Probably the most visited place in Sikkim after Gangtok, Pelling is located at the foothills of the Himalaya mountain range. From an altitude of about 7200 ft, Pelling provides stunning views of the Himalayan peaks in general and Mount Kanchenjunga in particular. Pelling is a very scenic hill station.
Getting to Pelling from Gangtok
Pelling is about 130 kms from Gangtok by road. It is a circuitous route, passing via Kalimpong. The driving time is ~4 hours. There are couple of alternate routes but I was told the Kalimpong route is the fastest.
On the way, do stop at Ravangla for the Golden Buddha statue.
To Pelling from Bagdogra or Darjeeling
From Bagdogra, one can take a deviation at Kalimpong and drive directly to Pelling. There is no need to visit Gangtok. Alternatively, Darjeeling can be combined with Pelling, instead of Gangtok.
What to see in Pelling
Absorb the beauty of snow capped mountain peaks
The best option is to book a hotel that offers a view of the Himalayan peaks. At the hotel, I thought I would be the only one to sit comfortably in the lawn, pick up an easy to read novel, a drink and some snacks and alternate between watching the mountain peaks and reading. I found many foreigners doing just that! But hardly any Indians, so I was right when it came to fellow citizens!
Normally, the sky around the tall peaks is always cloudy but does clear once in a way. The hard part is nobody knows when. I had to be very patient.
How to identify the peaks?
There was fair bit of confusion as to which peak was Mt Kanchenjunga. There are a few peaks visible some of the time. I always thought I had viewed the third highest peak in the world on Day 1 itself. But no, I learnt later what I had seen were Kabru N and Kabru S. But on the day of my departure, Mt Kanchenjunga was visible in all its glory in the morning.
The hotel I stayed in had a map of mountain peaks visible from Pelling. Else, google is always available!
Several Himalayan peaks are visible from Pelling on a clear day. The ones above 7,000ft. or 23,000 ft. are as follows:
- Kanchenjunga, the only one above 8,000m
- Talung
- Kabru N
- Kabru S
But most of the days, you will end up seeing what appears in the first photo below.
Mountain peaks hidden by clouds, Pelling, Sikkim View of Kabru N and S, Pelling, Sikkim Mt. Kanchanjunga, Sikkim, India
What else?
Apart from enjoying the stunning views of the Himalayan peaks, there are a few sightseeing options that may be considered. Wherever I went around Pelling, the views of the mountainous region were just great and soothing.
- Pemayangtse monastery, a very old but small monastery located 9kms away(very close to the hotel I stayed in)
- Rabdentse ruins, located near Pemayangtse monastery
- Khecheopalri lake, 32 kms away, on way to Yuksom
- Chenrezig statue which is 137 ft tall, the skywalk which feels a bit out of place and Sanga Choeling monastery. Located about 7kms from Pelling.
- Couple of waterfalls(Kanchenjunga and Rimbi for example) though they are not spectacular but nice place to sit around
- Sewaro rock garden, nice place to stroll around.
- Singshore suspension bridge, 28kms from Pelling. Over 600 ft above the ground.
Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling, Sikkim View from Pelling, Sikkim Pemayangtse Monastery, Pelling, Sikkim Kanchenjunga Waterfalls, Pelling, Sikkim
Day trip from Pelling
It is actually possible to do a day trip to Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve as it is only ~35kms from Pelling, though the journey will take an hour. The reserve is rated to be one of the best in India. The altitude varies from 4000ft. to 28,000ft., within an aerial distance of 42kms.
But the best way to enjoy the beauty of KBR is by trekking, including a trek to the base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Depending on the route, the treks can take few days. Permits need to be obtained and the treks normally start at Yuksom.
How many days in Pelling?
I think 2-3 full days is good enough for many of us who are happy after visiting the key sights. Maybe a day more if you wish to visit Kanchenjunga Bioshpere reserve and do not want to be rushed. But if you want to simply have a relaxed vacation and are fond of mountains, you can easily stay longer. But remember, lack of clear weather may play spoilsport.