Landmarks in Pelling
- 01
Kanchenjunga Falls
A roughly 100-foot waterfall on the Pelling–Yuksom road, reached down a short flight of stone steps. It runs strongest just after the monsoon and is one of the easiest waterfalls in the area to reach.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- September–October, just after the monsoon, for the fullest flow
- Tickets
- A small entry fee (recently around ₹20) is charged at a gate near the road; the site generally opens around 8am and closes by early evening.
- 02
Khecheopalri Lake
A forest-ringed lake considered wish-fulfilling by both Buddhists and Hindus, reached by a short walk from the car park and a wooden boardwalk to the shore. Boating and swimming are not permitted.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes at the lake, plus 3+ hours' driving round trip from Pelling
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- February–March and October–November for clear weather and cool temperatures
- Tickets
- No entry fee; footwear must come off before stepping onto the boardwalk closest to the water, and boating or swimming in the lake is not permitted out of religious respect.
- 03
Pelling Skywalk & Chenrezig Statue
A glass-floored viewing platform beneath a 137-foot statue of Chenrezig, opened in 2018 on a ridge above Pelling. It's the most modern and most photographed stop in town.
- Time needed
- 45–75 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon in clear weather, October–April, when the light and mountain visibility are best
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed at the gate, with a separate, smaller fee to walk onto the glass floor; shoes are usually covered with fabric slip-ons before stepping onto the glass, and photography rules can change, so check on arrival.
- 04
Rabdentse Ruins
The stone foundations of Sikkim's second capital, abandoned in 1814, reached by a short forested walk from a signed gate on the Pelling–Geyzing road. Little remains above waist height, but the setting is genuinely quiet.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes including the walk in and out
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Clear mornings, October–November or March–April, for the Kanchenjunga viewpoint on the way in
- Tickets
- Free entry, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India; there is no ticket booth, but the site closes toward evening — check locally for exact hours.
- 05
Rimbi Falls
A multi-tiered waterfall on the Rimbi river, about 12 km from Pelling, with a rock garden and orange orchards nearby. It's an easy, low-key stop rather than a major sight.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Just after the monsoon (September–October) for water flow; November–December for the orange harvest nearby
- Tickets
- A small entry fee is usually charged for the adjoining Sewaro Rock Garden; the waterfall itself is visible from the roadside at no charge.
- 06
Singshore Bridge
At over 100 metres above the gorge floor, this is the highest bridge in Sikkim and reportedly Asia's second-highest, linking two villages on the road beyond Pelling. It sways gently underfoot.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Clear, calm days; strong wind can make the crossing feel less comfortable
- Tickets
- A small entry fee is usually charged at the approach; the bridge is a pedestrian crossing, and vehicles do not cross it.
Temples in Pelling
- 07
Pemayangtse Monastery
Sikkim's most senior Nyingma monastery, a three-storey timber-and-stone building above Pelling with a wrathful image of Guru Padmasambhava on its top floor. It anchors every itinerary in West Sikkim.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, 9–11am, before day-trip groups arrive; late February for the Chaam masked-dance festival
- Tickets
- A nominal entry ticket is sold at the gate (roughly ₹20 last checked); shoes off before entering, and photography inside the shrine rooms is often restricted — ask the monk on duty.
- 08
Sangachoeling Monastery
One of Sikkim's earliest Nyingma monasteries, set on a forested ridge above Pelling and reached only on foot or by a short ropeway. It is quieter and less visited than Pemayangtse.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours including the walk or ropeway
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Clear mornings for the views; avoid the monsoon months when the path is slippery
- Tickets
- No formal entry ticket at the monastery gate; the Pelling ropeway to the ridge is ticketed separately and running hours are weather-dependent, so confirm locally before planning around it.
Day trips in Pelling
- 09
Yuksom
Sikkim's first capital, where the kingdom's founding Chogyal was crowned in 1642 at a stone throne that still stands. It's also the trailhead for the Goechala trek.
- Time needed
- Half a day for the main sites; a night if you want to add the Dubdi Monastery walk unhurried
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October–November and March–April for clear weather; avoid the monsoon for the walk to Dubdi
- Tickets
- The Norbugang site and town are free to visit; if you plan to continue on the Goechala trek from Yuksom, permits and a licensed trekking agency are required well in advance.
