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Silk Route Tours & Travels

Monasteries & Kanchenjunga

Pelling and the monasteries of West Sikkim

The closest view of Kanchenjunga from any town in Sikkim, the kingdom’s first capitals, and a sacred lake in the forest.

Plan a West Sikkim & Pelling trip 5 tours

West Sikkim is where the kingdom began. Yuksom was its first capital, Rabdentse its second, and Pemayangtse one of its oldest monasteries. Pelling, the small town that grew up on the ridge between them, has the most direct view of Kanchenjunga of anywhere in the state — on a clear morning the whole range fills the window.

It is quieter than Gangtok, slower, and needs no special permits, which makes it the easiest part of Sikkim to add to a trip. We usually route it through South Sikkim from Gangtok, stopping at Temi Tea Garden and Namchi on the way.

Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA

What to see

Places worth your time

  1. 01

    Pemayangtse Monastery

    One of Sikkim’s oldest and most important Nyingma monasteries, famous for its carved seven-tier model of the heavenly palace.

  2. 02

    Rabdentse ruins

    The stone remains of the second capital of the Sikkim kingdom, reached by a short forest walk.

  3. 03

    Khecheopalri Lake

    A sacred lake in a bowl of forest, said to be kept clear of leaves by the birds. Quiet and reflective.

  4. 04

    Yuksom

    The first capital, where the first Chogyal was crowned at Norbugang in 1642, and the start of the Dzongri trek.

  5. 05

    Pelling skywalk & Chenrezig statue

    A glass walkway and a great statue of Chenrezig on the hill at Sangachoeling.

  6. 06

    Rimbi and Kanchenjunga Falls

    Waterfalls on the road to Khecheopalri and Yuksom, the usual stops on a full-day tour.

Itineraries

West Sikkim & Pelling tour packages

Every itinerary can be changed to your dates and pace. Prices on request.

When to go

Seasons

March – May

Spring

Rhododendrons and magnolias in the forest, and often a clear early morning.

June – September

Monsoon

Rain and cloud; the mountain view is rare but the forest is at its greenest.

October – December

Autumn

The best months for the Kanchenjunga view from Pelling.

January – February

Winter

Cold, clear and very quiet. Good value and good views.

Getting there

About 4½ to 5 hours from Gangtok, or around five hours direct from NJP or Bagdogra via Jorethang.

Pelling pairs naturally with Ravangla and Namchi, and onward with Darjeeling, about four hours away.

Permits & documents

No special permit is needed for Pelling, Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Khecheopalri or Yuksom. Treks beyond Yuksom into the Kanchenjunga National Park need their own permits.

From our office in Namchi

Local tips

  • Ask for a room facing the mountains. In Pelling the view is the reason to stay, and not every room has it.
  • Be up before six on a clear morning. Kanchenjunga is usually sharpest at first light, before the valleys fill with cloud.
The stone chortens of the Rabdentse palace ruins, West Sikkim
Khecheopalri lake in its forested bowl, West Sikkim
Pemayangtse Monastery near Pelling, West Sikkim

Questions

West Sikkim & Pelling: frequently asked

How many days for Pelling?

Two nights: one full day covers Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Khecheopalri and the waterfalls. Add a night at Yuksom if you enjoy history or quiet.

Do I need a permit for Pelling?

No. Pelling and the main sights of West Sikkim need no special permit.

Talk to a local

Tell us where you want to go

Send your dates and the number of travellers. We reply with a written, day-by-day itinerary and an itemised quote — and it costs nothing to ask.

Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA

Quick enquiry

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