Site Seeing of Pelling

The pleasant little town of Pelling is famous for magnificent views of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga range, the third highest peak in the world. Pelling is about 130km away from Siliguri and 115km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and is well connected by bus and jeep services. The Placid town pulls most of the visitors for its representative status in history, nature and culture of the state of Sikkim.

Sightseeing Destinations

Pemayangtse Monastery : Pemayangtse literally means 'Perfect Sublime Lotus'. This is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim. Founded in 1705, this monastery belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect. The three-storied building of the monastery houses a good collection of wall paintings and sculptures. On the third floor of the monastery, there is a seven-tiered painted wooden model of the abode of Guru Rimpoche, complete with rainbows, angels and the whole panoply of Buddha and Bodhisattva. In January / February every year, a religious dance called 'Cham' is performed in Pemayangtse.

Khecheopalri Lake : Khecheopalri Tsho is a large lake located 27kms from Pelling and is a common tourist sightseeing point. The lake is considered to be one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim. The lake remains hidden in the rich forest cover. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the Khecheopalri lake surface. There is a motorable road from Pelling right up to the lake area. The sacred lake lies in a depression surrounded by prayer flags and forested hills. By the lakeshore is the small Lepcha village of Tsojo, and about 1.5km above the lake is the Khecheoplari Gompa. Tourists and locals offer prayer at the lake and also feed the fish in the lake. The place is popular among trekkers.

Rabdentse Ruins: Rabdentse Ruins is another place to see in Pelling, which is located at a walking distance from the Pemayangtse Monastery. Surrounded by thick forests, the Rabdentse Ruins are considered as famous destinations among the leisure tourists. Rabdentse was the second capital of the Sikkim state after Yuksum during 1670. The king of Sikkim ruled this state up to the year 1814. Today, the Rabdentse lies in ruins and from here the Khangchendzonga ranges can be seen.

Rimbi Waterfalls : Rimbi Waterfalls are approximately 12km away from Pelling and further about 5km from the Darap Village. They are situated along the banks of Rimbi River. These waterfalls lead into the Rimbi River, famous for activities like fishing.

Kahgchenjunga Water fall : At a distance of 25km from Pelling it will take nearly one and half hour including the half hour stay at Sewaro Rock garden. You need to climb up little in steps to reach the foot of the water fall. This water fall is last but one point in your drive for local site seeing in Pelling. After this you will return to Y junction and go towards Khecheopalri wiching Lake. Take care of your vehicle as there is no open parking space and stones may fall from heights.

Kaluk : Kaluk is another famous district of Sikkim destination, which is located 26km from Pelling and is prominently recognised for Bersay Rhadodendron Sanctuary. This area is also known for its infinite natural resources and is also considered as a haven for nature lovers. The district is surrounded by small villages consisting of the Lepcha tribes.

Singshore Bridge : Singshore Bridge, a 198 metre suspension bridge is located at a short distance of 5km from Pelling. It is also the highest bridge of Sikkim and second highest gorge bridge in Asia. The Singshore Bridge was built 16 years ago by connecting two hills. It is situated 25km away from Pemayangtse Monastery. The government of Sikkim is likely to set Bungee jumping activities on the bridge, soon. Close to the bridge lies the Uttarey village, which falls near the Nepal boundary or commonly called as Chia Bhanjyang.

Temi Tea Garden : It was established in 1969 by the Government of Sikkim. This tea garden spans a total area of around 453 acres. It is known for producing some of the best quality teas across the globe. The garden also offers amazing visual splendor. The winding journey through the lush tea plantation and a night in the resort located within the tea garden is truly a lifetime experience. But, this is not all! Temi Tea Garden unfolds its true beauty during the winter when the Cherry Blossoms bloom and the mountain and tea garden are covered in a mauve veil. Mt. Kanchenjungha with her friend overlooks this splendour.