From the hills to the delta
This move covers two very different journeys: the mountain road down the Teesta valley from Gangtok to Siliguri, and then the long run south across the plains of Bengal on NH 12, through Malda, across the Ganga at Farakka, and on through Murshidabad and Krishnanagar towards Kolkata. At about 659 km, a loaded truck usually takes about two days. Ask for the expected delivery date in writing, and where the truck will stop overnight.
Loading in Gangtok
Most Gangtok homes can't be reached by a large truck, so goods go to smaller vehicles at the road, often carried up or down steps, and are transferred to the main truck on the highway or in Siliguri. Ask whether the transfer happens in Siliguri and whether the goods are reloaded, which adds handling. Make sure the quote covers the smaller vehicles, the porters and the transfer.
NH 10 and the weather
From about June to September, landslides and river damage can close NH 10 for hours or days, with diversions via Kalimpong. Further south, the monsoon can slow NH 12 and waterlog low-lying stretches. Check the roads the day before, keep a back-up date, and ask for waterproof wrapping on everything.
October to November and February to March are usually the easiest windows.
Packing for two days on the road
Goods that travel down mountain roads and then for two days on the plains need sturdy packing. Ask for every piece of furniture to be wrapped, fragile items double-boxed, heavy cartons loaded low and tied, and a carton list kept by you. Carry documents, jewellery, cash, medicines and a few days' clothes yourself.
Kolkata's truck timings
Goods vehicles face daytime no-entry hours on many Kolkata roads, so the truck may wait at the edge of the city and unload early in the morning or late in the evening. Arriving from the north, it reaches Dum Dum, Salt Lake, New Town and north Kolkata first; central and south Kolkata take longer. Tell the mover the exact address and floor.
Old buildings and towers
Older Kolkata buildings often have no lift and narrow stairs; Salt Lake and New Town have towers with association rules, lift bookings and limited parking. Measure the stairs or ask the association a week before; our guide to society NOCs and lift bookings explains what to ask.
Postings, students and families
Many moves on this route are government and army postings, students going to college in Kolkata, or families moving closer to hospitals and work. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Festivals and dates
Durga Puja, usually September or October, brings huge crowds and road closures across Kolkata, and Dasain and Tihar are big in Sikkim. Avoid those weeks if you can.
Settling in
Kolkata is far warmer and more humid than Gangtok, so put fans and summer things in cartons unloaded first. Find out how water and power backup work, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Bengali is the main language in Kolkata, and Hindi, Nepali and English are widely understood.