North Sikkim Tourism Reopens But Nh-10 Sikkim Side Still Blocked: New Travel Rules Every Visitor Must Follow

Published on September 9, 2025

North Sikkim has opened its doors to travelers erstwhile much aft a lengthy spell of closure pursuing a bid of earthy calamities. Favored spots specified arsenic Lachung, perceived arsenic a hikers’ jewel, nan floral wonderland of Yumthang Valley, nan calmer trails of Dzongu, and nan picturesque hub of Chungthang are erstwhile much nether nan itinerary of those keen to observe nan region. Nonetheless, a important caveat accompanies nan restart: a monolithic landslide still obstructs nan Sikkim conception of National Highway 10, though its West Bengal counterpart has regained constricted functionality.

Tourism Resumes successful Lachung, Yumthang, Dzongu, and Chungthang

Tourist permits person been reissued for North Sikkim, bringing alleviation to section communities that dangle heavy connected seasonal travel. Visitors are now allowed to recreation to iconic destinations specified arsenic Lachung and Yumthang Valley, arsenic good arsenic nan culturally important Dzongu region and nan cardinal transit hub of Chungthang.

To guarantee safety, nan Government of Sikkim has introduced strict regulations:

• Time-restricted travel: Tourist vehicles from Gangtok to Chungthang must transverse nan Sanklang Bridge by 1:00 p.m., while return vehicles from Lachung to Gangtok must transverse nan Toong Check Post by 2:00 p.m.
• Daylight-only movement: No tourer recreation is permitted aft sunset owed to nan risks posed by falling rocks and unstable slopes.
• Registered recreation operators: Trips must beryllium booked done licensed agencies, and only knowledgeable section drivers are permitted connected these high-altitude routes.

These guidelines purpose to equilibrium nan reopening of tourism pinch nan request to protect lives successful an situation susceptible to abrupt landslides and utmost weather.

NH-10 Blocked connected nan Sikkim Side, West Bengal Stretch Reopened

On nan time of nan reopening, a monolithic landslide adjacent Bardang (20th Mile) connected nan Singtam–Rangpo agelong caused important disruption connected NH-10. This led to nan complete closure of nan Sikkim conception of nan highway, nan main lifeline connecting nan authorities pinch West Bengal.

In contrast, nan West Bengal agelong of NH-10 has been cleared and reopened to traffic, restoring partial connectivity into nan region. However, travelers moving beyond Rangpo into Sikkim proceed to look awesome difficulties arsenic clearance operations connected nan Sikkim broadside stay ongoing.

The landslide has resulted successful postulation congestion and delays, underlining erstwhile again nan vulnerable quality of Sikkim’s captious road system.

Sanklang Bridge Brings Limited Connectivity

As an replacement to NH-10’s blocked section, nan precocious opened Sanklang Bridge has provided impermanent alleviation for activity into bluish Sikkim. The span offers nonstop entree to Dzongu and has reduced recreation clip to Chungthang by astir 90 minutes.

While it cannot switch NH-10 successful position of measurement capacity, nan span serves arsenic an important parallel way that allows emergency supplies, basal goods, and visitors to proceed reaching affected areas. This improvement demonstrates nan value of building further roadworthy infrastructure to trim reliance connected a azygous susceptible corridor.

NHIDCL Takes Over Highway Maintenance

The Government of India has directed nan National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to return complaint of nan full agelong of NH-10 from Sevoke (West Bengal) to Gangtok (Sikkim). According to charismatic property releases from nan Government of Sikkim, nan cardinal agency will negociate repair, maintenance, and restoration activity pinch a attraction connected semipermanent durability.

NHIDCL is besides overseeing nan improvement of NH-210 (Melli–Singtam stretch), which serves arsenic a parallel corridor to NH-10. This further road is expected to fortify location resilience and supply an replacement way during early blockages.

Importance of NH-10 to Sikkim

NH-10, antecedently designated arsenic NH-31A, runs 174 kilometers betwixt Siliguri successful West Bengal and Gangtok successful Sikkim. Its value extends beyond tourism:

• Tourism access: Almost each tourer recreation into Sikkim, particularly toward Lachung and Yumthang, relies connected this corridor.
• Essential supplies: Food, fuel, and aesculapian equipment for Sikkim are transported via NH-10.
• Strategic value: The road besides supports defense logistics for nan separator areas.

The closure of nan Sikkim agelong truthful affects not only visitors but besides residents and nationalist information priorities.

Government’s Safety Protocols for Tourists

To protect travelers, nan Government of Sikkim has outlined mandatory recreation protocols:

• All trips must beryllium booked done registered operators.
• Only licensed section drivers are allowed to navigate North Sikkim routes.
• Cut-off times astatine Sanklang and Toong checkpoints are strictly enforced.
• Tourists and drivers must comply pinch emergency directives from section administrations during dense rainfall aliases landslides.

These steps are designed to guarantee that nan reopening of tourism does not discuss information successful a region prone to earthy hazards.

Tourism Returns Amid Fragile Connectivity

The recommencement of recreation to North Sikkim is simply a landmark infinitesimal for some nan state’s economical betterment and its taste tourism, celebrating a long-awaited return. At nan aforesaid time, nan impermanent shuttering of nan Sikkim conception of NH-10 serves arsenic a sobering reminder of really tenuous nan region’s carrier links still feel. Now that NHIDCL has taken complete stewardship of nan route, nan Sanklang Bridge offers only a partial replacement and stringent recreation restrictions enforced by nan authorities are guiding each step, each pinch nan copy intends of securing visitant assurance and preserving mundane nationalist safety.

Officials impulse that would-be visitors cautiously show nan Sikkim government’s charismatic advisories and adhere to nan fixed windows of recreation licence guidelines. Sticking strictly to permitted hours is not a specified formality; it is simply a captious portion of nan evolving information protocol designed to protect some guests and section communities.