​Before the inauguration of Pakyong, which was the nearest airport to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state?​

Correct option is A

Ans. (a) Bagdogra

Sol.
Before the inauguration of Pakyong Airport in 2018, the nearest operational airport to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, was Bagdogra. Located in West Bengal, Bagdogra is approximately 124 kilometers away from Gangtok and served as the primary entry point for travelers heading to Sikkim. The airport is well connected with major cities in India like Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, making it the most convenient option for air travel to Sikkim before Pakyong came into operation.

Information Booster:

• Bagdogra is situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, serving as a gateway to North Bengal, Sikkim, and parts of Bhutan and Nepal.
• The road journey from Bagdogra to Gangtok usually takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on weather and road conditions.
• Pakyong Airport, inaugurated in 2018, is located much closer to Gangtok (about 35 km away) and was built to improve air connectivity to Sikkim.
• Sikkim's state government had long pushed for an airport to improve tourism and economic development in the region.
• Bagdogra is an important airport in the northeastern region of India, handling both domestic and limited international flights.
• The airport is also located near other key tourist spots, like Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Additional Information:

• Lilabari (Option b) is located in Assam, far from Gangtok and not considered a major airport for Sikkim's travel needs.
• Umroi (Option c) is an airport near Shillong in Meghalaya, and it is not close to Gangtok, making it unsuitable for Sikkim-bound travelers.
• Dimapur (Option d) is located in Nagaland and is similarly distant from Gangtok, thus not relevant to this context.