There was the time, even till a few days ago that going to the Gangtok was almost having one full day of travelling. Taking an overnight train/bus to NJP OR a flight to Bagdogra and thereafter a 5-6 hours journey up-hill to gangtok. Once you reach gangtok, you are already exhausted for the day. However, now there is a good news for the tourists who are Sikkim lovers... Guys you can now fly directly to Gangtok!!
On 24th of September 2018 our Honourable PM Mr. Narendra Modi, inaugurated the new airport at Pakyong, Sikkim; adding the Himalayan state to the aviation map of the country. Pakyong, a small city, is only 32 Kms away from Gangtok. The first pubic flight headed from Kolkata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport to Pakyong Airport, Sikkim on 8th October 2018.
I took the first flight from Kolkata to Pakyong on 8th October 2018 and there is a very interesting story behind how I ended up booking the tickets. On 1st September 2018, I was working late night when my partner, in business, called me and mentioned that there is a news, though not very sure that a flight service is to be launched from kolkata to gangtok. It was late 1.30 am when we looked more about it on the internet and then ended up confirming the news and booking the tickets at 2.30 am on 2nd September 2018 directly from the spice jet booking portal. From that very day till I boarded the flight I was very excited to own the experience of the first flight. I told no body about this till the news started becoming viral from around the end of September. The news started spreading like a wild fire and I, since being into the travel business, started getting calls from friends and family about this. Every one has been very inquisitive on this and still have a lot of questions. In this post I will try to provide all relevant information about this new experience and I am sure this will help my fellow travellers and Sikkim Lovers to plan there trip.
The Airport - Pakyong
Pakyong is a small city in the state capital of Sikkim and is about 32-35 Kms from Gangtok. Pakyong Airpot is greenfield airport and is spread over an area of about 1000 acres (as reported by the officials there). It took almost 9+ years to build the airport and this is one of the five highest airports in India, at about 4500 ft!!
On my discussion with a official in the airport, I realised what Hercules effort has been made to built this small and nicely crafted airport carved from a mountain side. He also mentioned that there has been some excellence and state-of-art structural technologies used to build the airport and ensure its stability at this height and this position.
The airport does not have a very long runway unlike other airports but it does not affect the landing and take off in any way. I was quite comfortable during the landing and take off and did not feel any thing unusual or scary. Unlike Paro airport it does not have closely walled mountains. This airport is in a solitary peak and it has got a very clear sky and space for the flight to drift and does not scare a passenger in any way when he/she looks out of the window.
The airport presently does not have any cafeteria though a Cafeteria location is dedicated to open soon in the parking area. However, there is a small outlet in the airport where you will get muffins, pastries, tea and coffee. Do not expect full course meals or variety of platters in the airport as of now.
To add to the experience, the landing is a great experience compared to conventional flights taken. Further the moment you step out of the plane after landing, the kiss of the cool mountain breeze and the whole ambience of the airport must win your heart....
The Flight (from CCU)
The flight which flies now is a Spice Jet Bombardier, a 70 seater (two rows with double seating). The flight fares are 2600 one way onwards however based on demand the prices may raise. For an instance, when I booked the tickets I got it at Rs. 2600. However on 8th October morning I checked the fares were about Rs. 12,000 !! This month the rates scheduled are as high as Rs. 14,000 in mid of October and by end of November the rates are lower than Rs. 3000. So, if you have to plan for the flight trip you have to book well in advance and avoid the peak season times.
The flight duration is 1 Hr 20 mins. One flight is scheduled each way every day from Monday to Sunday. The same flight comes and goes once a day. The scheduled departure from Kolkata is at 9.30 AM with a scheduled arrival of 10.50 AM at Pakyoung. The scheduled departure from Pakyong is at 11.15 AM and scheduled to arrive kolkata at 12.45 PM. Though the schedule time is on charts for the last 3 days all the flights have been delayed by 2 - 3 hrs.
