeep was on the way to Gangtok, there was another pick up waiting for the jeep. That is where we were told that the seat is for four passengers and not three.
The passenger was a local who already knew her seat was reserved, but that wasn’t what was told to us. When the jeep was already on the way and we had paid up in full, we could not have gone back.
The lady sat with us and we adjusted because she had no faults. But we did get into an argument with our driver who did not take the onus of the scam his boss did to us. It made the experience unhappy until we saw the beautiful Teesta River and decided to let it go.
The uphill route to Gangtok is beautiful and goes by this water stream. You should keep a scarf handy as there is a lot of dust that comes in especially as the route is always filled with construction and renovation.
Brunch break
After around 2 hours of journey, there comes a point where the route diverges between one that goes towards Kalimpong and another towards Gangtok.
A few kilometers away, we stop for brunch and do not expect an amazing view by a tiny little restaurant that was selling freshly steamed momo.
This is also a point where we befriend our co-passenger and she tells us a little about Nepali food that she was having for lunch. Upon asking what she had ordered, she said she was having Roti, Sabzi, Gorkhe Achar, Aludum, Chana, with a bowl of momo soup at the side. She also said that she likes to have momo she makes at home and when she is traveling she sticks to staples like this plateful instead.
Completing Kolkata to Gangtok journey
It takes about four hours go from Siliguri to Gangtok, so the total journey between Kolkata and Gangtok is 16 to 18 hours. It remains same across train, bus and road trip. Only flights might be shorter when considering where you fly down from.
Once you reach Gangtok, you will be taken to a parking lot, which is a car depot. Here you can find local taxis that can take you to your hotel so you can check-in and unwind. Note that the jeep that brings you to Gangtok will not drop you off to your hotel if it is a shared car. Only private cars can give you such facility.
Why is it best to come to Gangtok in this way?
There are a few reasons that make bus a comfortable way to reach Siliguri from Kolkata. Although you will find trains around the same time, they might not be available last minute. You are more likely to get a bus from Esplanade to Siliguri than a tatkal ticket from Sealdah or Kolkata station. The comfort of a luxury bus is unparallel especially if you book for two.
The time this bus reaches Siliguri is convenient as you get a jeep quickly during the morning and reach Gangtok by afternoon. This lets you enjoy the evening and you can stroll around MG Marg and have dinner at the best restaurants. If you come here any other time when the jeep services are not functioning, you will have to stay over at Siliguri and take a morning jeep the following day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I go to Gangtok from Kolkata?
Kolkata to Gangtok can be covered by a:
- train to New Jalpaiguri and then a car or bus up hill
- flight to Bagdogra airport and then by car/bus
- bus till Siliguri and then another bus or car
- private car for an experience by road
2. Can we go Gangtok by train?
Yes. All trains coming to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) can take you to Gangtok as there are public transport available right outside of the railway station.
3. Can we go Gangtok by flight?
Bagdogra is the closest airport to Sikkim. Once you reach Bagdogra you can book a private car and reach Gangtok in 4-5 hours.
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