Pelling: Enjoy A Journey To The Heart Of The Himalayas!

Are you a nature lover who loves to explore unseen destinations? Pelling, a beautiful town located in the West district of Sikkim is one such place that houses countless tourist spots bestowed with natural beauty. Located 10 km from Geyzing and 130 km from Gangtok, Pelling has emerged to be the second biggest tourist destination in Sikkim, only behind Gangtok.

From the breathtaking view of Khangchendzonga to the renowned Pemayangtse monastery, you will be spoilt for choice at Pelling. To make your trip effortless, in this travel guide, we take you through the top 15, best places to visit in Pelling.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Just 2 Km away from Pelling lies Pemayangtse Monastery, a Buddhist monastery founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1647. A major attraction of this monastery is its magnificent architecture.

The three-storied building houses several statues of saints and Rinpoches, and one of them is Padmasambhava (Lotus Born). The other attractions include the main prayer hall adorned with paintings, many antique idols and scriptures and the beautiful Tibetan design paintings on doors and windows.

Rabdentse Ruins

Rabdentse served as the erstwhile Kingdom of Sikkim’s second capital from 1670 to 1814. Later, the invasion of the Gurkha army destroyed the capital city, leaving only the ruins of the palace and the chortens.

This place is worth a visit if you are a history lover who is quite interested in exploring historical ruins.

Rabdentse Ruins in #Sikkim is just the perfect place for all the history enthusiasts during summer. The remains of the Rabdentse palace offer a mesmerizing view of the foothill.@DrJitendraSingh @PsTamang @incredibleindia @tourismgoi pic.twitter.com/fg250RpIeF

— MDoNER India (@MDoNER_India) February 25, 2021

Yuksom

The first capital of Sikkim, Yuksom is famous for its snow-capped mountains and stunning landscapes. The place has historical importance as it is the coronation site of the first monarch of Sikkim, popularly known as the “Throne of Norbugang”.

Yuksom is also the gateway to some of the famous trekking routes such as Dzongri and Goecha La. The other popular tourist spots include the Dubdi Monastery, built by the first ruler Chogyal Phuntshok Namgyal in 1647 and Karthik Lake.

Darap Village

Situated 8 Km away from Pelling town, Darap village is blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna. Located at an altitude of 1600 m, the temperature at this place hovers between -5 to 28 degrees.

Majorly inhabited by the Limboo Community, here you can experience the beauty of village culture that just cannot be explained in words. Starting from milking cows to visiting traditional houses and trekking to birdwatching, a visit to Darap village offers a never before experience for travel enthusiasts.

Kanchenjunga Fall

Kanchenjunga Waterfalls is a spectacular waterfall situated 24 Km from Pelling. One of the largest waterfalls in Sikkim, the view of the water gushing down into a pool from a height of 100 feet will leave you awestruck for sure.

Apparently, the waterfalls originate from the glaciers of Mount Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world. To commute to the falls, you have to climb around 50 steps as the falls are located beside a sharp curve on the roadside.

Tashiding Monastery

A Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Tashiding Monastery is located on a hilltop between the Rathong Chu and the Rangeet River. This monastery is popularly known as the “Heart of Sikkim/Denzong” due to its significance of religious sacredness.

The annual Bumchu Festival conducted here happens every year on the 14th and 15th of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. It is believed that the upcoming forecasts and events for Sikkim will be predicted during the festival.

Sewaro Rock Garden

Sewaro Rock Garden is a beautiful garden where you will find layers of stones situated on the banks of a river. Developed by the Department of Tourism of Sikkim, Sewaro Rock Garden also consists of small canopies of benches.

There is also a cafeteria and swimming yard in the garden making It the perfect place to spend quality time with your family. The other features that deserve a special mention include the crystal clear river that is icy cold where you can engage in angling and fishing.

Sangachoeling Monastery

The Sanga-Ngang Choling monastery, pronounced as Sangacholing is a 17th-century monastery founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. Situated around 3 Km from Pelling, you can go up to the base of the monastery by car and from that point, it is a short uphill walk.

