Jazmin Li
The city of Gangtok, India, is served by Pakyong Airport, which is located about 31 km (22 mi) south of the city. The airport is one of the five highest airports in India and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. It is the first greenfield airport constructed in Northeast India and the country's 100th operational airport. However, due to various issues, including visibility problems and agitation from local villagers, commercial flight operations at Pakyong Airport have been disrupted, and there are currently no scheduled commercial flights available. Prior to the construction of Pakyong Airport, the nearest well-connected airport to Gangtok was Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, approximately 124-126 km away.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Pakyong Airport |
| Location | Pakyong |
| Distance from Gangtok | 31 km |
| Height | 4,646 ft |
| Area | 201 acres |
| Description | One of the five highest airports in India; the first greenfield airport constructed in Northeast India; the 100th operational airport in India; the only airport in the state of Sikkim |
| Inauguration | 24 September 2018 |
| Commercial flight operations began | 4 October 2018 |
| Commercial flight operations suspended | 1 June 2019 |
| Commercial flight operations resumed | 23 January 2021 |
| Current status | No current flights |
| Snack bar | Available |
| Prepaid taxi counter | Available |
| Nearest well-connected airport | Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal |
| Distance to nearest well-connected airport | 124 km or 126 km |
| Time to reach Gangtok from the nearest well-connected airport | 4 hours |
| Alternative transport | Helicopter services |
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What You'll Learn
- The Pakyong Airport in Sikkim is the nearest airport to Gangtok
- There are no current flights from Pakyong Airport
- Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal is 124-126km from Gangtok
- Helicopter services are available from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok
- The closest railway station to Gangtok is in Siliguri, West Bengal
The Pakyong Airport in Sikkim is the nearest airport to Gangtok
Prior to the construction of Pakyong Airport, Sikkim was the only state in India without a functional airport. The nearest airports used to access Sikkim were Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, located 124 km (77 mi) away, and Paro Airport in Bhutan. The long-awaited Pakyong Airport was initially slated to be completed by 2012 but faced several delays due to protests by local villagers and technical challenges. The project to develop the airport was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in October 2008, and the contract for construction was awarded to the Punj Lloyd Group in January 2009.
The airport covers an area of 201 acres (81 ha) and is designed as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airport. However, commercial flights have been disrupted due to visibility issues, and the airport's sole commercial passenger airline, SpiceJet, has faced temporary suspensions. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights operating from Pakyong Airport. Nevertheless, the airport has a snack bar and a Prepaid Taxi counter, making it convenient for passengers to travel to nearby cities like Gangtok, Namchi, Mangan, and Pelling.
To reach Gangtok from Pakyong Airport, passengers can avail themselves of the reasonably priced prepaid taxis available at the airport. The journey to Gangtok takes approximately two hours, and the route includes the picturesque National Highway 31A, which winds through lush green forests and offers views of the Eastern Himalayan mountain ranges. For those seeking a quicker transfer, helicopter services are also available from Pakyong Airport to Gangtok.
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There are no current flights from Pakyong Airport
There is an airport in Gangtok, called Pakyong Airport, which is located about 31 km (22 mi) south of the city. It is one of the five highest airports in India at 4,646 ft above sea level. It is also India's 100th operational airport and the first greenfield airport constructed in Northeast India.
Despite being operational, there are currently no flights from Pakyong Airport. The airport has experienced disruptions due to weather conditions and visibility issues, as it was originally designed as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airport. In addition, agitation from local villagers who were displaced and strip area issues have impacted operations.
The airport was inaugurated in September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and commercial flight operations began in October 2018. SpiceJet became the first airline to launch flights to Pakyong Airport, offering direct connections to Delhi and Kolkata. However, SpiceJet temporarily suspended flight operations in June 2019 due to the aforementioned issues.
After a 19-month suspension, SpiceJet resumed flight operations to Pakyong Airport in January 2021, with the first-ever Delhi-Pakyong direct flight. Flights to Kolkata also resumed in February 2021. Unfortunately, these services were again suspended in October 2022. The services temporarily resumed in March 2023 with SpiceJet connecting Delhi, but this was short-lived, and there are currently no scheduled commercial flights available for booking.
Prior to the construction of Pakyong Airport, Sikkim's closest airport was Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, located 124-126 km away, which is still used by travellers to Gangtok. Helicopter services are also available from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok for those seeking a quicker mode of transport.
