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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sukna
Sukna is a 1-hour stop for the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary gate and the river crossing, not a base. Use it as a morning detour between Siliguri and Darjeeling.
Sukna is a small cantonment town at the edge of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, 20 km from Siliguri on the road to Darjeeling. Its only reason to stop is the sanctuary entrance and the Teesta river view. Most travellers drive through in 30–60 minutes.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, leeches on trails)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–1,000 (day trip only) · Mid ₹1,000–2,000 · High ₹2,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shared jeep Sukna–Siliguri | ₹30–50 (check) |
| Taxi Sukna–Siliguri | ₹300–500 (check) |
| Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary entry (Indian / foreigner) | ₹50 / ₹200 (check) |
| Tea and snacks at highway dhaba | ₹30–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- About 35 km (22 mi); taxi 1 h (check)About 22 mi (35 km); taxi 1 h (check)
Typical fares
- Sukna → Siliguri (shared jeep)
- about ₹30–50, 30 min (check)
- Sukna → Darjeeling (shared jeep)
- about ₹150–250, 2.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or hire a taxi from the bazaar. The sanctuary gate is a 10-minute walk from the highway.
See and do
Known for
- Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary gate
- Teesta river panorama
- Cantonment town character
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Siliguri | Bus or taxi, about 30 min | 30–40 min |
| Darjeeling | Shared jeep or taxi, about 2 h 30 min | 2.5–3 h |
| Kurseong | Taxi, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Mirik | Taxi, about 1 h 15 min | 1.5–2 h |
| Sevoke | Taxi, about 20 min | 20–30 min |
| Mangpoo | Taxi, about 30 min | 30–40 min |
Sleep
- Sukna bazaar area
- A few basic lodges near the highway; most travellers sleep in Siliguri or Darjeeling.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| How much? | कति?kati |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon brings leeches on sanctuary trails; wear long socks and carry salt.
- No ATM in Sukna; get cash in Siliguri.
- The sanctuary entry fee is paid in cash only (check current rate).
Very safe; the main risk is traffic on the Siliguri–Darjeeling highway. Monsoon trails are slippery.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sukna yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary gate
- Teesta river panorama
- Cantonment town character
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sukna, revision 5212209 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5212209
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sukna
यस ठेगानामा, कृपया
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance112
Nepali is widely spoken; Hindi and Bengali also work.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sukna). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.