Traveller questions, answered

Is the cab fare per person or per car?

Per car. A private cab costs the same whether one person or a full car travels, up to the seat limit. Shared jeeps are the opposite: you pay per seat and share the vehicle with strangers.

Should I take a shared jeep or a private cab from NJP or Siliguri?

Shared jeeps are cheapest for one or two people with light bags, but they carry around ten passengers, leave only when full and mostly stop running by late afternoon. A private cab costs more but goes door to door at any hour, stops when you want, carries your luggage inside the car and suits families, elderly travellers and late arrivals.

Can I just use the prepaid taxi counter at NJP or Bagdogra?

Yes — both NJP station and Bagdogra airport have prepaid taxi counters with fixed rates, and they are a fair option. Booking ahead with us mainly adds certainty: you choose the car type, the driver waits with a name board, we follow late trains and flights, and the fare and inclusions are confirmed in writing before you travel.

How is the fare worked out?

Listed routes have a fare per car type on our fare chart. For any other trip our fare calculator uses the road distance at ₹25 per km for 4-seater cars and ₹35 per km for 6+ seaters such as Innova, Crysta or XUV700. Either way we send one confirmed total on WhatsApp before you pay anything.

Why do cab fares for the same route differ so much between websites?

Mostly because of what is included. Compare the car type (hatchback, sedan, Bolero, Innova and Crysta are priced very differently), whether tolls, parking, night charges and permits are included, whether the price is one way or return, and the travel date — prices rise in Puja, Diwali, summer and Christmas weeks. A low headline price with extras added later can cost more than a clear all-in fare.

Do I have to pay to book?

Not to send a request. After we confirm the car and the final fare, we ask for an advance of about 20% by UPI; the balance is paid to the driver at the end of the trip. Every payment is recorded against your booking ID and shown on your booking page.

What happens if I cancel or the road is closed?

Cancel up to 24 hours before pickup and the advance is refunded in full; within 24 hours it is not refunded. If a landslide or official order closes the road, you choose a free change of date or a full refund of the advance. You can request cancellation from your booking page.

Is there a night charge?

Yes: driving between 21:00 and 06:00 adds ₹300 per trip, shown in your quote. On hill roads we avoid night driving where possible, because fog, narrow bends and landslide-prone stretches make it slower and riskier.

Will I get a bill or invoice?

Yes. Every confirmed booking can have an invoice with the booking ID, route, vehicle, fare, payments and balance. You can view, print or download it as a PDF from your booking page, which is useful for office travel claims.

Do I need an account? Can I book for my parents?

No account is needed — just a name and a phone number. You can book for someone else: put the traveller’s mobile number so the driver can reach them, and add your own as the alternate number. You can follow the booking from your phone with the booking ID.

Where will the driver meet me at NJP station?

Outside the main exit, holding a board with your name. You receive the driver’s name, phone number and car number before pickup on your booking page and on WhatsApp, so you can call directly if the platform crowd makes it hard to find each other.

My flight to Bagdogra is delayed. Will the driver wait?

Yes. Share your flight number when booking and we track the arrival. Waiting is free for 60 minutes after landing; after that it is ₹200 per hour. The driver meets you at the arrivals exit with a name board.

My train reaches NJP late in the evening. Can I still go up to Darjeeling or Gangtok?

A private cab can take you, but shared jeeps mostly stop by late afternoon, the drive takes longer after dark and a night charge applies after 21:00. For arrivals after about 6 pm, many travellers stay one night in Siliguri and leave early the next morning — it is safer, you see the views, and you arrive fresh.

How early should I leave Darjeeling or Gangtok to catch my train or flight?

Plan the drive time plus a cushion for traffic near Siliguri and roadworks. Darjeeling to NJP or Bagdogra is usually 3 to 3.5 hours, so leave about 5 hours before departure. Gangtok to NJP is usually 4.5 to 5.5 hours; leave 6 to 7 hours before, and earlier in the monsoon when NH10 can be slow. Tell us your train or flight time and we set the pickup.

How far is Darjeeling from NJP, and which road does the cab take?

