The top cheap hotels in Pelling, Sikkim
While Pelling is now full of so called cheap hotels or homestays, not all are value buys. Many suffer from lack of maintenance, inadequate amenities and several not keeping what they even promise... for example wi-fi and bathroom geysers are often seen as show pieces in many. I have reviewed several budget hotels in the following section that try to offer better service and amenities than their competitors. However they are certainly not the cheapest because quality also comes with a price.
The search box below will offer an exhaustive list of hotels which you can sort by price to see the cheapest ones first. Go through the user reviews and amenities and then book one of your choice.
NOTE: Pemayangtse is a place located quite near Pelling and it is known for the famous Pemayangtse Monastery located there. Before Pelling came into prominence, it was Pemayangtse that was known to all mainly because of the monastery. You should also change the destination in the search box to 'Pemayangtse, Sikkim' to see more hotels in the area.
Review of the best cheap hotels in Pelling
Cherry Village Resort
As you drive up from Upper Pelling (6 km) towards famous tourist destinations like Yuksam, Rimbi and Khanchendzonga water falls, Tashiding Monastery etc. you get to a beautiful clearing near Darap. The Cherry Village resort is quite lovely and rustic looking and is 1600 meters above sea level. Incidentally this resort is a member of the Darap Eco Tourism committee that’s an organization dedicated towards the promotion of eco-tourism. If ecological conservation interests you then you would love the way the whole resort is made from locally sourced materials by the village elders. The focus is on giving guests complete respite from urban noisy life and the environment is kept clean and hygienic.
Deluxe rooms at the Cherry resort are quite comfortable though the furniture and draperies are quite basic. The charm lies in the small personal touches like the fresh and paper flowers and the furniture that’s quite interestingly looking (roughhewn and naturally sourced). The super deluxe rooms are larger and has artistically themed dark and light wood furniture with traditional upholstery.
All rooms have some common features like satellite TV, Wi Fi connectivity, room heaters, safe deposit box. Ironing board, tea/ coffee maker, mineral water bottles and pedestal fans. Guests have access to free parking, laundry facilities, complimentary newspapers and tour assistance. Medical assistance and express check in is provided on request. 24 hours hot water supply and a small hamper of organic toiletries are placed in each room.
The food in the small tastefully done up in-house restaurant is homely yet decent. They have this special tomato chilly chutney that they keep serving with everything like parantha, puri, omelette etc. and that’s really delicious. In room dining is available but if you aren’t staying in the super deluxe room then the rooms might seem too small for savoring a full-fledged meal. Though the website and the menu mentions international food options but the kitchen staff are more comfortable serving local and standard Indian food. The organic Sikkim tea that’s served in this resort is quite nice and so are the momos and thupkas.
Supply of local liquor Chaang and hookah is plentiful. Sometimes locals organize bonfires and song and dance shows. The back garden growing vegetables and spices is a nice addition to the property. Unique local activities like village life watching, milking local cows, fishing at Rimbi and even local cooking lessons are organized for tourists apart from the typical village walks and musical programs.
The manager here Mr Buddha is quite charming and regales guests with stories and songs and friendly banter. If you want to visit attractions near Darap like waterfalls, lakes etc. and would like a taste of village tourism then this can be the perfect choice for you. However bear in mind that this is a rustic setting that’s quite a distance from main markets, upper Pelling and lower Pelling.
Cherry Village Resort
Darap Pelling, Pelling, Sikkim - 737113
Phone: +91-9647820584, +91-8145707114, +91-9733235441
Summit Newa Regency Pelling
For those of you who have toured Darjeeling and Gangtok, Summit group of hotels will be a known name. The one in Pelling is comfortable, well run and typically touristy in its offering… that been said the hotel is one of the most decent accommodation options in lower Pelling. The lobby and the interiors as well as public spaces in the hotel are quite well decked up and maintained though the exterior façade is rather old and decaying.
There are two kinds of rooms here; deluxe and suites. While the deluxe rooms are smaller with separate sitting and sleeping areas… the suites are large and sprawling with elegant draperies and sofa and coffee table. The furniture is typically burnished bamboo and wood with soft accent lights. Do ask for a room with a good view as some of the rooms face the hotel backside that has unpleasant surroundings.
Some common facilities are free car parking, free newspapers, tea/ coffee maker, 24 hours room service, complimentary Wi-Fi_ in rooms and lobby generator back up and complimentary hair dryer and slippers along with select personal care toiletries in each room. There is an in house spa “Metta” for the use of guests and a dedicated travel desk along with a business center. Terrace bonfires are arranged on request.
The dining room with a bar counter is named Rabdentse after the erstwhile capital of Sikkim. There are very few standalone restaurants near Summit Newa so maybe you will be stuck to dining in at the Summit. Dinner and breakfast are generally buffet while lunch is a la carte.
On the flip side though the address mentions lower Pelling, the hotel is some distance away from the main town and the approach road isn’t that good. There is no mini bar facility in the room. Some of the staff seem amateurs and not well trained as one would expect from a big hotel brand like Summit.
However, Summit Newa still remains one of the best accommodation options in Pelling in the budget category because of its facilities, amenities and decent standard of dining.
Address:
Summit Newa Regency Pelling
Pelling Rimbi Road, Lower Pelling, Near SBI Bank, Pelling City
De Regency Pelling
The best thing about De Regency in Pelling is its location. As a guest of this hotel, you will find the major hubs of Pelling like shopping, restaurants, transportation points of Upper Pelling etc. within easy reach. There are not many economical full-fledged hotels in Upper Pelling so De Regency seems to score well.
