Darjeeling to Gangtok: Distance, Route, Taxi and Shared Jeep (2026)
The 98 km from Darjeeling to Gangtok takes about four hours. Here are the two routes, shared jeep versus reserved car, and what happens at the Sikkim border.
Darjeeling and Gangtok are the two towns most hill trips combine, and the drive between them is the middle leg of most itineraries. It is about 98 km, roughly four hours, down to the Teesta and up again into Sikkim.
The short answer
| Darjeeling to Gangtok | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 98 km by the direct route |
| Time | About 4 hours, 5 to 6 via Kalimpong |
| Border | Rangpo checkpost into Sikkim |
| Options | Reserved taxi or shared jeep |
The two routes
- Direct, via Peshok and Teesta Bazaar: out of Darjeeling through Ghum, down through the Peshok tea gardens to the Teesta, then up NH-10 through Rangpo to Gangtok. This is the usual road.
- Via Kalimpong: longer by an hour or two, but it lets you see Kalimpong on the way. Drivers also use it when NH-10 is closed by slides. See our Kalimpong guide.
Reserved taxi or shared jeep
Reserved taxi. A car picks you up at your Darjeeling hotel and drops you at your Gangtok hotel. You can stop at Lamahatta, a tea garden or Teesta Bazaar for lunch. With luggage or children, it's the obvious choice. See our Darjeeling to Gangtok cab page for vehicles, stops and a quote.
Shared jeep. Shared jeeps run from Darjeeling's motor stand to Gangtok, mostly in the morning, and leave when full. They cost a few hundred rupees a seat and drop you at a Gangtok taxi stand. Book a seat the day before in peak season.
The Sikkim border
At Rangpo, Indian travellers show photo ID. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, which can be issued at Rangpo or filed in advance. See our Sikkim permit guide.
The car can't go everywhere in Sikkim
A Darjeeling car is West Bengal-registered. It can drop you in Gangtok and do the drive to Pelling, but it can't take you to Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La or North Sikkim, which need a Sikkim-registered vehicle with a permit. See can a Siliguri or Darjeeling taxi go everywhere in Sikkim.
Planning tips
- Leave by 10AM to reach Gangtok in daylight. We don't drive the Teesta road after dark.
- In the monsoon, check the road the evening before. Slides close NH-10 after heavy rain.
- Doing both towns? Most people do NJP to Darjeeling, Darjeeling to Gangtok, then Gangtok to NJP. See Gangtok and Darjeeling in one trip.
Helpful Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Gangtok from Darjeeling?
About 98 km by the direct road through Peshok and Teesta Bazaar.
How long does Darjeeling to Gangtok take?
About four hours, or five to six if you go round by Kalimpong.
Do I need a permit to go from Darjeeling to Gangtok?
Indian travellers need only photo ID at Rangpo. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Restricted Area Permit.
Can a Darjeeling taxi take us to Tsomgo Lake?
No. Tsomgo needs a Sikkim-registered vehicle listed on the permit. A Darjeeling car drops you in Gangtok, and a Gangtok car takes you on.
Is there a bus from Darjeeling to Gangtok?
Government buses have run on this route, but shared jeeps are the usual public option.
Plan This Journey
Turn this Darjeeling guide into a trip that fits your pace
If this guide is part of the kind of holiday you want, Breeziah can help shape the route, travel flow and stay style around your dates, comfort level and destination priorities.