On 8th October, when we started our flight departed Kolkata at 11.30 AM and on 10th October when the scheduled flight from Pakyong which was at 11.15 AM, started at 2 PM. There are some probable causes for delays to initially happen unless the services stabilise:
- Considering new services
- Frequent and unpredictable bad weather conditions in the hills (especially in the monsoons and winter)
- Small air bus which has its own limitations to risk weather conditions
- Height of the airport makes it more prone to bad weather conditions affect the landing and take off
Pakyong to Gangtok
From pakyong to gangtok is a journey by road. The road condition is mostly good barring a bad road of maximum 2-3 km stretch. Enroute Pakyong to Gangtok via Ranipol which is 21 Kms from pakyong. The ideal time from Pakyong to Gangtok is 1 Hrs 25 mins covering 35 kms for the total route. However, please note that presently there is some road work is going on at some parts of the gangtok and hence the pressure on Ranipol is huge. Traffic is very congested and you can have a wait time as high as 2 hours. Also, during the peak tourist seasons, heavy traffic is highly expected and so during those times too, you may encounter longer waiting time in traffic.
Tourists availing the flight for the next 3-4 months are advised to carry some dry/packed food with them so that while on the way to Gangtok from airport. However, you are also open to wait at any local food stall at or before Ranipol and get your self topped up. While your way back from Gangok to Ranipol, the same applies.
Also note that, on your way to Pakyong, once you cross Ranipol, you will not get many restaurants or local food stalls as of now. So whatever food you need to have you have to take it either from Gangtok or from Ranipol. Since the return flight is at the mid day with with chances of the flight to get delayed, you may have to skip lunch. So get yourself a heavy breakfast when you start from Gangtok and cary some dry or packed food as a back up.
Since, Pakyong did not seem to have a tourist footfall before, the city is more localised with more shops and local residents and not many hotels or restaurants. However, we have seen many newly painted shutters down in buildings near to the airport drive way which implies that shortly we can expect Pakyong to be enabled to address the tourist needs and may be some good lodging facilities can also be expected by the next year.
I have not explored the surrounding area of Pakyong, but I am sure that there would be some more good tourists spots and sightseeing places expected to pop up with this area being open to frequent tourist invasion now. However, two things which I have noticed or have been acknowledged during my conversation with the driver of my vehicle,
- There is a forest check post in Pakyong and the area is good for bird sighting.
- There is a Saramsa Garden, (which I did not visit) in Pakyong.
Transportation from Pakyong to Gangtok
The airport has a big parking lot and Taxi Stand. So whenever, your flight lands at Pakyong, you will find enough taxi waiting at the parking lot. The taxi rates from Pakyong to Gangtok is approximately Rs. 1500 - Rs. 1800 for an SUV and for smaller cars Rs.1200 - Rs.1500. The drivers may end up asking more but you will have to negotiate.
There is also a bus service from airport to gangtok. These are Govt busses and have AC luxury coach and tickets cost Rs. 70 per person. Presently there is only one 30 seater (approx) bus available, so if you want to avail the bus you will have to be fast in checking out and grab your seats for the bus. The Bus does not wait for long after the flight lands.
The Flying Experience
The overall flying experience is great, I was probably more excited in taking the first flight to the place. The air bus is a smaller one so you will feel the slight turbulences flying through the air pockets. I believe that this initiative is about to bring a surge in the tourist footfall at Sikkim. Once the system stabilises and there is more influx of tourists through the air-way the delays shall also be taken care of and you will save on time to travel to gangtok.
I must also mention the landing experience. In normal flights you will have the feel of the plane going down to land, but here the plane lands on a mountain and the landing is just like a table landing. You will not feel the plane going down before landing and it more of a abrupt landing. I loved this part. When flying, if the sky is clear you also can be lucky enough to see the beautiful Himalayan range from your window.
I have also analysed the impact on the cost of travel from kolkata by road via NJP vs by flight through Pakyong. You hardly end up spending Rs.3000 - Rs.4000 extra, if you can get the tickets at a lower price of Rs.2600 - Rs.3000. However, considering the experience and the time you save on the journey, I believe it is worth betting on the extra penny spent.
To Conclude
It has been a very nice addition to the tourism over all with a great experience. The airport, for the start is very well decorated and the nature sits all around the airport with a amazing view for your eyes.
I thank and appreciate the Sikkim Govt for the initiative and especially the Honourable Cheif Minister Mr. Pawan Kr Chamling for such a initiative. We expect the system to be more stabilised with less of flight delays and with better arrangements to enroute Pakyong-Gangtok, so that the tourists incur lesser time to drive to Gangtok. Even for people going to other sides of Sikkim, having good road connects will encourage them to avail the flight than the NJP route.
So friends, I will strongly recommend every one to once avail the flight and feel the experience yourself. If you have any queries further please comment on my blog and I will revert with the possible answers to the best of my knowledge.
Note: All the pictures are taken by me on my iPhone and uploaded with no edits...