The hotel has an in house restaurant that serves typical Sikimese, Chinese and few indian dishes…food quality is okay and prices are quite affordable. Most rooms offer nice views of the Kanchenjunga which is another advantage. The rooms on the 4th floor have excellent mountain views but you need to climb up the stairs …there is no lift. The kitchen is on the ground floor and it takes a while for the food to reach the rooms after you have ordered it. Breakfast is a staple menu every day and the staff will pack it for you in case you are off travelling early.
The rooms are of varying size …check your room thoroughly for size, cleanliness, condition of wardrobes, beds and cleanliness of bathroom before you actually take up a room. Rooms have electric kettles and multiple charging points…check whether those are working too.
True to the spirit of the hills, the staff is courteous and friendly though you might face some communication issues as they do not speak Hindi and English well. Stay here if staying near the main road is your priority and you are not looking for luxury accommodation.
Address:
West District, Pelling Rimbi Road, Pelling, Sikkim 737113
Phone: 095937 69782
Sikkim Aurora
Sikkim Aurora is a pretty niche hotel with only 16 rooms including the standard, deluxe and luxurious rooms. The location is scenic…it’s on a hilltop besides the spanking new Helipad. It’s just a few minutes away from the zero point of Pelling.
Every floor has a well maintained lobby here. There is also a conference hall, a trekkers hut, a large dining hall etc. not all rooms are mountain facing…so you have to specifically ask for a Mountain View room. There is an onsite tour desk who arranges adventure sports and trekking for guests besides arranging for local sightseeing trips.
Rooms are grouped into 3 types; super deluxe, deluxe and standard. The rooms have beautiful Sikimese décor with hardwood floors and warm colour schemes. The deluxe and super deluxe ones have private balconies with chairs where you can sit and admire the views. Common amenities in rooms include bed warmer, colour TV, free WI fi, electric kettle and complimentary breakfast. Room service is available…you will get North east/ sikimese food, Bengali food and some Chinese dishes.
The management offers a package offer which works out really well… it has accommodation, food, station transfer and pick up plus sightseeing for a flat fee…you can get more details from the website
The staff and manager are all quite polite and helpful and help guests with their travel plans.
On the flip side there are some issues like slow running geysers and most of the staff are late risers so finding people to tend to your requests in the morning can be a challenge.
The hotel is at the highest point of Pelling and the location is definitely scenic. Stay here for the view!!
Address
Karki Dara, New Helipad, Pelling, Sikkim 737113
Phone: 097322 58987
Rabdentse Residency
This niche hotel is in Pemayangtse… one of the quieter stretches of Pelling. The differentiating factor here is the serene ambience and the beautiful Kanchenjunga views. Close proximity to some noteworthy attractions like the Rimbi waterfalls, Pemayangtse monastery and Rabdentse wings is an advantage as they are just about 1 km away. The location is lower Pelling and it’s quite near the hotel Elgin Mount Pandim.
The staff and the manager here are quite helpful and do everything to make guests feel comfortable…right from offering a lift to mapping out travel plans and arranging vehicles. The king’s crown room and the knight’s armour suite have the best mountain views so opt for these if you are here. Typically, rooms on the left side of the main entrance have better views. There is no lift so choose your room accordingly. The rooms are not maintained properly and the staff though polite are slow to respond. Most rooms have separate seating area and dining table and all rooms have cable TV, wardrobe and private bathroom with geyser.
On the flip side the free breakfast is only bread, jam and tea which is totally inadequate for most guests. Rest of the items are on a payable basis and have to be ordered beforehand. It’s better to enquire about the free breakfast menu and then order whatever you want in advance. The dinner is served latest by 8.30 p.m. which is again too early and you won’t have much choice in this matter.
The Lotus Bakery is nearby and it serves really nice bakes and pastries…bring in a bagful of stuff from there and store it in your room for those emergency night hunger pangs. For medical supplies, groceries and other stuff you need to drive down to the local market at Geyzing that’s about 20 minutes away. Stay here if you don’t mind being a little unconnected to the main town and the lack of popular nearby restaurants.
Address
Palden Estate, Lower Khechopalri Road, West Sikkim
Phone: 096812 92163
Hotel Takura
Takura is not a very big hotel and neither a very sophisticated one. Yet it distinguishes itself by its excellent service standards and most guests who come here seem to convert to repeat visitors simply because they are impressed by the helpful staff and good hospitality standards. The Kanchenjunga views are good but nothing exceptional from the windows of Hotel Takura…you will find more or less similar views from nearly all nearby hotels. The hotel however has a nicely equipped terrace (offering great views of the mountain) which guests can use freely to sip coffee or munch on momos while enjoying the crisp mountain air.
The budget rooms which are in the basement are not good at all…they don’t have proper air circulation and no views. If possible, choose the rooms with an attached balcony. Rest of the rooms are okay and have decent maintenance. The staff is very friendly and chat up with guests making them feel at home. There is an in-house restaurant that basically serves local and Chinese cuisine…however food is invariably fresh and delicious though menu isn’t extensive. Sometimes the chef will customize your food for you and that makes guests feel special. There is an attached dining hall that’s well decorated.
On the flip side there are a few flaws like the geysers take a really long time to do their job and there is no electric kettle in the rooms. This hotel is towards the end of Pelling so it’s a bit far from all the major restaurants, shopping hubs and attractions. Stay here if you are looking for a peaceful time amongst homely people and don’t mind the glitches.
Address
SH-510, Pelling Rimbi Road, Pelling, Sikkim 737113
Phone: 098327 90281
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