Hello all!

I believe this is the right place to ask. Fellow XBHPians, please do help me with the following query:

I would be doing a road trip from Siliguri to few places in Sikkim. I'm almost clear with the itinerary considering the number of days that we have on our hands. All I would like to know is how to obtain the permits. Let me list my complete itinerary here:

Day 1: I'll be boarding a flight from Chennai and will be headed to Bagdogra. The arrival time is estimated to be at 4:45 PM. We will then be taking our rented bikes and head straight to Darjeeling and halt there. Let's say that we start around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, we would be reaching Darjeeling around 9. Would you guys consider that to be safe? Or it's recommended to start to Darjeeling in the next morning.? Please do share your valuable inputs here. If I start to Darjeeling the next morning, I may miss few places in the other days. Hence, take that into consideration and do share your suggestions.

Landing at 4:45 and starting the ride at 6PM is waay too optimistic time frame i feel. Starting at say 7 and heading up, i dont see much of an issue, you would see all these MUV's ferrying people, but you have many by lanes that cuts across without ant signboard, just be careful on that. Worst case scenario tail a vehicle that's going towards Darjeeling.

Day 2: Will start from Darjeeling in the early hours of dawn, and head to Pelling -- Ravangla--- Gangtok and halt at Gangtok for the day.
* I guess, until this point there's no need to obtain any permits. If so, please do let us know. Let's say that we hit Gangtok by mid-afternoon or evening, how can we get the permit works done?

Any specific reasons why Pelling and Ravangla are added to the schedule ? If you are in a hurry to get your permits done then it will be burden. Darjeeling to Jorethang was horrible in our case. roads in Sikkim take Quite a bit of time. Do consider that. Yes , in the above mentioned route, permits are not require.

Because, the next day we would be travelling towards Nathu La and halt at Zuluk village. (I know that these two places would require the permits). Since we would riding on our rented bikes, what's the procedure to get the permit works done? I've gone through the official website of Sikkim and I'm finding it bit confusing. If someone who has already done this can share the information, I would very much appreciate it. Will the shop owner be providing us with all the necessary documents, (Whatsoever associated with the vehicle) that are listed in the below screenshot:

Coming to permits, let me explain what we had to go through. Two of three bikes in that ride were under my name, so when we applied for permits, one of the permits was rejected since one of my friend was riding a bike which was not in his name, neither did he have an authorization letter. when i intervened and told them that Myself being the owner was accompanying. They denied that reason and told us to get an affidavit done , only after which the permits were issued. The secretariat is very strict in Documentation. That said, they are very professional and systematic in doing things, no unnecessary delays and all. Infact they are so good that you might be astonished to see how Govt offices work in Sikkim.

So please do confirm with the rentals about the authorization letter. personally not sure if there is any specific documentation for rental bikes. It generally takes few hours if the documents are in place.



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Lets assume that if I have all the above documents, then what's the next step? Do I just need to walk down to the home department and submit the documents on the same day? I.e day 2.

Yes you need to take all the documents and they issues 4 copies of Permission letter Which you have to produce at 1.Teen Mile CP 2.Thegu CP: where you will be given a slip, which has to be produced at Serathang CP. 3.LIngtam CP and the last copy for your reference.

Day 3: From Gangtok, after receiving all the necessary permits, will be proceeding towards Nathu la. To explore all the places that is en-route Zuluk and halt at Zuluk village for the night.
Instead of Zuluk i would suggest you to stay in Nathang Valley, has waay more options.

Day 4: Start from Zuluk in the morning and head to Siliguri. On the way, a small halt at Kalimpong. I would have to board the flight at 3:15 PM from Bagdogra.

Again pretty highly optimistic plan, considering the terrain.


This is what I've planned so far. If you have other suggestions, please feel free to put them here. If my planning is not feasible, do let me know, so that I will consider changing it. I would also personally approach people who have done this before but this is to get the inputs from a majority.

All, I'm concerned is only about obtaining the permits. Please feel free elucidate as how it needs to be done as I'd be riding on a rented motorcycle. I just have little less than 4-days to complete this whole trip. I'm sorry if this post is too long and tiring. Please do ping me if you want to know more about the trip.

Reply in bold.Personally i feel, doing this ride in four days is absolute waste of money and time. Im sure anybody who has ridden to sikkim would agree on this. Take some time off and do this ride peacefully. Trust me on this, eve if you do the ride in such a claustrophobic schedule, you will have regrets for sure later on let me know if i can be of any help.