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.
Day trips in Pelling
- 07
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (Varsey)
A 104 sq km sanctuary on the Singalila ridge in West Sikkim, reached by a roughly 4 km walk from Hilley. Its rhododendrons bloom from March to May, and the walk is the attraction.
- Time needed
- A full day, or overnight
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- March to May for the rhododendron bloom; clear mornings give the best views
- Tickets
- Entry to Sikkim's sanctuaries needs prior forest department permission. Fees and the exact issuing counter are not published, so confirm at the Hilley check post or with the forest office in Gangtok.
- 08
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.
Temples in Pelling
- 09
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.
- 10
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.
