What's on in Gangtok (Sikkim), India through the year

Busy — Winter break in India, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Rule

  Permits for the high roads

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and everything north of Chungthang need a permit arranged a day ahead through a registered Sikkim operator, not bought on the spot. Nathu La itself is open to Indian nationals only. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Losar

  1 Feb – 10 Mar · usuallyLunar New YearClosures

  The Tibetan new year closes offices and schools across Sikkim for about a week, and the monasteries dance the Chaam in the days before it. The high roads are usually under snow at the same time. Source ↗

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Losar (1 Feb – 10 Mar (usually))

Busy — Summer vacation (Kerala / far south) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Rhododendron bloom

  1 Apr – 15 May · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  Sikkim has three dozen rhododendron species and the sanctuaries at Barsey and Shingba are set aside for them. Peak climbs with altitude through the spring, so something is always out somewhere between the valley and Yumthang. Source ↗

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Summer vacation (north & east) in India

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Rhododendron bloom (1 Apr – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Summer vacation (north & east) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Closure

  Landslides on NH-10

  15 Jun – 15 Sep · usuallyRisk

  The road up from Siliguri along the Teesta is the only practical way in and it loses sections every season, sometimes for days. North Sikkim permits are suspended outright after the bad slides. Source ↗

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Landslides on NH-10 (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Pang Lhabsol

  25 Aug – 20 Sep · usuallyMajor festival

  Sikkim's own festival honours Khangchendzonga as the state's guardian, with the warrior Chaam danced in the courtyard at the Tsuklakhang. Mid-September, set by the Tibetan calendar, and still mostly a local occasion. Source ↗

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Landslides on NH-10 (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Landslides on NH-10 (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)), Pang Lhabsol (25 Aug – 20 Sep (usually))

Busy — Autumn break (Dussehra / Diwali) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Winter break in India, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Losoong and Kagyad

  1–31 Dec · usuallyLunar New Year

  The Bhutia harvest new year falls in December, with masked dance at Rumtek and Phodong and archery in the villages. Kagyad, the dance that clears out the old year, runs in the same weeks at the palace. Source ↗

Still on: Permits for the high roads (1 Jan – 31 Dec)