Travelling during monsoon has both its pros and cons. On one hand, you get to witness lush green landscapes and beautiful cloudy skies while on the other, the unpredictability of weather can negatively affect your experience.
Monsoon in Sikkim always comes with a series of challenges that not just disrupts travelling but also affects the daily lives of people and local communities. These challenges mostly come in the form of bad road conditions especially along the NH-10.
Heavy rains cause frequent road closures, landslides, flooding between Teesta, Melli and Singtam highway. All of these factors make travelling to Sikkim during monsoon a bit troublesome.
Current Road condition:
NH 10 (Siliguri – Rangpo – Gangtok)
- Recent landslides around Ghante Golai (10th Mile), Tarkhola, Teesta Bazar, and Ravi Jhora led to temporary closures. On tuesday evening, single lane traffic was restored, with full restoration expected by Wednesday, provided no further rainfall.
- Restriction of heavy vehicle movements imposed near Likhuvir, Kirnay, and Melli due to structural damage and bad road conditions.
Alternate Route via Kalimpong
- With the frequent and unpredictable road closures along the NH-10, many drivers are taking the Mongpong–Lava–Kalimpong–Rangpo route via NH‑210.
North Sikkim (Lachen – Lachung)
- Authorities have suspended all tourist permits since early June due to repeated landslides halting tourism to North Sikkim as the road conditions have worsened. Travelling to Lachen and Lachung is restricted to only locals.
- Nearly 1,500 tourists were stranded in various parts of north Sikkim recently due to sudden cloud bursts and road conditions.
So should I travel to Sikkim during monsoon?
Yes, you can. Granted that Monsoon might not be the best time to visit Sikkim as North Sikkim is closed and certain parts of Sikkim are inaccsesible, you still get to witness the beauty of Sikkim in monsoon that most tourist never get to.
Monsoon season creates beautiful cloud formations that make the sky beautiful and the sunrise/ sunsets breathtaking. That is, obviously if you’re lucky to be in Sikkim, when the rain is taking a break and the sun is out. Needless to say, monsoon in Sikkim is a great vibe in itself.
I personally love the moody and atmospheric environment that comes with monsoon. Visiting cozy cafes and sipping warm beverages is the greatest thing ever when it’s pouring outside. Pssst…..you should do some shopping during monsoon as the price will have become lower than usual. Read our Sikkim shopping guide – Sikkim Shopping Guide : Best Markets and Unique Local Products
Travel Tips for Sikkim During Monsoon Season
If you’ve made up your mind to travel to Sikkim during the monsoon, you should expect breathtaking views if you’re lucky and refreshing nature, but also unpredictable weather, bad road conditions and frustration at times.
Here are some monsoon travel tips for you to keep in mind when travelling to Sikkim:
- Check road and weather updates daily, especially for the NH-10 route. This highway is the most prone to flooding by the Teesta river.
Check it here : Sikkim Road Conditions Latest Updates - Avoid travelling by night especially when it’s raining. Rain and fog reduces visibility at night making travelling by car risky.
- Keep your travel itinerary flexible. Add buffer days and book hotels with the option of cancellation.
- Pack raincoats and umbrellas. It goes without saying that monsoon in Sikkim are relentless and without proper “rain-proofing”, it would be hard for you to get anywhere.
- Hire local drivers as they know best how to get to the destination safe when the road conditions are bad.
Conclusion
Yes, Sikkim can be explored during monsoon, but only if you’re prepared to navigate detours, delays, and bad road conditions. Safety should always be your top priority. If you’ve prepared for all this, you’ll probably have a great time and the most unique experience regardless of the rain.
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