Distances from Gangtok: Km and Drive Times
How far Tsomgo Lake, Nathula, Lachung, Pelling, Darjeeling and the rest are from Gangtok by road, how long the drive takes, and which places need a permit.
The short answer
Tsomgo Lake is 41 km from Gangtok, Nathula 58 km, Pelling 114 km and Lachung 116 km. Allow about 2 hours for Nathula and 4–6 for the rest.
- Tsomgo (Changu) Lake 41 km, 1.5–2 hours, and Nathula Pass 58 km, about 2 hours: a day out from Gangtok, with a permit.
- Pelling 114 km, about 4 hours; Darjeeling 98 km, about 5 hours. Indian travellers need no permit for either.
- Lachung 116 km and Lachen 123 km, 5–6 hours each: North Sikkim needs a permit and a night there.
- NJP railway station 119 km and Bagdogra Airport 125 km: about 5 hours down to the plains.
Days you can book for this
Km are by road from MG Marg. Drive times are what local operators plan for, without stops.
Quick facts
Checked Oct 2026
- Measured from
- MG Marg, Gangtok
- Nearest lake
- Tsomgo Lake, 41 km (1.5–2 h)
- Furthest sight
- Gurudongmar Lake, 190 km
- Airport and railway
- Bagdogra 125 km · NJP 119 km, about 5 h
- Permit needed
- Tsomgo, Nathula, Zuluk and North Sikkim
- No permit for Indians
- Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi, Darjeeling
How far is each place from Gangtok?
From 22 km for Rumtek Monastery to 190 km for Gurudongmar Lake. The table lists every place nearest first, with the drive time and whether you need a permit.
| Place | Km | Drive | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rumtek Monastery | 22 | 30–60 min | None |
| Tsomgo (Changu) Lake | 41 | 1.5–2 h | Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide |
| Kupup (Elephant Lake) | 51 | About 1 h 45 min | Yes; Indian nationals only |
| Temi Tea Garden | 55 | About 2 h | None |
| Nathula Pass | 58 | About 2 h | Yes; Indian nationals only; closed Mondays |
| Kalimpong | 75 | About 4 h | None |
| Namchi | 76 | 2.5–3 h | None for Indians |
| Ravangla | 77 | 2–2.5 h | None for Indians |
| Zuluk | 93 | 3–3.5 h | Yes; Indian nationals only |
| Darjeeling | 98 | About 5 h | None |
| Pelling | 114 | About 4 h | None for Indians |
| Siliguri | 114 | About 5 h | None |
| Lachung | 116 | 5–6 h | Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide |
| NJP railway station | 119 | About 5 h | None |
| Lachen | 123 | 5–6 h | Yes; foreigners only as far as Thangu |
| Bagdogra Airport | 125 | About 5 h | None |
| Yumthang Valley | 141 | Lachung + 1 h | Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide |
| Zero Point (Yumesamdong) | 166 | Yumthang + 1 h* | Yes; Indian nationals only |
| Gurudongmar Lake | 190 | Lachen + 2–3 h | Yes; Indian nationals only |
- Rumtek Monastery22 km · 30–60 min
Permit: None
- Tsomgo (Changu) Lake41 km · 1.5–2 h
Permit: Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide
- Kupup (Elephant Lake)51 km · About 1 h 45 min
Permit: Yes; Indian nationals only
- Temi Tea Garden55 km · About 2 h
Permit: None
- Nathula Pass58 km · About 2 h
Permit: Yes; Indian nationals only; closed Mondays
- Kalimpong75 km · About 4 h
Permit: None
- Namchi76 km · 2.5–3 h
Permit: None for Indians
- Ravangla77 km · 2–2.5 h
Permit: None for Indians
- Zuluk93 km · 3–3.5 h
Permit: Yes; Indian nationals only
- Darjeeling98 km · About 5 h
Permit: None
- Pelling114 km · About 4 h
Permit: None for Indians
- Siliguri114 km · About 5 h
Permit: None
- Lachung116 km · 5–6 h
Permit: Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide
- NJP railway station119 km · About 5 h
Permit: None
- Lachen123 km · 5–6 h
Permit: Yes; foreigners only as far as Thangu
- Bagdogra Airport125 km · About 5 h
Permit: None
- Yumthang Valley141 km · Lachung + 1 h
Permit: Yes; foreigners in groups of 2+ with a registered guide
- Zero Point (Yumesamdong)166 km · Yumthang + 1 h*
Permit: Yes; Indian nationals only
- Gurudongmar Lake190 km · Lachen + 2–3 h
Permit: Yes; Indian nationals only
Road distance from MG Marg. Drive times are what local operators plan for, without stops. * Day Trio’s estimate: no day on Day Trio drives this road yet.
