Pelling Tourism
Pelling is a small hill town of western Sikkim perched at an altitude of 6,250ft with magnificent views of Kanchenjunga peaks. When I first visited and looked at the towering snow capped peaks right ahead from the terrace of Norbu Ghang hotel, it seemed at a stones throw distance. But actually Mt. Kachenjunga is around 44kms away from Pelling (as the crow flies).
Sunrise over Mt. Kanchenjunga: view from Pelling
Source: Santanu Paul, cc by sa 4.0
Pelling is also well known for several historical sites and monasteries, natural landscapes including lakes and waterfalls, and of course for its friendly and charming people and their rich culture.
The name Pelling as per the Buddhists texts means the seat of the religious body formed by Pema Linga who was a discoverer of ancient Tibetan texts and also a treasure revealer.
Pelling has three parts - Upper, Middle and Lower Pelling. Being a small township, you can walk across from one part to the other. The main market area, the taxi stand as well as the bus stand are located at Lower Pelling. There are also several eateries here. Upper Pelling offers better views of the mountains and therefore most of the view hotels (including many budget hotels) are located here. Upper Pelling too has several restaurants and bars.
There are many villages in Pelling such as Singyang, Chumbong, Sindrong, Darap etc. Bhutias form the main population here and many of them are associated directly with the monasteries. There are also Lepchas (whi are known as the original inhabitants of Sikkim) who mainly live in the village Sindrong. There are several other tribes too in Pelling like Limboos, Chetris and other Nepali tribes.
Farming and agriculture are the main livelihood of the residents here although many from the current generation are increasingly getting engaged in tourism activities these days. Some of the main crops that are cultivated in Pelling includes cardamom, maize, millet, paddy, wheat and buckwheat.
The popular 'Kanchenjunga Festival' is held at Pelling every year in December. It's a great time to experience local food, ethnic cultural programs including local dance, traditional art & crafts, see wonderful flower shows etc. Many other activities also take place during this time including mountain biking, trekking, other traditional local sports etc.
Local sightseeing in Pelling by car requires that you hire a private vehicle (a taxi or a commercial car) with Sikkim registration. Commercial vehicles or taxis from places of West Bengal like Darjeeling won't be allowed for local sightseeing tours here. However if you have your own personal vehicle, you can use it for sightseeing in Pelling and surrounding areas.
The taxi fare will depend on the season (high season fares are higher), type of car (small or luxury car) and the sites you want to visit. A standard full day local sightseeing in Pelling in a small reserved taxi and in a typical tourist season will cost around Rs. 3,500 - 3,800 (Fare updated: March 2022).
Pemayangtse Monastery
This is one of the oldest and most renowned monastery of Sikkim located in a place called Pemayangtse (2kms from Pelling). It was originally founded in 1647 and later enlarged in 1705 as a high class monastery for the pure monks (known in Tibetan as the Ta Sangs).
The monastery follows the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism and acts as the head of all monasteries in Sikkim that follow the same order of Buddhism. This monastery was also given the full charge to take care of religious activities of the erstwhile King (Chogyal) of Sikkim.
Pemayangtse Monastery
Photo: Tejas498, cc by sa 4.0
The monastery has three floors or levels. You can see images of Guru Padmasambhava and his various manifestations on the first and second floors. The top floor is known as Padmasambhava's palace and made with wooden structures, and is considered a masterpiece.
Lively costumed and masked dance known as Guru Dragmar Chaam takes place at the monastery on 28th to 30th day of the 12th Buddhist month which usually coincides with the month of March.
Ruins of Rabdentse Palace
This used to be the palace and the second capital of Sikkim (1670 to 1814) after the one in Yuksom. It's located about 3kms from Pelling and further down from Pemayangtse Monastery. It requires few minutes walk from the road.
The palace was built by the second chogyal (i.e. king) of Sikkim - Tensung Namgyal. However it had to be later shifted to north Sikkim and then to Gangtok due to Gorkha invasions. What you can now see here are the ruins and the stone structures of the fort or the palace and that of the chortens.
