Gangtok, Jan. 22: Foreign tourists who wish to trek to Green Lake in North Sikkim can now apply to the state home department, instead of the central government, for the Protected Area Permit.

The permit would be issued for a maximum of 15 days.

"We received a letter from the foreigners' division under the home ministry yesterday. Any foreign tourist who wants to trek to Green Lake can now apply to the state home department and get a permit. Earlier, the permit was issued by the Centre," said the additional secretary of the state tourism department, Jigme Bhutia.

Foreigners visiting places in North Sikkim, except Green Lake, are issued a five-day permit. The Protected Area Permit is only for the trek.

Green Lake at 16,500 feet is at the base of the Kanchenjungha. The distance between Green Lake and Gangtok is around 220km and it takes about 11 days for a Gangtok-Green Lake-Gangtok expedition.

Earlier, a foreigner had to contact a travel agent in Sikkim who would then apply to the home ministry in Delhi with a detailed itinerary and other documents seeking the permit. The process would take around two months.

Now they can apply to the home department through local agents and the process would take around two weeks.

"It was a time taking process. There were few takers for the trek," said tour operator Gopal Chettri, who conducts treks in North and West Sikkim. "The foreign trekkers normally have an itinerary of 12 to 13 days," he said.

The cost for one trekker is around Rs 85,000, which include royalty, environment fees, travel, accommodation, food, camp fees, guide and potter charges.

"The area is very picturesque. The famous Zemu glacier is nearby," Chettri said.

The best time to visit is April-May and September-October, sources said.

The president of the Travel Agents' Association of Sikkim, Paljor Lachungpa, said they were yet to receive a letter on the issue.