Foreign nationals and OCI card holders also need Sikkim’s entry permit (RAP) for every place in Sikkim. Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Siliguri, NJP and Bagdogra are in West Bengal and need no permit.
Who can go where, and which ID to send, is in our Sikkim permits guide.
Every day and ride that starts in the town is on the Gangtok page, with the same distances under Getting there.
How far are Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula?
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake is 41 km from Gangtok, 1.5–2 hours by road. Nathula Pass is 58 km, about 2 hours.
All three are on the same road. New Baba Mandir sits between the lake and the pass, about 30 minutes’ drive below Nathula, and the lake is 17 km from the pass. Most days visit all three, starting early.
In a private car, the Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir day can add Nathula at checkout.
Nathula is closed on Mondays and open to Indian nationals only; foreign nationals can go as far as Tsomgo Lake. Open days and documents are in the Nathula permit guide.
The shared Nathula day goes up to the pass first and stops at Baba Mandir and the lake on the way back.
A day you can book
Gangtok, SikkimShared Trip to Nathula Pass, Tsomgo and Baba MandirFull daymeet in townrefundable 48hfrom $18per person, all-inSee the day →How long is the drive to Lachung, Lachen and Gurudongmar?
Lachung is 116 km and Lachen 123 km from Gangtok, 5–6 hours each by road via Chungthang.
That is too far for a day out, so North Sikkim trips stay at least one night. From Lachung, Yumthang Valley is 26 km further, about an hour; Zero Point is 25 km beyond that, for Indian nationals only.
From Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake is 69 km, 2–3 hours each way. Cars leave around 4 am to reach the lake, at 5,430 m, by sunrise. Lachen and Lachung are 47 km apart, 2–2.5 hours.
The whole region needs a permit, which the operator applies for after you book. The shared Lachung and Yumthang trip takes two nights.
A day you can book
Gangtok, SikkimLachung & Yumthang 2N3D Shared Trip with Homestay & MealsMulti-daymeet in townrefundable 48hfrom $61per person, all-in2 sharingSee the day →How far are Pelling, Ravangla and Namchi?
Pelling is 114 km from Gangtok, about 4 hours. Ravangla is 77 km and Namchi 76 km, 2–3 hours each.
Namchi and Ravangla are 28 km apart and lie on one way to Pelling, so many trips stop at both. Temi Tea Garden, 55 km from Gangtok, is on the same road.
Indian travellers need no permit for West and South Sikkim; foreign nationals need only the entry permit (RAP).
The two-night Pelling trip via Namchi and Ravangla takes that road.
A day you can book
Gangtok, SikkimGangtok to Pelling 2N3D via Namchi & RavanglaMulti-daypickup inclrefundable 24hfrom $158per vehicle, all-inSee the day →How far is Zuluk from Gangtok?
Zuluk is 93 km from Gangtok, 3–3.5 hours on the high road past Tsomgo Lake and Kupup.
Kupup is 51 km from Gangtok; from there the road runs 43 km past Lungthung and Thambi Viewpoint down to Zuluk and its 32 hairpin bends. The lower road back via Rongli takes about 3 hours.
Zuluk is a border area open to Indian nationals only, and the permit asks for two passport photos per traveller.
The Zuluk and Rongli day goes up the high road and comes back the low one.
A day you can book
Gangtok, SikkimOne-Day Trip to Zuluk and Rongli from GangtokFull daypickup inclrefundable 24hfrom $67per vehicle, all-inSee the day →How far are Darjeeling, Kalimpong, NJP and Bagdogra?
Darjeeling is 98 km from Gangtok, about 5 hours. NJP station is 119 km and Bagdogra Airport 125 km, about 5 hours each.
Kalimpong is the nearest of the West Bengal hill towns, 75 km and about 4 hours. Siliguri, beside NJP and Bagdogra, is 114 km.