Rabdentse Palace Ruins
Photo: Anand Bhushan, cc by sa 3.0
The northern part of the fort was the palace area while the southern part was the religious area for the common people. There are three stupas here on a stone platform which were built for the royal family to worship (chortens). The ruins are now part of a sanctuary (Sidkeong Tulku Park) and is a great place for bird watchers.
Royal Chortens at Rabdentse
Source: Photo: Subodh Pathak, cc by sa 4.0
Sanga Choeling Monastery
Established in 1697, this too is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim. The monastery is also known as 'place of secret spells'. It's located 7kms above Monastery and you need to walk uphill for 4kms (about 45 minutes) through forested area to get to the monastery.
The monastery follows the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It has a serene and wonderful views around. There are paintings, clay statues and other accessories inside that date back to 17th century. It is said that in ancient days, secret mantras were taught here. The original monastery was gutted with fire several times and had to be re-built.
Sanga Choeling Monastery
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC by SA 4.0
On every 10th day of Tibetan calendar month, lamas recite hymns at the monastery. Although all can visit the and see the monastery from outside, only men are allowed to go inside the monastery and access to the inner sanctum is restricted to members of the local Bhutia and Lepcha communities.
Pelling Sky Walk & Chenrezig Statue
As the name suggests, Pelling Sky Walk is an elevated footbridge with glass-bottom and supported by tall structures. It is in fact the first skywalk in India. It's located about 6kms from Pelling towards Dentam. Once you reach, you can take a spiral staircase to get to the Sky Walk. You need to purchase a ticket to walk on this glass footbridge. The ticket price is Rs. 50/- for a tourist.
The Sky Walk actually connects to the giant Chenrezig statue which is a 137ft tall statue of Buddha (Avalokitesvara). It is however not necessary to take the skywalk to access the Chenrezig statue, you can also hike up to it along a walkway which is lined with fluttering Buddhist prayer flags.
Pelling Sky Walk and Chenrezig Statue
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC by SA 4.0
The Sky Walk obviously is a key attraction here and that's what most tourists avail. As you walk over the glass bridge, you get splendid views of the mountains around including Kanchenjunga and the forests. You can also see through the glass-bottom and watch the road and the landscape below.
Whether you hike or take the Sky Walk, you will eventually reach the base of the Chenrezig statue from where you need to climb several steps to finally reach up to the statue. From the base, another pathway through the forest leads to the Sanga Choeling Monastery located nearby.
Geyzing (or Gyalshing)
This is the western district headquarter of Sikkim and about 9kms away from Pelling. Transports like buses, shared jeeps, private taxis are available from here to all the major places including Siliguri, Gangtok etc. There is a 200 yard long and 10-ft high Holy Wall built in Geyzing which you should see.
Darap Village
It's a small village about 7kms on the way to Yuksom. This sleepy village is nestled on a gentle slope of the mountain and is mostly occupied by the Limboo tribe, although there are small population of other communities as well. There is nothing much to see here other than it being a photography stopover. The village is coming up as a place to have several nice home stays for tourists who can stay with local families, eat homemade food and know their culture.
Darap Village
Photo: Sharada Prasad CS, cc by 2.0
Rimbi River, Waterfall, Rock Garden
Further 5kms towards Yuksom (and about 12kms from Pelling) is the Rimbi river which is quite popular with the locals for fishing. During monsoon the river becomes wider and the current stronger, so swimming should be avoided during this time.
The Rimbi waterfall is also very popular with the tourists. The state government has developed the Sewaro Rock Garden here which is complete with rocks, pathways, pools, nice manicured gardens, view points etc. It has become a popular picnic spot for the locals. There is also a cafe here.
Rimbi Waterfall
Photo: Mayukhtintin, cc by sa 4.0
Nearby is a power station called Karchen Power House which was developed by the government in early 1970s and during the period of the last king of Sikkim. It supplied power to several areas including Pelling, Geyzing and nearby villages.
Rimbi Orange Garden
There are wonderful orange orchards around Pelling. If you visit Rimbi Waterfall, about 1km further ahead on Pelling-Rimbi road is River Orange Garden, a beautiful garden (actually more like a village set up with huts and cottages) with concrete pathway leading all the way down to the Rimbi river below with its rocky bed and lovely vista of the valley all around. During season, you can see the orange trees bearing lots of oranges in the garden... a marvelous sight!
