sikkim travel tips

The Brothers Gangtok
	Modern Tour & Travels Gangtok
	Tips For Travelling To North Sikkim
	Clothing & Luggage’s    Time Social Interaction   Electricity Toilets   Mobile Phones Food and Drink   Card Payment Shopping   ATM’s Tipping   Permit Procedure Sightseeing   Rooms Health Precautions   Others
	Clothing & Luggage
	Travel as light as possible with least minimum clothes , toiletries and other essential commodities and you could leave the excess baggage at Gangtok hotels cloak room & as these areas is cold throughout the year it is advisable to carry warm woollen clothes, woollen mittens & gloves, cap etc.
	Social Interaction
	If you give the impression of being from a different place, chances are that you might be stared at, in the smaller towns. Don't be offended - they mean no harm, it is just curiosity. Make sure you don’t raise your voice while talking with the locals it is considered impolite.
	Toilets
	Public toilet facilities are few and far between. Take every opportunity you can to use a clean toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants. Make this a habit wherever you go.
	Food And Drink
	Drink only bottled water. Many popular brands are available. Non veg is not served in Modern Residency. Eat non-vegetarian food only in restaurants en-route. These food joints available in North Sikkim highway are with very basic choices. Good quality vegetarian food is not easily available on north Sikkim highways it is always advisable to carry biscuits, chips, dry fruits, fruits etc. Curd or yoghurt is served with most meals. It is a natural aid to digestion and helps temper the spicy food. Branded Foreign Liquors / Alcohols are not available there.
	Shopping
	There are no shops in North Sikkim to shop around. There is a handicraft centre in Lachung try to shop only in government handicraft shops. There the prices are fixed and the quality is certified.
	Tipping
	In hotels and restaurants, tips are not normally included in the package. The standard tip is 10%. In hotels, room service attendants are normally tipped at the end of the stay, though an early tip is likely to get you better service.
	Sightseeing
	Dress codes for religious places monasteries can include covering your head, being barefoot etc. Ask, so that you don't unwittingly give offence.
	General Information
	The sun is strong. Remember to use sunscreen on exposed parts of the body. Wear sunglasses to screen out harmful rays. Photography is not always permissible, and at many places it is permitted only at a fee. There is usually a higher fee for using a video camera.
	Health Precautions
	It is advisable to bring specific medicines as there is no pharmacy shops in Lachen nor Luchung. Always drink bottled water or boil water. Eat fruit you can peel. Always wash fruit well before eating it. Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need for diarrhoea, fever etc, also band aids and an antiseptic ointment. If you do catch a bug, do not panic. It will go away in a few days - but try the following tips to keep it down:
	Drink lassi - a yoghurt drink. It will help tone down the bacteria. Eat plain rice, or try a simple khichdi - an easily digestible mixture of rice and lentils. Drink plenty of fluids and take some electrolyte salts if the bug persists.
	Time
	Everything in India takes time - longer than in most places. So always give yourself extra time for whatever you may have to do - even it is just a visit to the Post Office or changing money. Indians joke about the concept of "Indian Stretchable Time" (IST). Certainly, if you're a super-punctual sort, India can be frustrating. Make allowances for this.
	Electricity
	There are frequent power cuts in these areas so it is advisable to be mentally prepare and carry necessary gears.
	Telephone / Mobile phones There is very limited mobile coverage till Mangan only .
	Others
	Keep extra photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport. This will be required for permits. Also, keep extra photographs of yourselves. These will be required for permits, filling out forms etc for foreigners.