Gangtok to Darjeeling
Your options
Ways to make the journey
4–5 h
A reserved car takes the NH10 down to Melli, crosses into West Bengal at Teesta Bazaar and climbs through Lopchu and Peshok tea gardens to Ghum and Darjeeling. You can stop at the Teesta–Rangeet confluence view at Lovers Meet and buy tea at Lopchu. Your Gangtok hotel or agent can book it; agree the fare and stops first.
4.5–5.5 h
Direct shared jeeps from Gangtok to Darjeeling leave in the morning from a central Gangtok stand. Seats run out on busy days, so buy a ticket the day before where the counter allows. If direct seats are gone, go to Siliguri and change, which costs more time. Large bags may cost extra.
5–6 h with stop
Many travellers break the drive at Kalimpong for a few hours or a night, seeing Durpin, the flower nurseries and the market. It adds about 20–25 km and an hour of driving but turns a transfer day into a sightseeing day. Shared jeeps run Gangtok–Kalimpong and Kalimpong–Darjeeling separately.
Worth a stop
- Rangpo
- Melli
- Teesta Bazaar
- Lovers Meet (Teesta–Rangeet confluence view)
- Lopchu tea garden
- Ghum
Questions people ask
Good to know
How long is the drive from Gangtok to Darjeeling
Plan on 4–5 hours for the roughly 95–100 km, longer in peak-season traffic at Ghum or if NH10 has landslide works. The route drops to the Teesta at Rangpo and Melli, crosses at Teesta Bazaar and climbs through tea gardens to Ghum. In the monsoon, allow a buffer and check current status before you travel.
Is there a shared jeep from Gangtok to Darjeeling
Yes, direct shared jeeps run on most days, leaving mainly in the morning from a central Gangtok stand, at about ₹400–600 a seat, indicative 2026. Seats sell out in peak season, so buy a day ahead where possible. If none are left, take a jeep to Siliguri and change, which adds 2–3 hours.
Should I visit Kalimpong on the way from Gangtok to Darjeeling
If you have a few spare hours, yes. Kalimpong is a small detour and has the Durpin monastery, flower nurseries and an old market town that grew rich on the Tibet wool trade. A few hours there turns a transfer day into a sightseeing day. If time is short, the direct road via Teesta Bazaar is quicker.
Do I need a permit to go from Gangtok to Darjeeling
No. Darjeeling is in West Bengal and needs no permit for Indian nationals or foreigners. Foreign nationals should keep their Sikkim permit and passport handy for checks at the Sikkim border checkpost. If you return to Sikkim later, carry the permit again, as it is checked on re-entry. Check current status before you travel.