Oranges at Rimbi Orange Garden
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Other than orange trees, you will also find cardamom and variety of flowering plants. They also cultivate potatoes, peas and other seasonal vegetables here. There is also an eatery here where you can have tea and snacks. With its calmness and greenery, this is an ideal place to spend half a day in a serene ambience. You can also buy oranges here and other organic stuff. The garden is privately owned and there is an entry fee of Rs. 10 per person.
Kanchenjunga Waterfalls
Further 18kms from Rimbi River and about 28kms from Pelling, you will reach this spectacular waterfall coming down from great heights. It's accessible from the road but a bit hidden. This is one of the most popular tourist spots in Pelling and a must see. You can easily spend an hour out here.
Kanchenjunga Waterfall
Photo: Sujay25, cc by sa 4.0
Khecheopalri Lake
A lovely lake also known as the wish fulfilling lake located near Kanchenjunga Waterfalls and on the way to Yuksom. The lake is surrounded by forests. The water in the lake remains clean all through the year. It is said that a pair of swans pick up all the twigs that fall in the water and keep it clean.
A leaf lamp floating festival is held on the lake every year on the 15th and 16th day of the first Buddhist month (February/March). This is when large number of locals come here for worshipping the lake and offer prayers.
Khecheopalri Lake
Photo: Yoghya, cc by sa 4.0
About an hour uphill trek from the lake (1.5kms) there is a monastery known as Khecheopalri Monastery from where the lake looks like that of a left footprint. There is enough car park outside the lake and you will find several stalls selling kick knacks, souvenirs etc.
Yuksom
Yuksom is a small village and located 33kms from Pelling at an altitude of 5,800ft and at the southern fringes of Kanchenjunga National Park. It means 'Meeting point of three lamas'. This is the first capital of Sikkim where three Tibetan monks met and enthroned the first King (Chogyal) of Sikkim in 1641. This was the beginning of Namgyal dynasty in Sikkim which lasted for 332 years.
You can visit and see the coronation stone at Norbugang where the first King Phuntsog Namgyal was consecrated. Yuksom is the starting point for the well known
Dzongri Goechala Trek.
Yuksom Valley
Source: Shubhamshukla585, cc by sa 4.0
From Yuksom, you can walk up to Dubdi Monastery on a hill top surrounded by forests (about 40 minute uphill walk). This is the oldest monastery of Sikkim which was established in 1701. It was the hermit cell of the lama Lhabtsun Chenpo who had the highest seat out of three monks who enthroned the first king. You can see the statues of the three lamas. Other nice places to visit in Yuksom are the Kathoke Lake and helipad with lovely views of the mountains all around.
Dubdi Monastery
Photo: Pp saha, cc by sa 3.0
Tashiding Monastery
(16kms from Yuksom)
Located on top of a hill that looks like a heart with the backdrop of majestic Kanchenjunga, this monastery is considered the most sacred in the whole of Sikkim. It was built in 1717 by Ngadak Sempa Chempo, one of the three lamas who consecrated the first king of Sikkim.
Changay Waterfalls
About 10kms from Pelling towards west is this wonderful waterfall. You can go close and sit close to it and observe the water falling from great heights and in seven different flows (and hence it's also known as seven Changay waterfalls). There is also a cafe here for refreshments and beverages.
Dentam Valley
Further 12kms towards west you will reach Dentam market area or Dentam Bazaar. Dentam is famous for the factory producing Alpine Cheese which is a product of Indo-Swiss collaboration.
Singshore Bridge
This bridge is further 5kms towards west (i.e. about 27kms west of Pelling and towards Uttarey). It takes about one hour drive from Pelling. Singshore bridge is one of the best attractions around Pelling. You will be awed by the engineering feats and wonder how could human beings make such long suspension bridge at such an altitude.
Singshore Bridge
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This suspension bridge is the second highest bridge in Asia and was opened in 1993. Walk down to the middle of the bridge and look out to the gorge below, your head will surely spin for once. You can also see the gorge through the many holes along the middle part of the bridge.
