Why Foreigners Are Restricted from Entering Sikkim: Insights by Lvarte
The decision by the Sikkim state administration to cease issuing licenses to foreign citizens has sent a severe whiplash to the country's tourist sector.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in India, Sikkim barred the admission of foreign migrants in March of last year. It was also one of the few states to announce an early restriction on individuals from outside the state.
Further, Sikkim also loosened a prohibition on foreigners entering the state rather than made it obligatory for them to carry an RT-PCR negative result.
So now when Nepal, Bhutan, and China have international boundaries with the eastern state, the prohibition was implemented last week again this year in response to the threat posed by the Omicron form of the Sars-Cov-2 virus.
As said by Mr. SC Gupta, Sikkim's chief secretary, only those foreign nationals, including those from Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, who are still in India for more than ten days and are going to travel to Sikkim shall be authorized to visit the state presented they generate a negative RT-PCR test report undertaken within 72 hours of their entry to the state.
The ban, as mentioned above, prohibiting foreign immigrants from accessing the northeastern state went into effect on December 1 and will stay in operation until December 15, 2021.
Following which, the four-day Sikkim Global Film Festival, which was set to start on December 10 in Gangtok, is also canceled.
Domestic visitors and Indian nationals, on the other hand, are not barred from visiting Sikkim. Indian nationals are permitted to enter the state.
Sikkim as known to all is a place whose terrain is resplendent with peaks like Lama Wangden and Frey's Peak, which numerous mountain climbers have ascended over the years, and is home to the world's third-highest mountain, Mt Khangchendzonga. In recent years, Sikkim has also evolved as a center for individuals interested in mountaineering, hiking, eco-tourism, and other adventure activities. Adrenaline addicts use the world-class facilities and training at institutes such as the Indian Himalayan Center for Adventure and Eco-Tourism in South Sikkim.
Nevertheless, any adventurous journey in the state requires extensive planning ahead of time because formal permits from the state government are necessary to get entrance to the bulk of its adventure locations.
To enter Sikkim, foreign visitors must get an Inner Line Permit (ILP). On the grounds of an Indian visa, they may be obtained at all Indian Missions, Sikkim Tourism Offices in New Delhi and Kolkata, and the District Magistrates Offices in Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Rangpo. The 30 days permits are given on the spot if photocopies of the candidates' passports and visas and two passport pictures are submitted. For the first 30 days, international visitors can stay for a maximum of 30 days.
The State Government has the authority to extend it for another 30 days. The permission can be extended at the FRO in Gangtok and the offices of the Superintendents of Police in the North, West, and South Districts.
For those taking an interest in trekking in the state's inner surface, the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department issues Protected Area Permits (PAP) in Gangtok, which are appropriate for individual areas for groups of two or more foreign nationals, subject to the popular hiking curriculum being organized through a registered travel agency.
Also read about 20 Incredible Local Sikkim Food Options To Gorge Upon In 2023
There are also certain Dos and Don'ts to refer to in case of any further queries -
Do's
i. Travel with a guide at all times.
ii. The vegetation is delicate; stick to approved pathways.
iii. Avoid littering and dispose of trash in appropriate areas.
iv. Keep all contaminants out of rivers and lakes.
v. Show sensitivity to local culture by obtaining permission before shooting images.
vi. Wear modest clothing. Be mindful of the local people's habits, etiquette, and culture.
vii. It is usual to contribute at a monastery and circumambulate shrines clockwise.
Don'ts
i. Do not interfere with animals or their environment.
ii. Avoid purchasing endangered species or antiquities.
iii. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and talking loudly close to sacred sites.
iv. Avoid picking plants or flowers.
Continue reading about North Sikkim Travel Guide: Everything you need to know
And lastly, photocopies of your passport, visa, and inner line permission, as well as one or three passport copies, are required for practically all permits. It's also good to collect many such documents and images just in case something goes wrong. Some hotels even need them upon check-in.
Happy Journey!!
