Pelling West Sikkim

Pelling was the first Sikkim capital. Located at an altitude of 6,800 feet, Pelling is popular for its panoramic view of Mount Kangchenjunga. Due to its location advantage, the region has become one of the most visited tourist places of Sikkim. Pelling is known for housing one of the oldest monasteries namely Dubdi Monastery which is located on a hilltop. This monastery was established after the consecration of the 1st Chogyal of Sikkim, Phuntsog Namgyal, in 1641 A.D. Besides various monasteries, Pelling is also famous for Khecheopalri Lake. The locals of this region believe that this Lake possesses the powers of wish fulfillment. A holy dip in the lake can fulfill all your wishes. Pelling is bestowed with beautiful lush green landscape adorned with an array of flowers and rare orchids. The experience one derives is enthralling and pleasing to the soul if one loves nature and wants to enjoy nature in its purest form. Places to visit in and around Pelling include the local monastery, the rock garden and waterfall at nearby Rimbi, the imposing double-pronged Kanchenjungha Falls, the archaic quaint Singshore Bridge, the Chhange Waterfalls, the Khecheopalri/Khechuperi Khecheopalri Lake holy to Buddhists and ancient Pemyangtse/Pemyangshi Pemayangtse Monastery. Other proximate locations to Pelling are Yuksom, Rinchenpong, Dzongri and Hee Burmiok. Other places that can be of interest on a visit to Pelling are Rumtek Monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Gangtok, Enchey Monastery, Rinchenpong, Dzongri and Hee Burmiok, hill stations like Lachung, Namchi, Rangpo and Yuksom.

Pelling is a primary location for trekkers and mountaineers who prefer to set their base here before moving on to the high altitude trek routes into the snow capped Himalayas. The culture in Pelling is highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism with several Buddhist monasteries located across the town. Tourism is recently popular activity in Pelling due to his incredible natural and cultural treasures. Pelling enjoys one of the most perennial climates in India due to its location at the Himalayan foothills with mild summers and chilly winters with occasional snow. The summer months from March to May enjoy a mild and pleasant weather with temperatures rarely exceeding 28 degrees. The monsoon months start from July and last till early September with heavy rainfalls which prohibit tourists from visiting. The winters start from late-November till February with chilly temperatures which can drop to -5 degrees during December and January with occasional snow. The only time of the year that Pelling cannot be visited is during the months of Monsoons due to heavy rainfall and risk of landslides.

The town is well connected via roads from the neighboring towns of Siliguri and Gangtok with several buses and taxis available from the bus stations. Shared jeeps are also available from Geyzing with also lies at a short distance from Pelling. The new Jalpaiguri railway station is the closest station to Pelling. The closest airport is located in Siliguri with connecting flights to most of the metropolitan cities. The best way to stay and enjoy the culture of Pelling is by arranging a home stay with the locals. Through this you can enjoy the culture and custom of the Sikkimise people. However there are several budget and luxury hotels and resorts in the town that suit most types of tourist budgets. Getting around in Pelling is mostly done on foot as heavy vehicles are not much welcome in this quaint village town.