A mountain river Singshore Khola flows below. The bridge spans across 198 meters connecting two hills and the depth here is 220 meters. The place has been earmarked for Bungee jumping, however bungee jumping has not taken off here due to its remoteness.
Uttarey
The road through Singshore bridge continues towards Uttarey which is a village near Indo-Nepal border in western-most Sikkim. A trekking trail from Uttarey leads all the way to the Indo-Nepal border known as Chiya Bhanjan which takes about 1 full day's trek from Uttarey. Within Uttarey you can visit monasteries, lake etc.
Note that Uttarey is the starting point for trekking to Singalila range in west Sikkim. It has several home stays, lodges, trekker's huts and eateries.
Uttarey Eco-Tourism Development and Service Cooperative Society offers various activities including jungle safaris, nature camps, white water river rafting, village home stays, treks & day hikes, bird watching, yak safari etc. Here are the contact info: Email -
[email protected]; Mobile: 08372837455; 09593783550
When I first visited Pelling many years back, I stayed in upper Pelling in hotel Norbu Ghang... it was a smallish 4-storied hotel right on the roadside owned by the well known Sikkimese actor Danny Danzongpa. I chose the hotel because it perhaps commanded the best Kanchenjunga views particularly from its two terrace rooms at the top floor. There were only handful of hotels in Pelling then. The quiet walk of 300 meters along the road all the way to the helipad was wonderful. Pelling was so serene.
Gone are those days... over the years many hotels have mushroomed both in upper and lower Pelling, perhaps far more than what should have been allowed. Even the hotel Norbu Ghang has been converted into a full fledged luxury resort. While Pelling is now quite congested with hotels of all types, it also comes with a good side... now you have so many options to choose from.
Pelling has some unique location advantages as a tourist spot. The Himalayas and the mighty Kanchenjanga both offer splendid views to guests who stay here. Many trekkers and adventurers choose Pelling as a base from where they can go on long treks and sightseeing trips to various parts in Sikkim. The territory around Pelling is still relatively unexplored and has luscious vegetation with numerous waterfalls. When choosing a hotel in Pelling you need to know what exactly you are expecting from your trip. If shopping and touristy sightseeing is on your agenda then hotels in lower Pelling will suit you.
In case natural beauty, lush waterfalls and slightly colder climes attract you then hotels in upper Pelling would be a better choice. Eco tourism and village tourism lovers will also find good accommodation options in Pelling. Most luxury and mid-range hotels in Pelling accept cards but the budget hotels (especially those in more remote locations) prefer cash. Wi fi connectivity and TV reception may be a little dicey in the remote locations so set your expectations accordingly.
In luxury segment, Hotel Mount Pandim of Elgin group (30 well appointed rooms finished with teak floor and overlooking the Singalila Range), Norbu Ghang Resort (with wonderful view of Kanchenjunga), The Chumbi Mountain Retreat & Spa (with classy rooms & suites, its organic garden is used to source ingredients of food served) and several others are now well known ones.
In budget segment, some of the great hotels are Sikkim Aurora, Cherry Villa Resort, Newa Regency and several others. Go through
the best budget hotels in Pelling to know them all with my reviews.
Pelling is not particularly a culinary destination in Sikkim and for most part you will need to depend on in-house dining at your hotel. Having said that, there are several nice restaurants & bars here that are popular to both tourists and locals.
Melting Point is a multi-cuisine restaurant and bar serving nice Chinese, Indian and few Western items. It has inside dining as well as outdoor terrace seating with great mountain views. It's located opposite Namsaling Residency in Middle Pelling. Happy Hour is from 5pm to 7pm.
Big Chill is a multi-cuisine restaurant plus a bar located in Upper Pelling and part of the hotel Pemaling Residency and located next to the old Helipad ground. It serves a range of Indian and Chinese dishes.
The restaurant at Hotel Kabur located in Upper Pelling serves nice Tibetan food like Thukpa, Tibetan bread, cheese momos etc.
