If you are planning to visit Sikkim then I suggest you add Pelling to your list. It is a must-visit place while in Sikkim. Your vacation will be incomplete without your visit to Pelling.
Where is Sikkim situated?
Sikkim is a small state of India situated on the northeast side of India. Its capital is Gangtok. Sikkim is famous for its beautiful landscapes- mountains, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, lakes, and warm-hearted simple people.
How to reach Sikkim?
The nearest airport to Sikkim is Bagdogra. The distance between Sikkim to Bagdogra is approximately 154 km it takes almost 5 hours and 30 minutes to reach Gangtok its capital.
The nearest railway station is NJP which is 148km and takes 5 hrs 25 minutes to reach Gangtok. The good news is there will be soon railway lines connected to Sikkim.
What is the best time to visit Sikkim?
The best time to visit Sikkim is from March to May and from October to mid-December. Late December to February will be very chill but you can enjoy snowfall.
Sikkim trip budget
Sikkim is quite expensive compared to other states of India. If you are determined to travel then money will come your way. I believe this strongly.
You can travel by train to reach NJP from any corner of India. NJP has very good connectivity railway lines to and fro from any part of India.
If you are travelling from outside India then from any city you landed in, you can take the train to travel further. Travelling by train is safe, cheap, and comfortable.
After reaching NJP you can take a shared taxi to Gangtok. There will be many Taxis available at NJP.
If it is not available then you can take a shared auto to Siliguri. From Siliguri, you will get many taxis to Gangtok.
Your auto driver will happily help you get down at the Sikkim Terminus. You will get Sikkim Nationalised Bus as well as private shared Taxis from Sikkim terminus.
How to reach Pelling?
It almost takes the same time to reach Pelling from Siliguri and Pelling from Gangtok. Take a decision wisely and pre-plan your vacation to save time.
What is my suggestion from my own experience is going to Pelling first? You can hire a cab to Pelling from Siliguri or NJP.
You can also go to Pelling in a shared taxi from Siliguri. The direct taxi from Siliguri to Pelling is a little challenging to find as a very less number of taxis ply to Pelling from Siliguri. You can also do the following to save time in case you don’t find a direct taxi…
- Go to Jorthang ( Rs.350.00 Indian Rupee per person)
- From Jorthang go to Geysing as a taxi to Pelling from Geysing starts in the late afternoon. (150.00 per person). It’s good if the vehicle to Pelling is available.
- From Geysing to Pelling go by shared taxi. (Rs.60.00 per person) If your hotel is not on the way, then you have to pay extra depending distance from the taxi stoppage.
I paid this fare on my recent visit to Pelling, which was on the 2nd of April 2022.
Which part of Sikkim is Pelling?
Pelling is situated in West Sikkim. It is a small town; 10 km far from the district headquarters Geysing and 131 km from its capital Gangtok.
What is Pelling famous for?
Pelling is famous for its natural beauty. The view of Kanchanjunga is mesmerizing and it will definitely take your breath away.
Here we have India’s first skywalk which is worth visiting. You will not only enjoy your skywalk but also receive blessings from Chengrezi (Chengrezi is a symbol of love and compassion) which is situated here.
Top 5 places to visit in Pelling
There are many places to visit in Pelling but here I will share the 5 top places to visit in Pelling.
Pelling is a small town and all the places for sightseeing are located close to one another. Hence all the places can be covered in one day.
1. Skywalk
This is a must-visit place in Pelling. You can experience the skywalk amidst the green all around you. The great statue of Chengretze above you is mesmerizing and breathtaking. You will be blessed and peaceful. You can also see the beautiful Kanchanjunga.
2. Pemayangtse Monastery
The Pemayangtse Monastery is a Buddhist monastery situated in Pelling Sikkim. It is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim.
3. Rabdenste Ruins
Rabdentse was the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim. It is close to the Pemayangtse monastery. It is a pilgrimage place for Buddhists. You can also see the magnificent Kanchanjanga standing tall from here.
4. Khecheopalri Lake
Khecheopalri lake originally known as Kha Chot Palri which means heaven of Padmasambhava. It is also called wish fulfilling lake. It is a holy place for both Buddhists and Hindus.
5. River Orange Garden
It is a beautiful garden near the Rimbi river. You can enjoy the walk amidst the orange trees and flowers. The fruits are all organic.
Are 2 days enough for Pelling?
Yes, absolutely. Two days is enough for Pelling. On the day you reached, you can pay a visit to the Changretze statue and enjoy the skywalk.
The next day you can go another sightseeing. It is up to you how much time you give for the tour. My advice is to start early for your sightseeing.
We had less time as we had a booking for a homestay at Mangwa basti the next day and we had planned to see only the Chengretze Statue in Pelling.
But could not skip visiting Khecheopalri lake after reaching Pelling.
So we hired a taxi for Skywalk and Khecheopalri lake, the driver would have definitely taken us to other spots if we had time. We paid 2000/ Indian rupees for the trip.
All the other points of sightseeing are on the way. We could see only from the cab as I have already mentioned we were a shortage of time.
We stayed for a night and the next day started early for the next destination. You will get a direct taxi to Siliguri from the Geysing cab stand for 350/ per person.
Final thoughts on my visit to Pelling:
My trip to Pelling was memorable as another trip. Every trip teaches me something and I am happy to learn new things from my trip.
Although the weather was not good, it was foggy and we could not see the sunrise and mount Kanchanjungha, I enjoyed the fog and the misty Pelling.
I felt the sun hiding behind the clouds, I thank him for being there.
Some of the tourists complain about their visit when the weather is bad but I feel that to be there at that place is more important, enjoy the moment, thank the weather, whether it is sunny, cloudy or rainy.
I am lucky most of the time during my visit I am always welcome by the best weather wherever I go.
But this time I could not see the Kanchanjunga and see the sunrise for which Pelling is famous, but never for a moment did I feel bad about it instead I was thankful that I could enjoy the skywalk.
I thank Chengrizig that it did not rain that day. I was in Pelling for the skywalk but could see so many other places as well.
I am looking forward to visiting more places in the coming days to share with you.
