The Sikkim government is issuing a “free Nathu-la pass permit” to domestic tourists who stay in Namchi or Soreng districts at least for a night in a move to promote balanced tourism development across all the districts in the state ahead of the Puja season.

Sikkim has six districts — namely Gangtok, Gyalshing, Mangan, Namchi, Pakyong and Soreng.

The government has also announced that the Nathu-la permit can now be obtained from any district, and not just Gangtok as was the prevailing practice.

Sources said that the Sikkim department of tourism and civil aviation has issued an order to this effect in line with the directive of Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay).

Tsomgo Lake, Sikkim. File picture

To avail this benefit, tourists must submit a valid hotel or homestay bill, along with other relevant supporting documents like voter ID and two sets of passport-sized photographs, through a local registered travel agency.

“The submission must be made at least three days prior to the date of travel,” said the source.

Soreng also happens to be the native place of chief minister Golay.

From Tuesday, the department started issuing permits for 50 vehicles per day to travel to Nathu-la with tourists.

Nathu-la, which is situated at an altitude of 14,450 feet, is located on the Old Silk Route and connects Sikkim to China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

Nathu means “listening ears” and la means “pass”. The pass had been sealed in 1959 but was opened in 2006 and is now an open border trading post between India and China.

Nathu-la is a famous tourist destination in Sikkim but only Indian tourists are allowed to this point.

For permits, domestic tourists usually have to pay Rs 200 per day.

Foreigners have to obtain protected area permits (PAPs) and they are allowed to travel only till Tsomgo, also known as Changu lake.

Nathu-la is 17 kilometers away from the scenic Tsomgo Lake.

The government has also decided to issue PAPs to visit Lachung, Lachen, Thangu and Dzongu on a five-day permit.

The permit can be applied from any of the district offices.

“The application must be routed through a local registered travel agency and such foreign nationals are to be accompanied by a certified guide,” said a source.

Sources in the government said that the initiative is aimed at helping certified guides, travel agencies of the state and local businessmen, too.

“The tourist rush is definitely more towards north Sikkim and the government seems to be encouraging tourists to visit west Sikkim, too,” said a travel agent.

Tourism stakeholders who operate in Sikkim, however, said that travel to north Sikkim was still an arduous task after last year's glacial lake outburst flood. “We are hoping NH10 will hold up during the tourist season. For the past one year, tourism has been hit badly in Sikkim,” said a hotelier from Sikkim.