For quick munches, visit Lotus Bakery - it's a small low scale shack and run by a trust. So don't expect a comfy posh seating. Although choices are limited, the bakes are tasty. Try out the chocolate croissants and do not miss out on a cup of local tea. You will find the bakery on the way to Pemayangtse. The earnings in the bakery go towards charity.
Another one is Anjali Restaurant serving Chinese food (even Sikkimese food on advance order, try out the original Sikkimese Sisnoo dish), they also have a bar.
There are several other small eateries where you can get momos, thukpa etc as well as alcoholic drinks. You can try out the local drink known as Tongba which is a beer made out of fermented millet and served in a bamboo container along with a bamboo straw.
Pelling Weather & Best time to visit
March to May is a pleasant time to visit Pelling. Summer actually starts in May and temperature remains pleasantly cool all through summer although nights and early mornings can be quite cold even during summer. Temperature during summer can vary between minimum 3°C to maximum 30°C (although night time temperature can get to zero or even sub-zero at times). Visibility remains good unless it rains. Summer often see showers. On clear days you can expect to get great views of Kanchenjunga snow peaks during this time.
Monsoon which usually spans from Mid-June to End-September, sees widespread rains. This is not a good time to view Kanchenjunga peaks. Sky remains cloudy. July is the wettest month in Pelling with rainfall averaging to 652mm (25.7 inch). Tourist flow to Pelling becomes minimal during monsoon... however this gives an opportunity to get great deals in almost all hotels here.
October to November (autumn) is again a great time to get views of Kanchenjunga snow peaks. Average temperature of the day hovers around 7 to 8°C (with minimum 5°C to maximum 27°C). However towards end-November it starts getting cooler and nighttime temperature could go down to sub-zero. Autumn is one of the high tourist seasons in Pelling. If you are lucky, you can see snowfall during autumn.
Winter starts from December and it really starts getting cold in Pelling. Winter lasts through February. The minimum temperature (during nights and early mornings) almost always remains subzero and can easily touch -10°C. The maximum temperature during the day can go up to 12°C or slightly higher. When you wake up in the morning you can see the house roofs covered with snow. Not many tourists are seen during the winter although for snow lovers this is a great time to visit. The Kanchenjunga snow peaks are also well visible during this time.
The monthly temperature chart below is averaged over 20 years (1999-2019) and may not conform to the temperature profile of a specific year... this is indicative.
Data Source: climate-data.org
In February/March, Chaam dance takes place at Pemayangtse Monastery.
The best time to visit Pelling is between April to June (i.e. late spring and summer) and October to November (i.e. autumn) when the weather is pleasantly cool and the sky usually remains clear for great views of the mountains. July to September is the monsoon season when the sky usually remains cloudy most times and there are frequent rains.
Fare updated: March 2022
Pelling is located about 119kms from Gangtok (takes about 4.5 hours by car) and 140kms from NJP station and Bagdogra Airport (takes nearly 5 & half hours by road via Melli and Jorthang). Reserved taxis are available at both NJP and Bagdogra. A reserved small taxi fare from Bagdogra/NJP to Pelling is around Rs. 4,500.
There is also an SNT bus service in the morning (10:30am) from Siliguri (SNT Bus Stand) to Pelling... bus fare is Rs. 180 per person. There are couple of SNT bus services from Siliguri SNT stand to Jorethang in the afternoon. Few buses come up to Geyzing which is about 20-minutes (9kms) below Pelling. From Geyzing you can get a shared or a reserved cab to Pelling regularly during the day time.
Shared jeeps are also occasionally (but not always) available from Siliguri taxi stand (near Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminal) up to Pelling (Rs. 450/- per person). Note that shared cabs do not usually operate after 2pm on this route.
In case you do not get a direct shared cab from Siliguri, take one to Jorethang (Rs. 200/- per person). From Jorethang you can get another shared vehicle up to Pelling... Rs. 250/- per person (available usually till 1pm). If you don't find a shared cab at Jorethang that goes all the way to Pelling, take one up to Geyzing and then another one to Pelling. You will also get return tickets for buses to Siliguri and shared jeeps from Pelling/Geyzing.