Built according to the Tibetan style of architecture, Sangachoeling Monastery contains many ancient paintings, accessories and clay statues that take visitors back to the 17th century.

Rimbi Waterfall

Around 5 Km from Darap village lies the Rimbi waterfall, which flows out as the Rimbi River. The waterfall is situated close to the motorable road and the marvellous sight of white water gushing down the forested hill slope makes it worth a visit.

One of the oldest hydropower stations in Sikkim is situated nearby to the Rimbi waterfall. While visiting this place, don’t forget to try the local preparation of Assala – a unique variety of fish that is found only here.

Singshore Bridge

The highest bridge in Sikkim and second-highest in Asia, the Singshore Bridge is 240 m (787 ft) long and more than 100 m (328 ft) high. Situated 5 km (3.1 mi) away from Pelling, this bridge provides a mesmerising view of the surrounding hills,  waterfalls and streams.

An architectural marvel, Singshore Bridge is open for visitors from 6 am to 6 pm in all months of the year except July and August. Within a walkable distance from the bridge lies the Alpine cheese factory, where you can try out the delicious Gouda cheese.

Kaluk

Located in the Himalayan foothills of West Sikkim, Kaluk is a small village where you can enjoy nature’s beauty at its best.

From this place, you can view the beautiful Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak. Situated at an altitude of 5600 feet, Kaluk is also one of the windiest places in Sikkim.

Kanchenjunga National Park

Khangchendzonga or Kanchenjunga National Park was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list and holds the distinction of being the first “Mixed Heritage” site of India. This park is an important biosphere reserve and home to Mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world.

In the park, you will find a wide variety of plants such as oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow and many species of animals such as musk deer, Indian leopard, snow leopard and Himalayan tahr. If you are a trekking enthusiast , there is also the option of trekking here.

Khecheopalri Lake

Originally known by the name Kha-Chot-Palri, Khecheopalri Lake lies at a distance of 34 Km from Pelling.

Popularly believed to be a wish-fulfilling lake, this lake is of religious significance to both Hindus as well as those who follow Buddhism as it is a part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit. Just above the lake lies Dupukney Cave where Lord Shiva is believed to have meditated.

Changey Waterfall

On the Pelling – Dentam Road, i.e 9 km from Pelling, you will find the beautiful, serene Changey Waterfall. The wonderful sight of water cascading from a height of around 300 feet is no doubt worth exploring.

The lush green vegetation and towering hills add to the beauty of the falls making it the perfect place to spend a weekend with your loved ones.

Ravangla 

Ravangla, a South Sikkim town is located right in the middle of Gangtok and Pelling, 8000 ft above sea level. The highlight of this place is the Buddha Park, also known by the name Tathagata Tsal which houses a stunning, 130-ft high statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The other attractions situated in the nearby areas include Ralong Cha Chu, Ralong Monastery, Bon Monastery and Temi Tea Estate.

Best Time To Visit Pelling

Plan a visit to Pelling sometime between the middle of February until May. These are months when the winter is about to end and the summer just begins. However, if the main objective of your trip is to enjoy the breathtaking views from the Khangchendzonga Mountain, then the perfect time to visit Pelling is from the middle of September until the middle of December.

How To Reach  Pelling

By Air – The nearest airport from Pelling is at Bagdogra, at a distance of 160 kilometres. There is good connectivity to Pelling from all major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. From the Bagdogra airport, you can hire a private cab or a shared taxi (available from Siliguri) to commute to Pelling.

By Train – The nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station, located at a distance of 152 kilometres from Pelling. From the railway station, there are taxis available for travelling to Pelling.

Road/Self Drive – There is good road connectivity from Pelling to all major cities such as Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Gangtok. However, keep in mind that the road from Siliguri to Pelling is quite steep and it is recommended to hire a private taxi rather than opting for public transport like a bus.

Conclusion

Exploring the picturesque tourist spots in Pelling is an amazing experience that just cannot be described in words. Especially, if you are a nature lover and travel enthusiast, visiting the beautiful waterfalls, gardens and monasteries in Pelling will leave you spellbound for sure.

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