Sikkim helicopter contact details

DaniJ

Hello,

We're planning our second trip to India later this month and would like to fly from Bagdogra to Gangtok by the helicopter operated by Sikkim Tourism. However despite trying various numbers listed on internet sites we have not been able to contact them. I'd love to hear from anyone with their number or email address!

Cheers,
Danielle

Australia

saajan_20

Helicopter Service:

Schedule: Sikkim Helicopter Service operates a daily five-seater helicopter service between Ganktok and Bagdogra, connecting all civil flights to and from Bagdogra airport.

Time: Depart Gangtok - 12:30 hrs · Depart Bagdogra - 14:30 hrs except on Mondays/Fridays when departure time is moved to 15:30 hrs to accommodate the arrival of the Indian Airlines flight from Calcutta.

Duration: 30 minutes
Fare: (Indian Rupees) Rs. 1500.00 per person
Contact: RNC Enterprise, M.G.Marg, Gangtok · Phone [91] (0-3592) 23556 · Fax 23556 or Department of Tourism, Govt. of Sikkim · Ph:[91] (3592) 22064 / 22634

just picked up from a monastery site

andi missed the ride when i was in darjeeling this year u dont make that mistake please !!!

warm
regards
saajan

DaniJ

Hi,
Thanks-you for the numbers, however we have lucked out again! They are among the ones we are trying to call with no success. This is so frustrating, we really want to travel by helicopter and our 2 young sons are very excited by this propspect.

I can't even find an email address for anyone connected with Sikkim Tourism!

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Bhaswaran

Hi Dani.

Even if you are not be able to fly to Gangtok from Bagdogra, do not feel bad. the serpentine road winding up to the himalayas with the blue river Teesta flowing alongside is an worthy experience, it is very exciting.

Moreover, Sikkim Tourism runs helicopter services for tourists within Sikkim too.

The Helicoptor tours are:
1. Kanchanjunga tour. (you will see the kanchenjuna, the 3rd highest mountain in the world, from a close distance)
2. North SIkkim tour. (you will visit the beautiful valley of Yumthang in North Sikkim)
3. Gangtok and around tour.

costings are within reach, and you can have helicopter ride this way also. you can book this after reaching Gangtok, enquire with Sikkim Tourism and book tickets.

happy journey

Bhaswaran

holiday

Dear,
Please check with the Sikkim Tourism, before advicing potential travellers. The fare at present is Rs.1750.00

Cheers!!!

machadinha

Might be helpful if you could list the ones that don't work for you. Bear in mind that in India people may not be around 24/7 to answer your queries, given a somewhat flexible schedule you could probably work it out on the ground.

I found this a while ago http://www.mountainflightindia.com/mountainflight.html but it may well be one you already know. It mentions 1500 Rs. but as per the above you never know how up-to-date that is.

Let us know how you fared by all means, it sounds like an exciting flight! btw Did you look for West Bengal tourist affairs, might be able to help. http://www.wbtourism.com/ is my first hit but there may well be others.

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tacita

(this thread looks a bit dated...not sure whether to start a new one or jump in here...is there a protocol for that?)

hmmmm....wonder how the original poster may have made out? i, too, am coming up empty with contacts through which i might reserve helicopter transport from bagdogra to gangtok (in february). it can probably be done on the spot at the airport, but i'd feel better at least trying to reserve in advance. i sent email to both addys listed for the mountainflights company and got a failed delivery reply. i haven't tried the phone because of the late hour there, but thought i'd inquire first in any event whether anyone has more current info. also, i have a hearing impairment (my cochlear implant is nothing short of miraculous, but imperfect nevertheless), so if there's any possible way to do things via email, i try that first and save myself and the person i'm calling the frustration of endless repetitions and apologies!)

__________________
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

machadinha

I'd call if you can and have a number. Ask a friend to do it for you. Be prepared for some confusing conversations over imperfect lines, but let that be a good intro to India.