About 70 km by road, usually 3 to 3.5 hours. Most drivers take Rohini Road up to Kurseong and continue through Sonada and Ghoom; Hill Cart Road and Pankhabari Road are alternatives when one is blocked or busy.

Can the cab drop me at my hotel near the Mall (Chowrasta) in Darjeeling?

Not to the door: the Mall and Chowrasta area is pedestrian-only, so cars stop at the nearest stand below it and you walk a few minutes. Porters are available and many hotels send staff to carry bags if you call ahead. Tell us your hotel when booking and we tell you the drop point.

Can we stop at Kurseong, Mirik or a tea garden on the way?

Short stops for tea, photos or a meal on the normal route are included. Going via Mirik or visiting extra sightseeing points is a detour and costs extra — add the stops when you book and we include them in your confirmed fare.

Do I need a car for Tiger Hill sunrise?

Yes, practically. Cars leave Darjeeling around 3:30 to 4 am to reach before sunrise, and the queue of vehicles builds quickly in season. A full-day local sightseeing car usually starts with Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop on the way back.

Do Indian tourists need a permit to visit Gangtok or Sikkim?

No permit is needed for Indian citizens to enter Sikkim or visit Gangtok, Pelling, Namchi, Ravangla and most regular sightseeing. A Protected Area Permit is needed for Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula, Zuluk and the Silk Route, and North Sikkim (Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang, Zero Point, Gurudongmar). Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit to enter Sikkim.

Sources: Sikkim permit guide 2026 (gangtokian.com) · Sikkim permits explained (darjeeling-tourism.com)

How do I get the permit for Tsomgo, Nathula or North Sikkim, and what should I carry?

These permits are processed through registered Sikkim tour operators, not at the check post on the day. Send each traveller’s government photo ID and passport-size photos well before the trip, and carry the originals plus a few photocopies. Rules and lead times change from time to time, so tell us your dates early and we arrange it with our Sikkim partner.

Sources: Sikkim permit guide 2026 (gangtokian.com) · Sikkim permits explained (darjeeling-tourism.com)

Which days is Nathula Pass open?

Nathula is normally open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday, for Indian nationals only. It can also close at short notice for snow, weather or security reasons, so plan a spare day. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir are open to both Indian and foreign visitors with the permit.

Sources: Sikkim permit guide 2026 (gangtokian.com) · Sikkim permits explained (darjeeling-tourism.com)

Can the same car from NJP take us sightseeing around Gangtok and North Sikkim?

Usually not. A West Bengal-registered cab can drop you at and pick you up from Gangtok or Pelling, but local sightseeing inside Sikkim, Tsomgo/Nathula and North Sikkim run in Sikkim-registered vehicles. Our packages switch to a local Sikkim car for those days, and the price we confirm already includes it.

Sources: Gangtok taxi guide (darjeelingsikkimtaxi.com)

NH10 is closed by a landslide. How do we reach Gangtok or Kalimpong?

When NH10 along the Teesta is blocked, traffic is diverted over the hills via Gorubathan and Lava (and onward through Kalimpong or Rhenock), which adds a few hours. We check the road on the morning of travel, tell you the expected time and any change in fare before you confirm, and publish current conditions on our road status page.

Sources: India Today NE: NH10 landslide closures

Is Gurudongmar Lake safe for young children and elderly travellers?

Gurudongmar is at about 5,430 m (17,800 ft), reached in one early-morning climb from Lachen, so altitude sickness is a real risk. It is generally not advised for children under about 5, and anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure problems should ask a doctor first. A slower itinerary with an extra night (our 4-day North Sikkim plan), plenty of water and no alcohol the night before all help.

Sources: Gurudongmar Lake guide: altitude and AMS

When is the best time to visit Darjeeling and Sikkim?

October to early December gives the clearest mountain views; March to May brings rhododendrons and pleasant days. June to September is monsoon, with landslides and road closures, especially on NH10. December to February is cold, with snow at Tsomgo, Nathula, Zuluk and North Sikkim that can close those roads for days. Peak weeks (Puja, Diwali, summer holidays, Christmas) need booking well ahead.