NOTE: There are no shared taxis or buses available at Bagdogra... your only option is reserved taxi. If you want to reach Siliguri from Bagdogra, the fare is Rs. 450 - 500 for a reserved Non AC cab which can take around 30 minutes. From NJP you can get to Siliguri easily by an Auto Rickshaw (Rs. 100).
While getting to Pelling from Gangtok, other than ample private taxis from the stands, you can get shared jeeps from the Jeep stand near Hotel Hungry Jack. Usually there are three services of shared Jeeps (7am, 12noon and 1pm) from Gangtok in high season (Rs. 350/- per person). They all come up to Geyzing. From here you can get another shared taxi to Pelling. If you don't find a shared cab to Geyzing, then you can take a shared taxi up to Ravangla and then another one from Ravangla to Pelling via Geyzing.
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Visitors' Reviews/Comments
Enasree Sreemany (February 2023)
Hi Raj, I am a big fan of this forum of yours. From this forum I came to know about the Selim Hill property and I even stayed there about 6 years back. We will be going to visit Pelling in April. We will reach NJP by 10 O'Clock. My query is...
1.Is it possible to go Pelling via Margaret's Deck (how much detour will it be) and is it even logical to go to Margaret's Deck. We are returning by a 3pm train so if its more logical to visit Margaret's Deck on our way back from Pelling to NJP please inform us on that as well
2.What are the good food joints on the way to Pelling?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2023
Hi, Margaret's Deck is further ahead of Kurseong and not on the usual route to Pelling. It will require a 45km detour from NJP (additional 2 hours) to go all the way uphill to the tea lounge and then drive down to Teesta Bazaar and then continue on the usual route (NH-10). There is no great eatery on the way to Pelling... there are a few average ones in Jorethang... you can check out the restaurants at Rangeet Valley Hotel (on the main road of Jorethang) or at Aditya Hotel.
Soumen Paul (February 2023)
Hi, Is it comfortable to reach Darjeeling from Pelling via Legship- Nayabazar- Reshi Road and Jorethang Road? Thanks & Regards,
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2023
The route from Pelling via Legship and Naya Bazaar up to Jorethang is okay. However, from Jorethang, if you take the shorter route to Darjeeling via Jamuni and Tukvar (the usual route), the road is broken and has potholes in several sections... you need to ideally take a large vehicle. Otherwise, take the long route through Melli, Teesta Bazaar and Peshok Road to get to Jorebungalow/Ghum and onwards to Darjeeling.
Madan Mohan Das (July 2022)
We 3 members in my family will go to Pelling first time. We will reach at NJP by Kamrup Exp from Howrah on 29th Sept 2022 morning. Then have to shift to Pelling. What are the cheap options to reach Pelling ?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) July 2022
You can take an auto-rickshaw and go down to SNT bus terminal in Siliguri. There is an SNT bus service at 10:30am to Pelling (fare Rs. 225 per person, timings are subject to change). You can also find a shared taxi stand near SNT bus terminal (opposite Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus) and take a shared taxi to Pelling (fare around Rs. 400 per person). If you do not get a direct shared taxi (direct ones are occasional), you can take one to Jorethang or Geyzing and change to another one from there to Pelling.
Raju (March 2022)
NJP to Pelling takes approximately 6 hours. So it's very difficult to journey with little children. Can you please suggest where we might stay in a middle point overnight then we start journey next day morning to Pelling. Please advice.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2022
You can stay at Jorethang... it's a well-developed township which is little over a 3-hour drive from NJP. You will get several stay options there including hotels and lodges. At Jorethang, you can get shared or reserved taxis at the stand to get to Pelling via Geyzing. From Jorethang, Pelling is about a 2-hour drive.
Sayantan (January 2022)
Hi Raj, Thanks for the brilliantly laid out and extremely detailed guide. Can you just help me with the timings of the return bus from Pelling to Siliguri?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2022
Hi, the published SNT bus timing from Pelling to Siliguri via Gayzing is at 7:30 am, but timetables are subject to change and you should check out the timings at the bus stand once you reach Pelling.
Moutushi Dasgupta (November 2021)
Hi! Raj, First, let me thank you for this wonderful website, which has now become a guide for me to plan my travels. A one stop solution for my doubts 😇.
