Key hubs
Pelling airport and railway station
- Nearest airport
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB) in West Bengal, roughly 135 km and 5–6 hours by road, traffic and condition dependent. Gangtok Airport (about 115 km) is an alternative. Road from Bagdogra to Pelling is steep and winding.
- Railway station
- Siliguri Junction or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal, roughly 135–150 km and 5–6 hours by road. A shared jeep service runs between Siliguri and Pelling; booking via a hotel or local travel agent is common.
- Getting around
- A private car and driver (hired in Gangtok or through your hotel) is the only realistic option. Shared jeeps run to nearby towns such as Yuksom and Tashiding, but schedules are irregular. Hiking between sights is possible but the roads are narrow and steep. Mobile taxis are limited.
How to reach Pelling by air
Bagdogra Airport (IXB) in West Bengal, about 135 km away, is roughly 5–6 hours by road on a steep, winding route; a helipad allows emergency or on-request helicopter connections to Gangtok.
How to reach Pelling by train
Siliguri Junction or New Jalpaiguri (NJP), both about 135 km away, are the nearest railheads, roughly 5–6 hours by road; shared jeeps run from Siliguri to Pelling.
How to reach Pelling by road
Pelling is about 131 km from Gangtok and 10 km from Gyalshing; regular buses link Gangtok and Pelling, and jeeps connect to Jorethang, Kalimpong and Namchi.
Getting around Pelling
A private car and driver, usually hired in Gangtok or through your hotel, is the only realistic option; shared jeeps serve nearby towns like Yuksom and Tashiding on irregular schedules.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Pelling
- Consult your doctor before travel regarding altitude (2,150 m) and the steep winding roads. Consider a slow arrival: spend a night in Siliguri or Kalimpong before coming to Pelling, and take it easy on the first day.
- Hire a car and driver for the entire stay. Roads are narrow, steep and winding; walking between sights means climbing hills and crossed by traffic. A driver who knows the roads is essential.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.