Pelling

Nestled at an altitude of 2150 meters is the gem of the West known by the name Pelling. This beautiful place has a quaint aura and you can witness the majestic Kanchenjunga closely which attracts tourists from all over the place. 

Pelling is a scenic town which is overflowing with rich heritage, culture, ancient monasteries and holy lake. Pelling is a one stop for all kinds of explorers, travelers, adventurers and nature enthusiasts. It is also a very popular place among trekkers as it falls on the map of major trekking routes of Sikkim. 

Pelling is also the home for people of different ethnicities. You can explore the town and surrounding various locations on foot and get in touch with nature. You can also spend some time with the people and get a better understanding of the place as it has so much history. You can do mountain biking, hiking, trekking, and several other outdoor adventurous activities here. You may also take ample amount of time and admire the old authentic architectures of several historic places and monasteries. You can visit numerous tourist locations in and around. There are so many things that Pelling has to offer and one day is just not enough to enjoy this beauty.

CLIMATE AND BEST TIME TO VISIT PELLING

Pelling being one of the most loved locations of the wild western part of the state can be visited throughout the year and here are some details broken down for you on the climate of Pelling to make it easier for you.

Summer - To witness the spellbinding beauty of Pelling summer is the perfect time for you. Summer here starts from March till end of May and the temperature ranges from 7°C to 28°C. Summer is quite pleasant here welcoming the fresh lush green scenery all over the quaint hill station. This is also the best season to go for sightseeing and outdoor adventure sports.

Monsoon - In Pelling monsoon begins from July and lasts till end of September. The weather becomes unpredictable during this time as it might rain any day and anytime. Pelling experiences high rainfall during monsoon which disrupts the travelling, sightseeing and outdoor activities. Also due to the heavy rainfall there might be landslides in some areas which make monsoon a bit unfavourable season to travel in Pelling. 

Winter - In Pelling winter begins from the month of December and lasts till February. The temperature ranges from 4°C to 14°C which makes it chilling. You may also get to witness snowfall during winters and snow capped mountains around. Winter is the peak time or season to travel to Pelling although it is chilly but comfortable to explore the locations.

THINGS TO DO IN PELLING

Pelling is one of the most exciting places to be in Sikkim. Situated in the wild western part of the state Pelling is a majestic beauty with culturally rich vibe and to be able to visit this place is a delight. There are plenty of things that you can do when you are in Pelling, you can visit different locations such as religious and historic places, do amazing adrenaline rushing adventure sports and simply unwind yourself in nature. Here is a list of places that you can explore in Pelling.

KHECHEOPALRI LAKE

The lake is situated at an altitude of 5600ft and is about an hour away from Pelling. Khecheopalri means “Heavenly abode of Padmasambhava”, and is believed to be a 3500 years old lake. You have to walk for 5 minutes from the parking space to reach the lake. 

The lake is massive and is surrounded by thick vegetation but you will see no leaves on the surface of the water. There are prayer wheels and flags along the wooden jetty which leads to the bank of the lake. The lake is a pilgrimage site and people from all over the place come here to offer prayer. This lake is believed to be sacred and wish fulfilling. Once you reach here it is just so peaceful and will leave a beautiful mark on your journey. 

PELLING SKY WALK

The Skywalk is located at an altitude of 7200 feet along with the fourth tallest statue of Chenrezig. This location is one of the major tourist attractions as it is India's first Skywalk and home to a 137 feet statue of Chenrezig which also makes it a Buddhist pilgrimage site. The operating time of the Skywalk is from 9am to 6pm and the entrance fee is Rs.20 for local and Rs.50 for non-local. Once you reach here you can enjoy the amazing view of the location and also take pictures while walking on the glass.

PELLING HELIPAD

The helipad is about 1 kilometer away from the town therefore it is the perfect spot for a short walk. Once you reach here it becomes all worth the hike as the view that you get from here is just ravishing. You get a clear view of the majestic Kanchenjunga and the mountain arranged around it. You can also see the entire of Pelling from this spot and the night view of the Chenrezig statue from here is just so beautiful.

SANGACHOELING MONASTERY

Located around 7km away from Pelling town and at a high ridge is the Sangachoeling monastery. Established by Lama Gyalwa Lhatsun Chempo in the 17th century it is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim. You have to hike a little to reach here and you get a nice view of Pemayangtse monastery from here. You can just relax and enjoy nature and also admire the authentic ancient architecture here.

PEMAYANGTSE MONASTERY

This monastery was built in 1705 and is located at a distance of 5 km from Pelling town and is also one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim.

Once you reach here you can just enter the monastery and offer you prayers after that you can proceed towards the hidden gem of the monastery that is the museum inside. There is a museum inside which has various olden days crafts, architectures, clothing, jewelleries and various other important items displayed with details on the side. The most exciting part is that brilliantly artistically crafted out of a single tree is a 7 tiered 3D marvel which showcases the afterlife of a person. It shows different stages of afterlife along with heaven and hell and the detailing is so brilliant that it gives you a surreal experience. Overall the monastery and the environment along with the museum make this place irresistible.

RABDENTSE RUINS

The ruins of the old Rabdentse Palace lies on the south-east of the Pemayangtse monastery. It was established by Chadok Namgyal in 1670 and was the Royal palace in the Golden era of Sikkim. The palace was destroyed as a result of battle with the Gurkha army.

The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the ruins as one of national importance and is also working in the maintenance and restoration of the palace. Though there is no more a palace but only ruins left behind still who does not want to see what a palace kind of looked like in the olden days. This place is a must visit as along with ruins you also see amazing views of the surrounding mountains.

KHANGCHENDZONGA FESTIVAL

This grand festival is held in Pelling  every year and it is named after the guardian deity or God of Sikkim “Khangchendzonga”. The festival includes flower shows, has stalls of traditional food, costumes and crafts. There will also be various cultural folk dances and musical performances. It also offers tons of fun activities to do such as trekking, sports, mountain biking, sightseeing, bird watching, paragliding and much more.

HOW TO REACH PELLING

Pelling is located at a distance of 135 km from Siliguri and 130 km from Gangtok. To get to Pelling first you have to reach either Siliguri or Gangtok. The nearest airport to this location is Bagdogra Airport which is in the outskirts of Siliguri. You get plenty of flights from various cities till Bagdogra airport and from here you can get a taxi for hire or take a bus. The nearest railway station is the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and the tickets will not be a problem. Once you reach NJP you can either hire a taxi or board a bus. To reach Pelling by road from either Siliguri or Gangtok you get plenty of shared taxis, hire a taxi or take a bus. Reaching here will be convenient and is also possible according to your preferred mode of transport.