Can one travel to Gangtok from WB at night?

kernelguy

We plan a trip to Sikkim in the last week of April. The spicejet flight from Chennai reaches Bagdogra at 3.45 PM. Is it advisable to start the trip to Gangtok, at say 4.30 PM? I could not get a clear answer to this in any of the existing threads; all the posts seem to suggest travel during the day.

If the trip to Gangtok is not possible in evening/night, how about Darjeeling?

Thanks in advance

Radjesh

The road to Gangtok from Bagdogra is not exactly the best: sharp turns & hilly terrain, not a good combination to be doing in the night. I havent traveled on the road to Darjeeling from Bagdogra.

Now even I am wondering if anyone had actually travelled that route after dusk... Anyone out there?

kernelguy

Here is the follow up. I checked with a couple of tour operators. They seem to suggest that starting at 4 PM or so from Bagdogra/NJP is not a problem and there is still some traffic at that time. Two issues - one would miss the Teesta sights, and may find no dinner at Gangtok.

kernelguy

Captain_Neel

I noticed that all restaurants in the MG Road area in Gangtok close around 8:00 pm. I would not go in that route at night.

asicola

You also have to take into account that the road from Siliguri/ NJP is often blocked during strikes and protests. These happen frequently...far too frequently. Waiting in the dark for the road to reopen would suck to say the least.

If possible stay in Siliguri in the Cart Hill Road area overnight and take a shared Jeep from one of the operators there. it is a much better trip in the daylight.

Cheers!

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