Jalpaiguri to Sikkim at night

Dear members,

I am visiting in next week (9-14 July). I know it is a very short time but that is all I could manage.

I am taking a train from mumbai and reaching jalpaiguri on 8th July 6 PM. I am not planning to stay in jalpaiguri and reach gangtok on 8th night itself, because I am in Sikkim for a short time.

The hotel that I have booked in gangtok have told me that they can arrange for pickup from jalpaiguri at night.

However, having read some of the other posts I am little apprehensive about this night journey. I would request those who have made this journey to help me with their comments.

My plan -
8 - reach gangtok at night
9,10 - stay at gangtok and visit nearby places
11,12 - shall be staying at Dzongu homestay
13 - leave from dzongu and reach gangtok, roam aroung gangtok city, shopping etc.
14 - taking flight from bagdogra.

I would like to know your suggestions what I can do 9,10. More importantly I would like to know your views on the night journey. What would you have done - taken the little risk to make night journey given the small amount of time spent in sikkim or do you believe it is outright stupid to make the night journey.

Thanks,
Aniket

On 9th you can book 7 points sightseeing around Gangtok and on 10th you can go to Rumtek. But your night journey plan is what I'm worried about. It can be done in dry season, but it'll be risky in this time of the year as landslide is common in this route during monsoon. My suggestion will be to spend the night at NJP (or in Shiliguri) and start for Gangtok next morning.

Thanks for your reply.

For the record,

I spoke with the hotel again and even they recommended I spend a night at Jalpaiguri or Siliguri.

They said they did not provide this advice earlier because I did not ask them at that time

So I am staying at Siliguri.

That's better. Night journey in hilly terrain is always dangerous.

@ aniketbhanu

its better to stay close to NJP (rail campus), if you want to travel early next day instead of Siliguri (in case if you are first timer)

My suggestion would be to stay at NJP. Since you are from Mumbai it'll be easier for you to find a hotel there. There are quite a few budget hotels just outside the car parking area, so you can just walk from the NJP station to any of those hotels. Shiliguri is 5 kms away from NJP and you have to hire a cab if you want to stay in Shiliguri.

Thanks all for the replies. I'm back now, I had stayed in Siliguri.

For future travellers, I would give the same advice of not travelling at night.

Why not post your trip report containing fresh and up-to-date feedback? This will be immensely helpful for your readers.