Leave plenty of time for a flight or a train: the drive down is on mountain roads, and weather or traffic can slow it.
Book this day: Gangtok to Darjeeling: One-Way Transfer · from $42 per vehicle
What should you plan for on these roads?
Time, more than distance. The roads climb and wind, so an early start and a spare hour matter more than the km.
Plan for
- An early start for Nathula, Zuluk and Gurudongmar
- At least one night in Lachung or Lachen for North Sikkim
- A spare hour or two before a flight or a train
- Slower roads in the monsoon, June to September
Have ready
- A Voter ID, passport or driving licence for permits (not Aadhaar)
- Two passport photos each for Nathula, Zuluk and Gurudongmar
- Warm layers for Tsomgo, Nathula and Zuluk in any season
- Cash for the high stops, where cards may not work
How far apart are the other places?
Ravangla to Pelling is 37 km, Darjeeling to Pelling 62 km, and NJP to Pelling 124 km. The table has the roads guests ask about most.
| Route | Km | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tsomgo Lake to Nathula Pass | 17 | About 1 h |
| Kupup to Zuluk (via Lungthung and Thambi) | 43 | 1–1.5 h |
| Lachung to Yumthang Valley | 26 | About 1 h |
| Yumthang to Zero Point | 25 | About 1 h* |
| Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake | 69 | 2–3 h |
| Lachen to Lachung (via Chungthang) | 47 | 2–2.5 h |
| Temi Tea Garden to Namchi | 30 | About 1 h |
| Namchi to Ravangla | 28 | About 1 h |
| Namchi to Pelling | 64 | About 2 h |
| Ravangla to Pelling | 37 | 1.5–2 h* |
| Pelling to Khecheopalri Lake | 27 | About 45 min |
| Pelling to Yuksom | 40 | 1–1.5 h* |
| Darjeeling to Pelling | 62 | About 3 h |
| NJP to Pelling | 124 | About 4.5 h |
| Bagdogra Airport to Pelling | 131 | About 4.5 h |
| NJP to Darjeeling | 68 | About 3 h* |
| Bagdogra Airport to Darjeeling | 70 | About 3 h* |
| Darjeeling to Kalimpong | 52 | About 2.5 h* |
- Tsomgo Lake to Nathula Pass17 km · About 1 h
- Kupup to Zuluk (via Lungthung and Thambi)43 km · 1–1.5 h
- Lachung to Yumthang Valley26 km · About 1 h
- Yumthang to Zero Point25 km · About 1 h*
- Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake69 km · 2–3 h
- Lachen to Lachung (via Chungthang)47 km · 2–2.5 h
- Temi Tea Garden to Namchi30 km · About 1 h
- Namchi to Ravangla28 km · About 1 h
- Namchi to Pelling64 km · About 2 h
- Ravangla to Pelling37 km · 1.5–2 h*
- Pelling to Khecheopalri Lake27 km · About 45 min
- Pelling to Yuksom40 km · 1–1.5 h*
- Darjeeling to Pelling62 km · About 3 h
- NJP to Pelling124 km · About 4.5 h
- Bagdogra Airport to Pelling131 km · About 4.5 h
- NJP to Darjeeling68 km · About 3 h*
- Bagdogra Airport to Darjeeling70 km · About 3 h*
- Darjeeling to Kalimpong52 km · About 2.5 h*
Road distance between the two places. Drive times are what local operators plan for, without stops. * Day Trio’s estimate: no day on Day Trio drives this road yet.
Questions travellers ask
How far is Tsomgo Lake from Gangtok?
How far is Nathula Pass from Gangtok?
How far is Baba Mandir from Nathula?
How far is Lachung from Gangtok?
How far is Pelling from Gangtok?
How far is Darjeeling from Gangtok?
Sources & checks
- Road distances between the places, measured from MG Marg — OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) · checked Oct 2026
- Who may visit which protected areas; foreign nationals in groups of two or more — Sikkim Tourism, Government of Sikkim (Protected Area Permit page) · checked Oct 2026
- The entry permit (RAP) for foreign nationals — Sikkim Tourism, Government of Sikkim (Restricted Area Permit page) · checked Oct 2026
- Nathula: closed on Mondays — Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India · checked Oct 2026