I don't suspect arranging it at Bagdogra should be all that difficult (esp. if contacting them is so hard) but who's to say really. I couldn't believe about this chopper deal when I found out about it just recently. Conversely it may have been some temporary thing that someone tried out and didn't work and is therefore defunct. Ah India...

Looking into it through some agency at your place of landing might be a middle road, although if people in e.g. Delhi know about this... remains to be seen.

tacita

indeed! hence, my disproportionate solo-travel apprehension! ah, well, still worth the leap, methinks.

i'll wait and see what else turns up and, yes, ask someone to help with the phone.

thanks for the reply.

2cents

You find that in case of government departments their contact numbers listed on various websites are rarely updated when the numbering scheme changes(eg from 5 digit to 6 digit ones).The telephone number listed in the initial posts above are 5 digit ones whereas they have been upgraded to 6 digit numbers a while back.
The BSNL telephone directory for Sikkim can be accessed online here :- Sikkim Tel. Directory. However even after adding a '2' to the tel. numbers listed for Sikkim tourism department I couldn't locate any records.This is what a search for 'Tourism' in the 'Name' field throws up :-

204543 DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM,GOVT.OF SIKKIM M.G. MARG GANGTOK PO.GANGTOK, E.SIKKIM
280325 SIKKIM TOURISM SIKKIM TOURISM DEV.CORP.LTD. NEAR S T C'S DEORALI PO.DEORALI GANGTOK-E.SIKKIM
281316 SIKKIM TOURISM DEV SIKKIM TOURISM DEV.CORP.LIMITED. NEAR S T C'S DEORALI PO.DEORALI GANGTOK-E.SIKKIM
281372 SIKKIM TOURISM DEV. CORPORATION SIKKIM TOURISM DEV.CORPORATION LTD. NEAR S T C S. DEORALI PO.DEORALI GANGTOK-E.SIKKIM
205556 SIKKIM TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. GANGTOK.
202413 SIKKIM TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. GANGTOK
205525 TOURISM DEPARTMENT GOVT.OF SIKKIM M.G.MARG GANGTOK PO.GANGTOK E.SIKKIM

The above list might be a good place to start if you are going to ask someone to ring up the Sikkim tourism department.
Good Luck.

tacita

thanks for the reply.

i emailed the tibet hotel in gangtok to make my reservation there and mentioned in my email that i hoped to arrive via helicopter from bagdogra but was having difficulty contacting the company (ies?) by email. they kindly offered to speak to a mr. "pawan hans" for me. (no idea who that is but, presumably, someone who knows about the helicopter transport) i am waiting for their reply on that. if/when i get any more info details, i'll post them here.

thanks again.

tacita

sorry, 2cents, meant to thank you specifically for your research efforts as well. i did note the disparity in telephone numbers, some of which were the same, but with this errant "2." now i see why. it also appears that some websites/guidebooks may indeed have typos or transpositions. for now, i'll wait and see what the hotel has to say and then proceed from there. my trip isn't until february, so i have some time to sort this out. worst comes to worse, i go by jeep and lose a little sightseeing time in gangtok.

k9healer

We tried hard to get a helicopter tour while in Gangtok - either to or from the airport or just for the day...but the weather was never clear enough for it to happen.

All of the locals warned us against counting on the helicopter to get us back to Bagdogra for our flight home - when the weather is unstable, it doesn't often fly - we booked it anyway and were told the night before that we'd have to make alternate arrangments - we ended up getting up early for a taxi.

kalumama

Hello Janice,

Just a point to note "Pawan Hans" is not a person but the organization which runs the helicopter service across India. You can google and see their website.
Though did not find any info on how to book a ticket for their services.

Regards
~Rohan

tacita

probably a mistake only a westerner could make! they're probably wondering why a native english speaker can't keep her pronouns straight, as i asked them to let me know after they spoke to "him." (v. "them") heh-heh. thanks for the lead, kalumama.