Indian Oil. 1 km from Gangtok.
East Sikkim: Zuluk and Nathu La
Basic page · 43 facts
NH 310
134KM
East Sikkim: Zuluk and Nathu La
East Sikkim, from Gangtok past Tsomgo Lake to Nathu La, then down the Zuluk loops to Rongli
- Usual days
- 2 to 3
- Highest point
- 14,140 ft
- Usually open
- Sept to Nov
- No fuel for
- 131 km
This is a basic page
No rider has reported on this route yet. What is here comes from official and published sources. How far to trust it
Before you leave
On this page
Fuel
2 pumpsGangtok0 kmRongli134 km131 km · no pump
From the open map, not yet checked
All 2 pumps were read from OpenStreetMap on 28 September 2026. No rider has confirmed any of them yet.
Petrol pump, near Gangtok
Last fuel for 131 km3 km from Gangtok.
Rules for motorcycles
15 factsSikkim: Protected Area Permit for border areas
Not yet checkedNeeded for Tsomgo, Nathu La, Zuluk to Kupup, Lachen, Lachung, Thangu and Gurudongmar. Issued by the Permit Cell in Gangtok and district tourism offices. The page gives no fee amounts.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: motorcycle must be registered to the rider
Not yet checkedThe official page allows only self-registered, self-ridden motorcycles in permit areas. Apply one day ahead with the bank fee receipt. Two-wheeler permits run up to seven days.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
A motorcycle hired inside Sikkim gets its permit through a government-registered local tour operator, not directly by the rider.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: proposed bar on two-wheelers in permit areas
Not yet checkedProposal discussed on 19 August 2026 would bar two-wheelers and vehicles registered outside Sikkim from permit areas. It needs Cabinet approval. No decision found as of 28 September 2026.
No government order found · from indiatodayne.in · dated 19 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Nathu La: no permits for Mondays
Not yet checkedThe official page issues Nathu La permits for Tuesday to Sunday only. Other sources list fewer open days, so confirm in Gangtok the day before.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Nathu La: Indian citizens only, one-day visit
Not yet checkedThe official page limits Nathu La to Indian citizens on a day trip. A Tsomgo permit is also valid for one day only.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Nathu La: environment fee paid through the bank
Not yet checkedPaid through the State Bank of Sikkim. Sikkim-registered private motorcycles skip permit fees elsewhere but still pay for Nathu La. The page gives no amount.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Tsomgo and Nathu La: permits suspended after snowfall
Not yet checkedThe tourism department stops issuing permits when snow or black ice makes the road unsafe, and resumes once it is cleared.
No government order found · from nativeplanet.com · dated 10 January 2025 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Zuluk: sources disagree on private vehicles
Not yet checkedOne blog says only Sikkim-registered hired vehicles may run the Silk Route. A travel site describes riding it on a permit from Rongli. No official statement found.
No government order found · from discoverwithdheeraj.com · dated 26 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Zuluk: closed to foreign citizens, per blog
Not yet checkedA blog updated in August 2026 says Zuluk and the Silk Route stay closed to foreign citizens even with a Restricted Area Permit. No official order found.
No government order found · from discoverwithdheeraj.com · dated 26 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: 150cc minimum claimed for permit areas
Not yet checkedBlogs say motorcycles under 150cc are refused permits for North Sikkim, Nathu La and Zuluk. The official page does not mention engine size; no order found.
No government order found · from northeastindiaconnect.com · dated 27 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: Aadhaar not accepted as proof of nationality
Not yet checkedThe official tourism page says an Aadhaar card is not accepted as proof of citizenship or nationality when applying for permits.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: papers riders are asked for
Not yet checkedA travel site lists photo identity, driving licence, registration, insurance and pollution certificates, plus photographs, in duplicate. No official list found.
No government order found · from darjeeling-tourism.com · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: foreign citizens need a Restricted Area Permit
Not yet checkedValid 30 days, extendable by 30 in Gangtok. Protected areas need a group routed through a registered operator. Bhutanese citizens are exempt.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Sikkim: foreign riders need an International Driving Licence
Not yet checkedStated on the official tourism page. A foreigner's two-wheeler pass covers one day to Tsomgo, or up to five days in North Sikkim.
From sikkim.gov.in · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Trouble on the road
4 warningsFrom published guides, not from riders
Each warning names the months it applies to. None has been seen by a rider this season unless it says so.
Black ice on the road to Tsomgo
Not yet checkedIn January 2025 black ice formed at Thulo Khola after heavy snow and permits were suspended.
From nativeplanet.com · dated 10 January 2025 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Rain, fog and slides on the Zuluk loops
Not yet checkedA blog warns of heavy rain, poor visibility and possible landslides on the Silk Route in the monsoon.
From discoverwithdheeraj.com · dated 26 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
No fuel or cash machines on the Silk Route
Not yet checkedA blog says Gangtok is the last place for fuel and that there are no cash machines at Zuluk or along the route.
From discoverwithdheeraj.com · dated 26 August 2026 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Landslides on National Highway 10 into Sikkim
Not yet checkedThe road along the Teesta was shut for six days in August 2025 after it collapsed near 9th Mile. Repeated slides slowed repairs.
From newsonair.gov.in · dated 17 August 2025 · read 28 September 2026 · no rider has confirmed it
Videos
Watch the date, not the view
Each video shows the road as it was that month. They play on YouTube, under the maker’s own channel.
Gangtok to Rongli
134 kmNo video of this stretch yetFilmed it? Send the link. It plays on YouTube, with your name and the month.Add a video
Not here yet
Mechanics and puncture repair
Mobile network
Real riding hours
Stays
These come from riders, not from us
They appear when riders who have done this route send a trip report. It takes about three minutes.
What a trip report asks
Route, month and bikeNeeded
Riding hours, fuel stops, mechanics, gear, cost, a videoOptional. Fill in what you remember.
Bikes, gear and costs show after 10 trip reportsWith fewer, this would be a handful of opinions, not a pattern.
0 of 10 reports
0 trip reports for East Sikkim: Zuluk and Nathu La so far
Also
0 trip reports for East Sikkim: Zuluk and Nathu La so far
Ridden it? Send a trip report