Nainital to Gangtok
Distance, real road route and a tentative fare estimate for travelling from Nainital, Uttarakhand to Gangtok, Sikkim.
Tentative Fare Estimate
Round trip · incl. driver allowance & GST
Tentative estimate only, based on typical Indian public-transport tariffs (state transport bus fares, IRCTC sleeper/AC class rates, standard outstation taxi per-km rates) — not a live quote from any operator.
Route Map
By Car: Nainital to Gangtok
1203 km · ~26h 4m · About 24h of driving split over 3 days, plus stops.
- Start from Nainital
Leave early (5–6 AM) and avoid driving on highways after dark.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 150Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 300Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
101 km · 2h 1m drive from previous stop
Overnight halt around km 401Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 551Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 701Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
101 km · 2h 1m drive from previous stop
Overnight halt around km 802Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 952Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
150 km · 3h drive from previous stop
Rest stop around km 1102Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
101 km · 2h 1m drive from previous stop
Arrive in GangtokGangtok, Sikkim
Stops are typical for this road, not a fixed itinerary. Timings assume about 50 km/h on average — traffic, tolls and road conditions vary.
By Bus: Nainital to Gangtok
1203 km · ~26h 46m · 2 bus rides with 1 change. Operators and departure times vary — check live availability before you travel.
- Board at Nainital
Go to the main bus stand / ISBT in Nainital. Overnight buses usually leave in the evening; book a seat in advance for sleeper and Volvo services.
- Nainital → change point 1
AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~602 km
~13h 23m|Tentative fare ₹660–₹1,740
- Change buses at a major city (around km 602)
Get down at the bus stand of a large city on the highway and take the next bus towards Gangtok. If your connection is not until the next day, stay the night there.
- change point 1 → Gangtok
AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~602 km
~13h 23m|Tentative fare ₹660–₹1,740
- Arrive in Gangtok
Gangtok, Sikkim
Halts and change points are typical for this route, not a specific operator’s schedule — check live availability and timings when booking.
By Train: Nainital to Gangtok
Nearest railway stations: Kathgodam for Nainital, Darjeeling (about 48 km away) for Gangtok.
No direct train found — best options with a change
2 changes · 48h 30m in total
Change trains at Chander Nagar — about 2h 42m wait
Change trains at New Jalpaiguri — about 8h 55m wait
2 changes · 48h 30m in total
Change trains at Anand Vihar Trm — about 9h 30m wait
Change trains at New Jalpaiguri — about 40m wait
2 changes · 55h 25m in total
Change trains at Old Delhi — about 8h 10m wait
Change trains at New Jalpaiguri — about 4h 35m wait
Waits assume each train runs daily — the timetable data has no running days, so check the days for every train before you plan a change.
Train details come from a 2015 railway timetable snapshot — newer trains, changed timings and running days are not included, so confirm on IRCTC before you plan around a train.
Nainital to Gangtok: Route & Travel Options
Route overview
Nainital to Gangtok is about 1203 km by road, roughly 24.1 hours of travel time.
Tentative fare estimate
Approximate fares for about 1203 km, estimated from typical Indian per-km tariffs — not a live quote from any operator.
- Car / Taxi: Swift Dzire ₹46,447 · Ertiga ₹59,079 · Innova ₹61,605 · Innova Crysta ₹75,986 · Tempo Traveller (12) ₹1,04,552
- Bus: Non-AC Seater ₹1,320 · AC Seater ₹2,170 · Non-AC Sleeper ₹1,920 · AC Sleeper ₹2,770 · Volvo / Multi-Axle ₹3,420
- Train: Sleeper ₹750 · Economy ₹1,230 · Third AC ₹1,710 · Second AC ₹2,440 · First AC ₹3,400
Tentative estimates only — actual fares vary by operator, season, class and how early you book.
Want the full Gangtok guide?
Attractions, itineraries, temples and travel tips for Gangtok.
Hotels in Gangtok
Comfortable 3-star stays in Gangtok. Tell us your dates and we'll get you a rate.
3 Star Hotel
Gangtok
Things to Do in Gangtok
Banjhakri Falls
This waterfall has an entrance fee of ₹30 for two people and parking fee of ₹20. The site is developed with pathways and bridges around streams leading up the…
Dodrupchen Monastery
A monastery in the Nyingma tradition, famous for its large chorten. When in residence, Dodrupchen Rinpoche receives devotees to offer blessings from around 20:00 to…
Do-drul Chorten
Do-drul Chorten is worth a visit while in Gangtok.
Enchey Monastery
A 200-year-old monastery in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, located above Gangtok, just off the road to Lake Tsomgo.
Flower show
Near the White-Hall, flower show is at its best during the flowering season which is mid March to end of May in spring and October to mid December in autumn. The annual…
Guru Lhakhang
A Nyingma monastery famous for its large Guru Rinpoche statue and 100,000 smaller statues.
Suggested Gangtok Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Gangtok
- Travel from Nainital to Gangtok (about 24.1 hrs by road) and check in
- Visit Enchey Monastery
Day 2Explore Gangtok
- Visit Rumtek Monastery
- Visit Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
- Visit Tsuklakhang Palace
Day 3Last sights and departure
- Visit Saramsa Garden
- Head back to Nainital
Extend Your Trip
Add a nearby place to your Gangtok trip and see the full Nainital → Gangtok → next stop route.
Plan My Trip: Nainital to Gangtok
Pick how you want to travel and we'll send a complete plan with transport, hotel and sightseeing — on WhatsApp and a call back.
Related Tour Packages
- Gangtok Getaway Tour Package 5 Days
- Almora Nainital with Binsar Wildlife 4 Nights
- Dehradun Mussoorie Nainital Tour Package
- Delhi Pangot and Nainital Tour 4 Days
- Jim Corbett National Park Tour Package
- Munsiyari Tour Package
- Nainital Almora Jageshwar Kasar Devi Katarmal Sun Temple Tour Package 6 Days
- Nainital Almora Jageshwar Tour Package 4 Days
- Nainital Almora Kasar Devi Katarmal Sun Temple Tour Package 5 Days
- Nainital Almora Kausani Binsar Kasar Devi Tour Package 6 Days
- Nainital Almora Kausani Jageshwar Kasar Devi Tour Package 6 Days
- Nainital Almora Kausani Katarmal Sun Temple Tour Package 5 Days