But this time I am really bit confused and not getting any solution for the same. So I'm writing this to get your expert advice.
We are planning to visit West and south sikkim in last week of January 2022 and this time we have very short duration. We have planned our itinerary like this:
Day 1 - Start early around 6 am from NJP (as we will reach NJP the previous night) for pelling via Temi Tea Garden - Buddha Park - Rabdantse Ruins - check in hotel at Pelling
Day 2 - after pelling Local sight seeing which will include - sky walk, darap Valley, rimbi water falls, rimbi orange garden, kanchenjunga falls, khecheopalri lake (break for lunch) then Dentam Valley, Changey Waterfalls, singshore Hanging Bridge and then reach kaluk and check into hotel at Kaluk.
Day 3 - local sight seeing at Kaluk. Stay at Kaluk.
Day 4 - check out from hotel, leave for NJP via Char Dham Temple Namchi. We are having our return train at 8pm from NJP.
Now, as you might have realized that our plan is a bit unusual one with such a short span of time, would like to get your valuable suggestion on the feasibility of the same. Also if you can give some idea of the weather and temperature during the mentioned period at Pelling 🙏🏻.
Thanks in advance.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) November 2021
Hi, your plan is hectic but doable... you need to keep a close watch on your time at each place you visit. You should book a Sikkim registered car in advance through an operator... the local taxis at NJP will not be able to do the sightseeing in Sikkim (note that West Bengal registered vehicles are not allowed to do sightseeing in Sikkim and neither they are capable of doing so).
On day-2, you are trying to visit many places... depending on how you are doing, you should be ready to let go of one of these... Kanchenjunga falls, Khecheopalri Lake, or Singshore bridge in order to be on track. Note that in January, the sun sets by 4:45pm in Pelling and it gets completely dark by 5pm.
In January, it will be generally sunny. The daytime temperature in Pelling can vary between 3 degrees to 10 degrees Celsius in January, while the nighttime temperature almost always remains subzero (can come down to -10 degree C). Good luck!
Sunand (October 2021)
Hi Raj !! I'm planning to take my self driven car from kolkata to Pelling via Siliguri. I have a Chevrolet Enjoy car, I have little experience of driving in hills but small ones in Maharashtra. My date of travel would be 11th Oct 2021. I wanted to know about the road conditions and which route do you suggest ??
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) October 2021
You can take the main route... i.e. Siliguri to NH-10 (Sevoke road) - Teesta Bazaar - Melli - Jorethang - Legship - Geyzing and then to Pelling.
Armaan Kumar (August 2021)
Thank you for the informative guide. I have one question... jio and airtel 4g work in Pelling?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2021
Jio has no coverage in Pelling. Airtel 4G works well for most parts of Pelling. VI (Vodafone Idea) too practically has no coverage in Pelling.
Sneha (February 2021)
Hi! I am traveling solo to Pelling. I wish to cover rabdentse ruins, khechiperi lake, skywalk, Kanchenjunga fall and monasteries in Pelling. If possible I would also like to visit yuksom. Should I stay in lower Pelling to stay near taxi stand and market area? Can I cover all these locations in shared taxi or do I have to book the car. How much will the total tour cost for sightseeing in Pelling? Thanks
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2021
Hi, you won't get a shared taxi for local sightseeing in Pelling. You need to book a reserved taxi. You can stay in upper Pelling and walk down to the lower Pelling market area if required. While sightseeing fare varies depending on the season, a standard local sightseeing tour around Pelling for a full day would be Rs. 3,000 - 3,500 in a small taxi (Yuksom would be charged extra).
Shreyas (Janury 2021)
Hi, Are there shared cabs (or buses) available from Gangtok to Pelling and also from Pelling to Bagdogra airport. Is there any site where I can do an online booking for such shared cabs? If we have to reach Bagdogra airport by 3 PM to catch return flight, is it practical to take a shared cab from Pelling to Bagdogra in the morning. Or should we travel to Bagdogra on previous day?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2021
Hi, there is no online booking available yet for shared cabs between Gangtok to Pelling and Pelling to Bagdogra airport.