When are Gorumara and Jaldapara national parks closed?

Every monsoon, usually from 16 June to 15 September, the national parks and sanctuaries of the Dooars close for safaris and other tourist activities. Resorts and the drive itself stay open. October to May is the main season, with the best wildlife sightings in the drier months.

Sources: Outlook Traveller: Dooars national parks close in monsoon · Gorumara National Park (Wikivoyage)

Do you book the jungle safari too?

Safari seats and entry tickets are sold by the West Bengal forest department and its development corporation, mostly online, and are best booked yourself in advance. We drive you to the safari gate on time, wait, and plan the day around your safari slot.

Sources: Outlook Traveller: Dooars national parks close in monsoon · Gorumara National Park (Wikivoyage)

Which car is best for a Dooars trip?

The Dooars are mostly flat highways and village roads, so a sedan is comfortable for up to four people. Choose an SUV or Innova for five to seven people, heavy luggage, or forest-village roads in the rains, such as towards Jhalong, Bindu or Buxa.

Can your cab take me into Nepal from Panitanki?

By default we drop you at Panitanki on the Indian side of the Mechi bridge; you cross after immigration and continue in a Nepal vehicle from Kakarbhitta. An Indian-registered car needs a Nepal customs (bhansar) permit with a daily fee to go further, so direct trips to Birtamod, Dharan or Biratnagar are possible only when we confirm the vehicle and paperwork in advance.

Sources: Nepal entry rules for Indians (godigit.com) · Documents to enter Nepal by car (touristhelpline.com)

Which ID do Indians need to enter Nepal by road?

Indian citizens do not need a visa. Carry an original valid passport or original Voter ID card; Aadhaar, PAN and driving licence are not accepted as identity proof for entry. Carry a birth certificate or passport for children, and check the latest rules before travelling.

Sources: Nepal entry rules for Indians (godigit.com) · Documents to enter Nepal by car (touristhelpline.com)

Which documents do Indians need to enter Bhutan at Phuentsholing?

No visa is needed. Adults need an original Indian passport valid for at least six months or an original Voter ID card, plus two passport-size photos. Children under 18 need a birth certificate in English or a passport and must travel with a guardian. The entry permit is issued at the Department of Immigration in the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing.

Sources: Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing — Guidelines for Indians visiting Bhutan

Do Indians have to pay a fee to visit Bhutan?

Yes, for overnight stays: the Sustainable Development Fee for Indian tourists is ₹1,200 per person per night. Children aged 5 and below are exempt and children aged 6 to 12 pay half. Day visitors to Phuentsholing pay only a small user fee at the Pedestrian Terminal.

Sources: Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing — Guidelines for Indians visiting Bhutan

Can an Indian taxi drive into Bhutan?

Only into the designated zone of Phuentsholing without charge. Beyond the Rinchending check post an Indian-registered vehicle must be registered with Bhutan’s check-post system and pay a green tax of Nu 4,500 per day, with strict document and vehicle-age rules. That is why we normally drop at Jaigaon (Bhutan Gate) and travellers continue with a Bhutan-registered vehicle.

Sources: Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing — Guidelines for Indians visiting Bhutan

I get car-sick on hill roads. What helps?

Eat light before the drive, sit in the front seat and look at the road ahead, keep a window slightly open, and carry motion-sickness tablets your doctor recommends. Ask the driver to stop whenever you need — short breaks are part of the trip. An Innova or Crysta rides more smoothly on long hill drives than a small car.

How much luggage fits in each car?

As a guide: a hatchback or sedan takes about 2 large bags, an SUV or Innova about 4, and a Tempo Traveller around 10. Hill cars often carry extra bags on a covered roof carrier at no extra cost. If you have big suitcases, tell us when booking — sending a photo of your luggage on WhatsApp is the easiest way to get the right car.

Is it safe for women or elderly people travelling alone?

You receive the driver’s name, phone and car number before pickup, and you can share your booking page with family so they can see the same details. Our phone and WhatsApp stay reachable during the trip. Prefer daylight travel on hill roads, and tell us about any medical needs or mobility help when you book.