boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleTook an overnight train from Delhi to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in sleeper class (~₹800).
- check_circleWalked past the private-taxi touts outside NJP and waited for a shared cab to Gangtok (~₹400/seat) instead of paying ~₹3,500+ for a private car.
- check_circleStayed 3 nights in a budget hotel a five-minute walk from MG Marg (~₹900/night, booked on arrival).
- check_circleDid Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir on a shared day trip (~₹800/person including permit), booked through an MG Marg agent the previous evening.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Delhi~₹800overnight train, sleeper ~₹800
- 2New Jalpaiguri
- 3Shared cab~₹400~₹400/seat, 4–5 hrs
- 4Gangtok3 nights, near MG Marg
- 5Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir~₹800shared day trip ~₹800
- 6Shared cab (~₹400) → NJP → overnight train → Delhi
articleMy Experience
My train rolled into NJP at 8 AM, and I walked straight past the private-taxi touts quoting ₹4,000. Across the road, the shared Sumo stand was shouting the same destination for ₹400 a seat. I waited 40 minutes for ten passengers to gather — those 40 minutes saved me over ₹3,000.
The drive is half the experience: the Teesta running turquoise beside the road, a momo-and-chai halt near Rangpo, the quick ID check at the Sikkim checkpost. We reached Gangtok by 2 PM, and I found a clean ₹900 room off MG Marg — hot water, a hill view, everything I needed.
The Tsomgo day was the highlight. Our shared Xylo left at 8 AM with permits handled by the agent; the lake sat half-frozen at 12,300 ft even in May. At Baba Mandir I drank the army canteen’s free chai and just stood there awhile. Some moments don’t need a photo.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Delhi → NJP train (sleeper) | ₹800 |
| NJP → Gangtok shared cab | ₹400 |
| Hotel, 3 nights × ~₹900 | ₹2,700 |
| Food, 5 days × ~₹350 | ₹1,750 |
| Tsomgo + Baba Mandir shared trip | ₹800 |
| Local (ropeway, entries, water) | ₹300 |
| Gangtok → NJP shared cab | ₹400 |
| NJP → Delhi train (sleeper) | ₹800 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: May 2026
lightbulbMoney Saver
The single biggest saving was the shared cab — ₹400 vs ₹3,500+ for a private taxi. Yes, I waited 40 minutes for it to fill, and yes, I was squeezed in the middle row. But that’s a ₹3,000+ saving for 40 minutes of patience. On a budget trip, that’s the whole game.
verified_userReality Check
Shared cabs everywhere, and eating at small local kitchens off MG Marg instead of the tourist-facing restaurants.
The first ₹600 hotel I picked — paper-thin walls facing the main road. I moved after one night and paid ₹900 for actual sleep.
Not booking the Tsomgo shared seat on day one. The next day’s seats were full, so I lost a day I could have used better.
How good a ₹150 bowl of thukpa from a tiny Tibetan kitchen tastes after a mountain drive.
Yes — this is now my default template for Sikkim.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- Shared cabs leave when full, not on a timetable — morning arrivals get the fastest departures.
- Carry a photo ID and 2 passport photos from home; permit agents need them and Gangtok photo studios charge a premium.
- Nathula Pass stays closed on Mondays and Tuesdays — plan weekdays accordingly if you want the full combo.
- Keep ₹2,000–3,000 in cash; card machines “don’t work today” more often than you’d expect.
personAbout the Traveler
Written by the Wayfare founder — travelling the Himalayas on a budget and writing down everything, so the next traveler spends less.
Founder stories · real trips, real costs.
forumSneha
Is the shared cab stand easy to find outside NJP? I’m reaching at 6 AM.
Very easy — walk out of the main exit, cross the road, and you’ll hear drivers shouting “Gangtok! Gangtok!”. At 6 AM you’ll fill a cab fast. Don’t pay more than ~₹400–500 per seat.
Was the shared cab okay for luggage? I always worry about my bag on the roof.
Totally fine — big bags go on the roof rack and they tie them down well. Keep valuables in a small daypack on your lap. I do it every time.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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