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Major city · India

Panitanki

Panitanki is a border crossing, not a destination: allow time for formalities and stay overnight if you need to cross early. One hour from Siliguri, four hours from Darjeeling.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Panitanki is the Indian side of the Nepal border crossing at Kakarbhitta. Most travellers use it to switch between India and Nepal by road. The village itself has no sights — the reason to stop is the border formalities, a meal, or a night's sleep before an early crossing. From Siliguri it's one hour; from Darjeeling four hours.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Oct–Mar
avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon)
Airport
IXB
Nights
0–1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Panitanki: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Panitanki112 ▾
  • Police112
  • Fire and ambulance112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Panitanki, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

India–Nepal border crossingGateway to Kakarbhitta and Kathmandu
Airports
IXB Bagdogra Airport (check)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →

Warmest May (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (12°C (54°F) low), wettest Jul (17 rain days), driest Dec (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Panitanki: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

2 rd

Feb

25°C (77°F)

14°C (57°F)

3 rd

Mar

29°C (84°F)

18°C (64°F)

4 rd

Apr

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

7 rd

May

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

11 rd

Jun

33°C (91°F)

25°C (77°F)

14 rd

Jul

32°C (90°F)

25°C (77°F)

17 rd

Aug

32°C (90°F)

25°C (77°F)

15 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Oct

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

5 rd

Nov

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

2 rd

Dec

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

1 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk or take a rickshaw the 1.7 km to Kakarbhitta. Shared taxis and buses connect to Siliguri and Darjeeling.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Siligurigo

Door to door: 1 h

Bus or shared taxi, about 1 h

For shopping, hotels, airport and railway junction.

Darjeelinggo

Door to door: 4 h

Shared taxi, about 4 h

Hill station with tea gardens and views.

Kakarbhitta

go

Door to door: 15–20 min

Walk or rickshaw, 1.7 km (1.1 mi)

Nepalese border town with buses to Kathmandu.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Near the border gate

Basic guesthouses for transit travellers; check the room before paying.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12) (transit only)
Mid
₹1,500–2,500 (≈ US$18–30) (with overnight stay)

Watch out

Safety

Panitanki is a quiet border village. The main risk is touts at the crossing: agree on rickshaw and taxi fares before you start.
  • Carry small Indian rupee notes for rickshaws and snacks.
  • Border crossing hours: check the current opening times — some gates close at night (check).
  • No ATMs at the border; withdraw in Siliguri or Darjeeling (check).

Emergency numbers

Police
112
Fire and ambulance
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PanitankiPanitanki

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

सीमा गेट तक, कृपयाTo the border gate, please

Emergency

  • Police112
  • Fire and ambulance112

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Siliguri → Panitanki, bus/shared taxi: about ₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3), 1 h (check)
  • Darjeeling → Panitanki, shared taxi: about ₹300–500 (≈ US$4–6), 4 h (check)
  • Rickshaw Panitanki → Kakarbhitta: about ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2)

Say or show

  • कितना? — How much? (kitna)
  • सीमा कहाँ है? — Where is the border? (seema kahan hai)
  • मुझे टैक्सी चाहिए — I need a taxi (mujhe taxi chahiye)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Panitanki. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 2 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources

Ask about Panitanki

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