Pelling, Sikkim
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Pelling, in Sikkim’s captivating mountains, is a charming hill town with an unmistakably quaint, natural charm. Pelling is the ideal location for a laid-back vacation with easy country walks and plenty of locations for adventurous activities like trekking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. It is a stunning tourist destination with breath-taking views of the Himalayas and the snow-capped Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga), the third-largest peak in the world. This hill town is a natural paradise, with charming houses perched atop a wooded ridge and surrounded by spectacular natural forests. According to Buddhist texts, the word “Pelling” refers to the religious body established by Pema Linga, the discoverer of old Tibetan texts. The cosy tourist town is also home to many notable Buddhist monasteries. The annual Khangchendzonga Festival, which includes kayaking, promotional trekking, traditional sports, birdwatching, and white-water rafting on the Rangit (Rangeet) River are a major draw in this area. The festival also features a flower exhibition, a vibrant event with a number of stalls selling costumes, ethnic food, and traditional crafts.
Nearby Places to See
Singshore Bridge
The Singshore suspension bridge, which spans two gorges in western Sikkim, is thought to be the tallest bridge in the nation and the second-tallest in Asia, with a height of more than 100 m. This architectural marvel is about 200 metres long and is conveniently located 25 kilometres from Pelling. The bridge provides a breathtaking view of the beautiful surroundings. The landscape is mesmerising in its beauty and tranquillity, with gushing waterfalls dotting it and a winding stream crisscrossing it.
The Singshore suspension bridge, which spans two gorges in western Sikkim, is thought to be the tallest bridge in the nation and the second-tallest in Asia, with a height of more than 100 m. This architectural marvel is about 200 metres long and is conveniently located 25 kilometres from Pelling. The bridge provides a breathtaking view of the beautiful surroundings. The landscape is mesmerising in its beauty and tranquillity, with gushing waterfalls dotting it and a winding stream crisscrossing it.
Rabdentse Ruins
Rabdentse served as the Sikkim kingdom’s second capital from 1670 to 1814. The monastery and palace that once stood here were destroyed during an invasion by Nepalese Gorkhas. What is currently visible is what the attack left behind. Later, the monastery was rebuilt, and it is now a stunning building. However, the ruins of Rabdentse continue to stand as a symbol of the devastation. It takes 9 kilometres to get to the monastery from Pelling. The ruined site of the palace, which is situated at the edge of a lovely ridge with a picturesque valley below, is 2 kilometres uphill from the monastery.
Rabdentse served as the Sikkim kingdom’s second capital from 1670 to 1814. The monastery and palace that once stood here were destroyed during an invasion by Nepalese Gorkhas. What is currently visible is what the attack left behind. Later, the monastery was rebuilt, and it is now a stunning building. However, the ruins of Rabdentse continue to stand as a symbol of the devastation. It takes 9 kilometres to get to the monastery from Pelling. The ruined site of the palace, which is situated at the edge of a lovely ridge with a picturesque valley below, is 2 kilometres uphill from the monastery.
Pemayangtse Gompa
This three-story monastery, one of the most renowned in the state of Sikkim, was constructed in 1705 for Ta Sangs (pure Tibetan monks). A sacred statue of Dorje Phagmo (Vajra Varahi) is housed in a small religious building close to the entrance and was given to Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal as a wedding present by Terton Terdag Lingpa of Tibet. Guru Drakilometresar Chham is the main festival held here. With more than 100 monks at present, the Pemayangtse Monastery is considered the parent of all the monasteries following the Mindrolling lineage in Sikkim.
This three-story monastery, one of the most renowned in the state of Sikkim, was constructed in 1705 for Ta Sangs (pure Tibetan monks). A sacred statue of Dorje Phagmo (Vajra Varahi) is housed in a small religious building close to the entrance and was given to Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal as a wedding present by Terton Terdag Lingpa of Tibet. Guru Drakilometresar Chham is the main festival held here. With more than 100 monks at present, the Pemayangtse Monastery is considered the parent of all the monasteries following the Mindrolling lineage in Sikkim.
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