Help needed - Sikkim and Darjeeling (Aug 2012)

Hello everyone. I have booked the tickets to New jalpaiguri (NJP) from Delhi and here are the details:

Del to NJP train

Leaving Delhi : August 15th 2012 at 6:50 AM
Reaching NJP: Aug 16th around 1:30 PM

Return:

Kolkata: Aug 20th Rajdhani 16:50 hrs


Now I have the following days:

Aug 16th (half day)
Aug 17th, 18th and 19th

What can be done in these days?

I am planning to cover the following: Kalimpong, Gangtok and Darjeeling. I just want to visit these places, as I dont have the time so cannot stay at a single place for a long time. I must need to cover all 3 , because its on my To-do list this year

Now here are few questions:

1. I am planning to go to Gangtok on Aug 16th directly from NJP
2. Staying there on Aug 16th and next morning visit gangtok, local sight seeing. Evening departure to Darjeeling
3. Aug 17th night stay in darjeeling, next day sight seeing in darjeeling and in the evening , back to NJP. Staying night there
4. Aug 19th , Kalimpong and in the evening back to NJP
5. Aug 20 , morning train from NJP to kolkata and then taking the evening train from Kolkata back to delhi


I know its very hectic but I am used to these kind of itineraries.

Budget: I am looking for budget hotels as I am travelling alon (somewehre around Rs 500-Rs 1000 ). Are the hotels available in these range?

Transport :What is the rough transport cost and how easily they are available? I am looking for ONLY shared transport options.

Climate: Is it ok to go in august, I have heard it rains too much in Aug

Please help.

Thanks

Sunny

Here's my suggestion:

16th August: Reach NJP at 1:30PM > have lunch> proceed towards Kalimpong and reach by 4/5 PM. Spend the entire evening in the town> sleep. (distance covered around 64KMS)

17th August: Wake up early, roam around> leave Kalimpong at around 9AM to Gangtok. Reach Gangtok by 12PM> Hotel Check in and lunch by 2PM > Local walking tour/ mg marg tour till eve/ night (distance covered around 75KMS)

18th August: Entire city tour/ guided tour till/ half day tour and then leave by 2/3 PM to Darjeeling (direct or via Kalimpong) and reach Darjeeling by 7/9PM > Check in hotel and sleep

19th August: Wake up early and go for Tiger Hill tour and return by 7/8AM > Have an awesome late breakfast/ lunch at Keventers and get ready to leave by 12/2 PM so that you reach NJP by 4/6PM > Pre book a bus (normal/ ac) or train to Calcutta will generally leave NJP/ Siliguri 6:30PM onwards. (Try Darjeeling Mail or Jai Dada/ Royal Cruiser Volvo Buses)

20th August: Reach Calcutta in the morning around 8AM > Check in a cheap hotel to freshen up > explore the city of joy till 3PM > Rush to your station (Howrah or Sealdah) for your Rajdhani.


Budget: Rs.500-1000 per day is enough. There are plenty. Even I have stayed decent double bed rooms, with moderately clean toilets and bed spread, with working TV for less than 500 bucks both in Gangtok and Darjeeling.

Transport: Shared Jeeps are easily available from NJP, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Gangtok and everywhere.

Rough Fare: NJP to Kalimpong Rs.80
Kalimpong to Gangtok Rs.1oo
Gangtok to Darjeeling Rs.120
NJP to Darjeeling Rs.120

Climate: Right now its almost flooded in NJP/ Siliguri due to monsoon with regular landslides on the hills. Monsoon is expected to remain in August too. If there's any landslide your too hectic schedule can be ruined.


My suggestion: Go to either Darjeeling or to Gangtok and enjoy either of them completely.

Thanks a lot for the detailed information. This is really very helpful

hi...

you have very few days to cover the area. looks like you're catching mahananda exp and the train can reach late, which is normal. expect to reach njp minimum 1-2 hrs late.

darjeeling/gangtok/kalimpong roads can be affected by landslides, especially since it's raining quite a bit there. also the road travel time can turn out longer than usual.

the best is to go to just two places so you can get a taste of the hills. otherwise you'll be spending more time on the roads and miss out on some great stuff.

ideally, you'll want to spend min 2 days each in darj and gangtok. for kalimpong, one day should be ok if you are not planning to go to the magnificent neora valley/lava area

Thanks a lot for the info. Is it still raining very heavily there?

there's a saying: never trust the 2 Ws... wine and weather. with darjeeling hills, you can't just predict the weather nor the potency of the wine
it's monsoon and darj does receive it's fair share of rain, sometimes till end of sept. that said, it's still a great time to experience the area. plus, less tourists mean you'll have some places all to yourself.

if you are into cloud-watching and golden cloudy sunsets, it's the perfect time. if you want to do some mountain watching, you might get a bit disappointed.

am heading home to darj on the dates you have mentioned. and i'm keeping my fingers crossed too

Budget: Rs.500-1000 per day is enough. There are plenty. Even I have stayed decent double bed rooms, with moderately clean toilets and bed spread, with working TV for less than 500 bucks both in Gangtok and Darjeeling.

@ highhope-
I am also going to Sikkim/Darjeeling trip and my budget is between Rs 500-1000 per day for a room with 3 beds, please let me know address, e-mailid and tel no of hotels available in this range at Gangtok and Darjeeling

Thanks & Regards
alok

what about Women?

Hotel Priyanka, Toong Soong Road
Contact: Suresh Chhetri - 97758-63903

I stayed here April in 2012 for couple of days. Basic double bedded TV room with attach bath w/o geyser. They provided me a room on 1st floor with a nice view of the valley with lot of illegal constructions. Charges Rs.500 per day per room. Walking distance from the mall. Does not have too much faclities/ luxary but ideal for backpackers. I am not very sure about their services too since I used to come to the hotel after 9PM and leave at 9AM

Other budget hotels:

Andy's Guesthouse. Dr.Zakir Hussain Road,
Double Bed - Rs.400-500
Contact - 91-0354-2253125

Hotel Ailment. Dr. Zakir Hussain Road,
Double Bed Rs500
Contact - 91-0354-2255068

Hotel Valentino. Rockville Road (it is surround by other hotels/ buildings on both sides I guess)
Double Bedded Rs.1000+ (nice services and other general facilities)
Contact - 91-0354-2252228

And I will be in Hotel Broadway Inn, Zakir Hussain Road during end of 2012. Not sure about the tariff but I have received good reviews.

Over all there are few good budget hotels on Zakir Hussain Road.

I will give you the details of Gangtok hotels within a couple of days.

@ Highhope-- Thanks