Zuluk is a tiny hamlet on the Old Silk Route in East Sikkim, famous for a mountain road that loops back on itself again and again as it climbs.
With Nathang Valley and the high viewpoints, it is one of the most beautiful drives in India. Because it runs close to the border, you need a permit, and a registered Sikkim travel agent arranges it with a registered vehicle. You stay in the small homestays of Zuluk or Nathang.
Who needs a permit
You need a permit for every person, because this is a border area. You cannot drive your own car here. You travel with a registered vehicle and a driver, and a registered agent gets the permit in your name before the trip.
The Silk Route drive, in plain words
This is the old trading road that once linked Sikkim with Tibet. From Zuluk the road climbs in tight hairpin bends, more than thirty in one famous stretch, to viewpoints such as Thambi View Point, where on a clear dawn you see the whole Kanchenjunga range glow. You go on through Nathang Valley, a high, wide bowl that turns golden in autumn and white in winter. You stay in simple, warm homestays and rise early for the views.
How the permit works, in plain words
The Sikkim Tourism Department and the local administration control entry to this border route. They do not sell the permit to a walk in tourist. A registered Sikkim agent applies for you, with your identity and photos, and gets the permit before you go. That is why you plan the Silk Route through an agent or a tour, often starting from Rongli or Gangtok.
For foreign visitors
The rules are tighter for foreign visitors on the Silk Route, and parts of it can be restricted. If you hold a foreign passport, ask a registered agent what is open to you before you plan, rather than counting on the full route. Carry your passport, and give the agent extra time for a foreigner permit. [Confirm the current foreigner rule with a registered agent. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
How to arrange it, step by step
Pick a registered Sikkim agent or a Silk Route tour that includes Zuluk and Nathang. Give your identity, passport size photos and dates ahead of time. Let the agent get the permit and the registered vehicle. Carry the same original identity, because it is checked at the check posts. Book the small homestays early, because they are few.
Season, so you plan the right months
The Silk Route is beautiful in different ways through the year. Autumn, from about October, gives clear skies and golden valleys. Winter brings snow to Nathang, which many people come for, though the road can close in heavy falls. Spring brings rhododendrons. The monsoon can block the road with landslides, so avoid the heavy rain months. It is cold and high, so carry warm layers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is trying to drive the route on your own, because you need a registered agent, a permit and a registered vehicle. Foreign visitors often plan the full route, when parts can be restricted. Do not leave the homestay booking late, because rooms are few. Do not visit in the heavy monsoon, when landslides block the road.
Questions people ask
Can I get the Silk Route permit myself?
No. A registered Sikkim agent arranges it, with a registered vehicle.
Where do I stay?
In the small homestays of Zuluk or Nathang, which are few, so book early.
Is the full route open to foreigners?
Parts can be restricted for foreign visitors, so confirm with a registered agent before you plan.
When is the best time?
Autumn for clear golden views, winter for snow at Nathang, spring for flowers. Avoid the heavy monsoon.
What is the famous road?
The zig zag climb from Zuluk, with more than thirty hairpin bends, to viewpoints like Thambi View Point.