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Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal is 124-126km from Gangtok
Gangtok, a northeastern state in India, did not have its own airport until 2018. The closest airport to Gangtok was Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, which is 124-126km from the city. The airport is a five-hour drive from Gangtok and one can book a taxi in advance to get there. Shared taxis are also available at cheaper rates. It takes around four hours by taxi to reach Gangtok from the airport. Helicopter services are also available for those who can afford the higher cost.
In 2018, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pakyong Airport, which is 31km (22 miles) south of Gangtok. It is one of the five highest airports in India at 4,646ft and is the country's 100th operational airport. It is also the first greenfield airport constructed in Northeast India. The airport was built by the AAI at an estimated cost of 605 crore and features a 1,700m x 30m runway and a 116m-long taxiway.
Commercial flight operations at Pakyong Airport started on 4 October 2018, with SpiceJet becoming the first airline to launch flights to the airport from Delhi and Kolkata. However, due to various issues, including visibility problems and agitation from local villagers, SpiceJet temporarily suspended flight operations to the airport in June 2019. After a 19-month suspension, flight operations resumed in January 2021, but there are currently no flights operating from Pakyong Airport.
Prior to the construction of Pakyong Airport, travellers to Gangtok primarily relied on Bagdogra Airport as the main point of arrival by air. Bagdogra Airport is well-connected to other major cities in India and serves as a gateway to Gangtok and other destinations in Sikkim. The airport is known for its scenic helicopter flights, offering exclusive transport and breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks, including Mount Khanchendzonga and Mount Siniolchu.
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Helicopter services are available from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok
Gangtok, the capital of the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim, does not have its own airport. The closest airport to Gangtok is the Bagdogra Airport, located in West Bengal, about 124-126 km (77-81 mi) away. It takes about 4-5 hours by taxi or a shared taxi to reach Gangtok from the Bagdogra airport.
To avoid the long and tiring road journey, helicopter services are available from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok. The helicopter ride takes about 35 minutes, and you can enjoy the scenic beauty of the hills and the Himalayan terrain. The helicopter service, known as Pawan Hans, is provided by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and can accommodate a maximum of five persons.
You can book the helicopter service in advance by calling the STDC office in Gangtok or at the helicopter booking counter at Bagdogra Airport. The fare must be paid through a bank transfer after which you will need to scan the deposit slip and email it to get final confirmation. It is recommended to book in advance, especially during the high season, as seats may not be available otherwise.
The helicopter service is subject to weather conditions and reservations by VIPs, and timings may change. Only 10 kg of luggage is allowed per person, and additional luggage will not be permitted even at extra cost. Taxis are available at the Gangtok helipad for a short ride to the town.
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The closest railway station to Gangtok is in Siliguri, West Bengal
The closest railway station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP), located in the city of Siliguri, West Bengal. The distance between New Jalpaiguri and Gangtok is approximately 117 kilometres, and it takes around four hours to travel between the two by road. Taxis and buses are available for hire at the station, and the journey to Gangtok can be made by private car, taxi, or state-run bus.
New Jalpaiguri is a large and busy railway station, ranked as the 10th cleanest in India. It is well-connected to major Indian cities, including Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, as well as neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The station accommodates several major trains, including the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, and Sampark Kranti Express.
Siliguri is the nearest major city to Gangtok, and it is well-connected by road. National Highway 10 (NH10) and National Highway 310A (NH310A) link Gangtok to other parts of India. The roads are described as scenic but not in excellent condition, with disruptions due to landslides and cave-ins.
Until the opening of Pakyong Airport in 2018, the closest airport to Gangtok was Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, located 124 kilometres away. Travellers can still opt to fly into Bagdogra and then travel to Gangtok by taxi, bus, or helicopter.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Pakyong, about 31 km (22 mi) south of Gangtok. It is the only airport in the state of Sikkim.
The airport was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 September 2018 and commercial flight operations started on 4 October 2018.
The airport code for Pakyong Airport is PYG.
You can get from Pakyong Airport to Gangtok by taxi or bus. Taxis are available at the airport for a reasonable rate.
Before the opening of Pakyong Airport, the closest airport to Gangtok was Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, which is 124-126 km away. You can also reach Gangtok by train, with the closest railway station being New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri, about 117 km from Gangtok.
