Best time to visit : September to May
Located on a mountain ridge and surrounded by rich alpine forests, Pelling can be the best host for some delightful holidaying experiences. The small town in the West Sikkim District of Sikkim is fast growing as one of the complete tourist places in the Northeast India. From leisure holidays and nature tours to Buddhist pilgrimage tours, adventure tours, cultural tours and festival tours, there are many ways in which the place can entertain the enthusiastic holidaymakers. Honeymoon couples too can choose the location which offers beautiful settings to enjoy intimate moments and is still far away from acute commercialization and tourist crowds. Pelling also serve as the base for many thrilling trekking trails.
Facts
Often rated as the most amazing tourist destination of Sikkim in the recent years, Pelling is admired for offering the breathtaking views of towering mountain peaks. Inhabited by people of various tribes, like Lepchas, Bhutias, Limboos and others, the town boasts of stimulating greenery, cool fresh air, terraced rice, maize and paddy fields and splendid sights of mountains, valleys, streams, lakes and waterfalls. Cultural heritage of the local residents help one enjoy the vibrant colours of folk dances, music, festive celebrations, cuisines and handicrafts. Equally invigorating are the adventure opportunities ranging from nature walks, trekking (high as well a slow altitude), rock climbing and mountain biking. At an altitude of about 6.250 ft., the place enjoys pleasant summers while the winters can be extremely cold and may accompany snowfall.
Local cuisines like thukpa and momos are mouth-watering with irresistible taste. Small and hygienic restaurants and street stall serve these delicacies. In addition, there are some good multi-cuisine restaurants and fast food joints at Lower, Middle as well as Upper Pelling. Some of them include Melting Point, Ladakh Restaurant, Big Chill, Treat, Kabur, Big Bowl and Garam Tawa. Many of them also have bars offering drinks like tongba (a wine prepared by fermenting millets).
Tourists instantly fall in love with the handmade items available at various shops in Pelling. Hand-woven carpets and shawls are the things that you would love to take home. Cloth bags, Buddhist souvenirs, paintings and wall hangings are other popular items. Bamboo produces, paper products, tribal jewellery and choktse (beautifully carved tables) should also get your attention. Kabur Curio Shop, Samten Curio Gift Shop and Wangdak’s Place are some of the recommended shopping venues.
Nearby Places:
- Legship (about 24 km.): Popular for Rangit Water World, hot springs, Khando Sang Po Caves, Kirateshwar Shiva Temple and some other popular temples.
- Rinchenpong (about 34 km.): Soothing and picturesque surroundings and vintage points offering astonishing views of mountain peaks, along with Rinchenpong Monastery, make it popular among the visitors.
- Yuksom (about 39 km.): A must visit place known for Buddhist monasteries, ancient monuments, rich biodiversity, trekking expeditions and the nearby Khangchendzonga National Park.
- Ravangla (about 49 km.): A nature’s paradise with thick forests and awesome mountain views, Ravangla entertains with attractions like hot water springs, tea gardens, pristine villages and rich culture.
- Namchi (about 68 km.): Among other nearby attractions of Pelling is Namchi which boasts of Buddhist monasteries, gompas, tea gardens, rock garden, unbound scenic beauty and Guru Padmasambhava’s towering statue.
- Rumtek (about 114 km.): Home to the world-famous Rumtek Monastery, the place also offers adventures like river rafting and has attractions like Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Gardens
Places around Pelling are simply uncountable and include Geyzing, Gangtok, Aritar, Chungthang and Darjeeling in addition to those mentioned above.