There is usually no direct shared taxi from Gangtok all the way to Pelling. In high season you can, however, get shared taxis from Gangtok (near hotel Hungry Jack) up to Geyzing and from there take another one to Pelling. Geyzing is only 9kms below Pelling. There is no shared taxi available from Pelling all the way to Bagdogra. Occasionally you can get one up to Siliguri. Alternatively, take a shared taxi from Pelling up to Geyzing and from there take another shared taxi or an SNT bus to Siliguri. From Siliguri, you need to take a reserved taxi to Bagdogra airport.
Shared cabs may not be available at the time you want. If you can get one from Pelling early in the morning and get to Geyzing and get another one to Siliguri, then it's okay to target the 3pm flight from Bagdogra. I suggest you go down to the Pelling shared taxi stand on the previous day and enquire with the drivers about the possibilities. Otherwise, you need to either take a reserved taxi or come down to Jorethang or Siliguri/Bagdogra on the previous day.
Dipankar Das (February 2020)
Sir, please tell me if it is possible to get a car for Pelling from Manebhanjan. If so, is it a comfortable journey with family?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2020
You can get a car from Manebhanjan for a drop at Pelling. If you go via Melli, there is road repair work going on between Melli and Jorethang and some stretches of the road are not in good condition (it will take around 5 hours to reach). If you take Darjeeling/Tukvar/Jamuni route, it will be shorter (about 4 hours 10 minutes) but the road from Darjeeling up to Jorethang is in bad condition.
Nihar Kashyap (July 2019)
Dear Raj Sir, My return flight from Bagdogra is at 10:30 in the morning. And I am staying at Pelling which Google Map tells me is about 4 hours from the Airport. So will I reach the airport in time if I leave Pelling at around 5 in the morning or should I reach Bagdogra the day before my flight?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) July 2019
Pelling to Bagdogra can easily take 5.5 hours (more if there is fog early in the morning). It's better to come down on the previous day.
Priyanta Ghosh (August 2018)
Hello Raj, Thanks for sharing such information. I am planning to visit Pelling from Gangtok. If I start in the morning say around 8AM from Gangtok and then after reaching Pelling would it be possible to visit most of the places there on the same day. I plan to stay in Pelling on that day and on the next day very morning leave for Kurseong.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) August 2018
Hello, it' not quite practical. It takes around 4 and half hours to reach Pelling from Gangtok. You will effectively get the second half of the day for local sightseeing at Pelling. You can visit a few nearby attractions though.
Narasinga Rao K N (June 2018)
Hello Mr. Raj, I am planning a trip to Darjeeling and Pelling in October 2018. From NJP is it better to go to Darjeeling first and then to Pelling or the other way? For my return journey I need to be at NJP by 14.30 hrs. Can I reach NJP by this time if I start at Pelling in the morning?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2018
From Pelling it can take about 5 and half hours to reach NJP. Better you visit Pelling first and then Darjeeling. From Darjeeling it takes about 3 hours to NJP.
Mohan Tater (May 2018)
I will be reaching Bagdogra airport at 2.30 p m. Can I take a prepaid taxi to Pelling? How long it take's to travel from Bagdogra to Pelling?
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2018
Yes you will get a pre-paid taxi to Pelling. Will take about 5 & half to 6 hours.
Harwinder Singh (May 2018)
Hello...I wanted to ask you if there is any cab facility (shared or private) available for visiting various sites in Pelling like Kanchenjunga waterfalls.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2018
There are ample private taxis at the stand, but you won't usually get any shared taxi for sightseeing in Pelling.
Rahul (April 2018)
Hello Raj, Great information.. I am taking Zoom car from Siliguri and driving down to Pelling in the first week of May. Is that allowed? Are there any permits required for this or will there be any issue because of the hired car? Thank you for such a wealth of information..
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) April 2018
Yes, it is allowed. There is no permit required in Pelling for Indians.
Kausik Mitra (February 2017)
Sir, I want to go first from NJP to Gantok and then to Pelling and from Pelling to Darjeeling.
Please advice bus/ taxi services that may be available from Pelling to Darjeeling. Thanks.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2017
Private taxis and occasional shared taxis are available between Pelling and Darjeeling.
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