Sikkim in September

e_poleg · Aug 22nd, 2007, 21:50

Hi ,
I'll be in India for 4 weeks during the dates 08/09-08/10 , I'm planning to concentrate in Darjeeling and Sikkim . On the plan are : one or more tracks , cluture and sight seeing .
The real question is what will be the weather , currently the 14 day forecast ahead is mostly raining . Do you think it will decrese till my visit (or maybe even stopped

) ? What kind of weather is common on this period ? Is it raining non-stoppted or in intervals ? Is tracking possible ?
In other ways : am I dumb on going there then and should go to plan B (Uttaranchal) ?

P.S.
I have no doubt it will rain during my stay , the question is will it not rain

.

Thanks
Itay

happysnapper999 · Aug 22nd, 2007, 22:25

It could go either way for you. I was in Sikkim for the permitted two weeks back in March and some days it rained, some days it was in dense cloud, and some days it was blisteringly hot... by day that is.

Darjeeling seems to have different weather to say Gangtok or Pelling because it is nearer to the warmer air rising from west Bengal, so it is very cloudy and wet at times. You should be ok by the time you're going.

I wouldn't worry too much though, because if it is raining very badly, you won't get into Sikkim anyway as the roads will be washed away and bridges down, so you'll know before you get there.

If you get the train to NJP station (New Jailupuri sp?) then grab a cycle rickshaw over to the bus station (the jeep station is right next door, but more expensive) you can get the permit for Sikkim right there and then from the government office. There's a cafe opposite to sit in while you wait for them to do it, takes about a couple of hours.

You don't need a permit for Darjeeling, but you do for Sikkim proper. If the roads are open, then you will be fine.

clawhammer · Aug 22nd, 2007, 23:21

The roads in Sikkim are better maintained than in most places in India. They are important for the armed forces and are kept in good shape throughout the year.
It is likely to be rainy both in Uttaranchal as well as in Sikkim, so the choice is yours. Its usually not advisable to go for a trek in monsoon unless it is a very easy trek.
The monsoon might subside late September but there is not guarantee.
Sikkim is a delightful place and due to better roads it is easier to move around(even when its raining). But if you are interested in Uttaranchal, the Valley of Flowers may provide you a chance for some trek at this time of the year.
You can post in the trekking and mountaineering section for suggestions for trek during this period

e_poleg · Aug 23rd, 2007, 17:19

Thank you for the fast and detailed replay .

About the option to get a permit to Sikkim in New Jailupuri , I guess it's not possible on Saturday and Sunday , right ?

And did I got it right , it's more wise , weatherly speaking , to go first to the Sikkim and then to Darjeeling ?

I guess I'll take my chances anyhow , unless I'll hear of some serious weather problem .

Thanks again Guys !

happysnapper999 · Aug 23rd, 2007, 17:35

I'm not sure if it's open on Saturday and Sunday and I can't find the permit I have here to see what it says at the moment.

If you go the bus station to get your permit, then you will probably want to head straight to Sikkim as you only get two weeks from that date. Having said that, it is possible to extend the permit once you're there but there are only three or four places you can do that and although like Clawhammer says, the roads are pretty good, it takes hours to get anywhere.

Aug 22nd, 2007, 21:50	#1
e_poleg Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Israel Posts: 3	Sikkim in September Hi , I'll be in India for 4 weeks during the dates 08/09-08/10 , I'm planning to concentrate in Darjeeling and Sikkim . On the plan are : one or more tracks , cluture and sight seeing . The real question is what will be the weather , currently the 14 day forecast ahead is mostly raining . Do you think it will decrese till my visit (or maybe even stopped ) ? What kind of weather is common on this period ? Is it raining non-stoppted or in intervals ? Is tracking possible ? In other ways : am I dumb on going there then and should go to plan B (Uttaranchal) ? P.S. I have no doubt it will rain during my stay , the question is will it not rain . Thanks Itay Last edited by machadinha : Aug 22nd, 2007 at 21:56. Reason: fixed title

Aug 22nd, 2007, 23:21	#3
clawhammer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: kharagpur Posts: 137	The roads in Sikkim are better maintained than in most places in India. They are important for the armed forces and are kept in good shape throughout the year. It is likely to be rainy both in Uttaranchal as well as in Sikkim, so the choice is yours. Its usually not advisable to go for a trek in monsoon unless it is a very easy trek. The monsoon might subside late September but there is not guarantee. Sikkim is a delightful place and due to better roads it is easier to move around(even when its raining). But if you are interested in Uttaranchal, the Valley of Flowers may provide you a chance for some trek at this time of the year. You can post in the trekking and mountaineering section for suggestions for trek during this period __________________ .... Wanderer of Lonely shores.... http://www.subhojitchakz.blogspot.com/

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Aug 22nd, 2007, 22:25	#2
happysnapper999 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 79	It could go either way for you. I was in Sikkim for the permitted two weeks back in March and some days it rained, some days it was in dense cloud, and some days it was blisteringly hot... by day that is. Darjeeling seems to have different weather to say Gangtok or Pelling because it is nearer to the warmer air rising from west Bengal, so it is very cloudy and wet at times. You should be ok by the time you're going. I wouldn't worry too much though, because if it is raining very badly, you won't get into Sikkim anyway as the roads will be washed away and bridges down, so you'll know before you get there. If you get the train to NJP station (New Jailupuri sp?) then grab a cycle rickshaw over to the bus station (the jeep station is right next door, but more expensive) you can get the permit for Sikkim right there and then from the government office. There's a cafe opposite to sit in while you wait for them to do it, takes about a couple of hours. You don't need a permit for Darjeeling, but you do for Sikkim proper. If the roads are open, then you will be fine.

Aug 23rd, 2007, 17:19	#4
e_poleg Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Israel Posts: 3	Thank you for the fast and detailed replay . About the option to get a permit to Sikkim in New Jailupuri , I guess it's not possible on Saturday and Sunday , right ? And did I got it right , it's more wise , weatherly speaking , to go first to the Sikkim and then to Darjeeling ? I guess I'll take my chances anyhow , unless I'll hear of some serious weather problem . Thanks again Guys !

Aug 23rd, 2007, 17:35	#5
happysnapper999 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 79	I'm not sure if it's open on Saturday and Sunday and I can't find the permit I have here to see what it says at the moment. If you go the bus station to get your permit, then you will probably want to head straight to Sikkim as you only get two weeks from that date. Having said that, it is possible to extend the permit once you're there but there are only three or four places you can do that and although like Clawhammer says, the roads are pretty good, it takes hours to get anywhere.

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