Pelling is one of the oldest places in Sikkim and also among the most beautiful ones. There are multiple amazing places that form a plethora of tourist attractions in Pelling, and they are among the most popular places for sightseeing in Pelling. We visited a couple of Pelling attractions while coming to Pelling from Kaluk. After reaching Pelling, we hired a cab to visit the remaining tourist attractions in Pelling.
If you are planning a complete trip, read our Pelling travel guide, which covers the destination, attractions and travel experience.
Pelling Sightseeing - Our Experience
We started early in the morning and went for sightseeing in Pelling. There are so many Pelling attractions that it takes a whole day to cover all of them. If you have the time, you can go for a Whole Day Pelling Sightseeing. Otherwise, you can opt for a Half Day Pelling Sightseeing, which is planned to help you see the most important tourist attractions in Pelling.
Almost all the tourist attractions in Pelling offer excellent views of the Himalayan mountain range, especially Mount Kanchenjunga, and help you spend time close to nature. This is why sightseeing in Pelling is such a favorite among tourists. There are also several places of historical interest, which form a great list of Pelling attractions that you can't afford to miss.
Here's a quick look at some of the best tourist attractions in Pelling:
- Kanchenjunga Falls
- Skywalk Pelling
- Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery
- Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park, Rabdentse
- Rabdentse Ruins
- Pemayangtse Monastery
- Tashiding Monastery
- Rimbi Waterfall
- Rimbi Orange Garden
- Khecheopalri Lake
- Singshore Bridge
- Geyzing Market
Kanchenjunga Falls, Pelling
A mesmerizing perennial waterfall is located on the way from Pelling to Yuksom, at a distance of 24 kilometers from Pelling. The melting snows of glaciers high up on Mount Kanchenjunga are considered to be the source of its waters, and it is named after the famous peak as Kanchenjunga Waterfall.
The Kanchenjunga Falls came into the limelight only in the 1990s. Before that, it remained hidden from human eyes and was not considered a tourist attraction in Pelling. As a result, it is still quite pristine, although tourists coming to Pelling or Yuksom pay a visit to this majestic waterfall.
How to reach Kanchenjunga Waterfall, Pelling
To reach Kanchenjunga Waterfall, we drove from Pelling toward Yuksom. It takes around an hour on the Pelling-Rimbi Road. On the way to Yuksom, we stopped at the side of the road and climbed a flight of about 50 stairs to reach the base of the waterfall. The waterfall remains hidden from the main road by a wall of mountains, but the magical sound of the thundering water told us that we were about to witness a breathtaking view.
Once we reached below the Kanchenjunga Waterfall, we saw the gushing waters taking a dip from a height of almost 100 feet. It has created a pool at the base. The sun rays fall on the sparkling waters to form spellbinding rainbows on the pool. We were mesmerized by this place of sightseeing in Pelling and spent a good amount of time appreciating its beauty.
Skywalk Pelling
Do you love thrill and want it to be a part of your tour to Pelling?
Pelling, the small town in Sikkim, has it in store for you in the form of the Sangacholi Skywalk, more popular as Skywalk Pelling.
The Pelling Skywalk, located just beside the Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery, is a glass-bottom bridge leading to the 137-feet tall Chenrezig statue. India's first skywalk, it gives a thrill just by walking on it.
We could view the gorge below us while walking on this glass Skywalk. It gives a feeling of free falling, and it's surely not for the faint-hearted.
Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery
When we visited the Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery, also spelled Sange Choeling Monastery, in Pelling, we were spellbound by the amazing history and the beauty of this place. Founded in 1697, this monastery in Sikkim still holds clay statues that date back to the 17th century.
Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park, Rabdentse
Rabdentse, one of the oldest places in Sikkim, is famous not only for its ruins but also for the Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park. Located on the way to the Rabdentse Ruins, this bird park has been named after Sidkeong Tulku, who was the 10th Chogyal of Sikkim.
We visited the Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park on our way to the Rabdentse Ruins. Both the ruins and the bird park share the same entry gate. The park has numerous types of birds, which include:
- Oriental Turtle Dove
- Long-tailed Shrike
- Common Cuckoo
- White-collared Blackbird
- Mrs. Gould's Sunbird
- Dark-breasted Rosefinch
- Golden-breasted Fulvetta
- Yellow-breasted Greenfinch
- Blue Whistling Thrush
- Grey Drongo
- Green Imperial Pigeon
- Whiskered Yuhina
In addition, the park has rich flora meant to attract birds of various kinds. Our visit was made beautiful by the songs of birds coming from the trees of the park. It's surely a great addition to your Pelling sightseeing list.
Rabdentse Ruins
The ancient capital of Sikkim now stands as ruins on the mountains at a distance of about 8 kilometers from Pelling. It took us only about 20 minutes to reach the gates of the Rabdentse Ruins. After visiting the bird park, we started hiking through the wild route to reach the ruins.
The hike of about 1.5 kilometers took us along a winding, narrow path through the forest. The moist soil was covered with layers of dry, dead leaves. It took us almost 30 minutes to reach the ruins from the gate.
The place really amazed us with its beauty and silence. The site wore an ancient look through the majestic pillars and age-old bricks of the rooms, stairs, and courtyard. Although the ruins have not stood the test of time in the best possible manner, they still appear pleasing and astounding against the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas.
If you don't visit the Rabdentse Ruins, your Pelling sightseeing will remain incomplete.
Pemayangtse Monastery
Located close to Pelling is the Pemayangtse Monastery, one of the six major monasteries of Sikkim. Established in 1647, it has been one of the most important centers of Buddhism in the state. We entered the monastery and went through every level of it. The shrine of Guru Padmasambhava is on the first floor and there is a museum on the second floor. After spending some time there, we roamed around the courtyard before moving ahead to the next point of our Pelling sightseeing.
Tashiding Monastery
The Tashiding Monastery is popular among Buddhist pilgrims who want to spend time close to their revered deity. One of the most important monasteries in Sikkim, it sits on top of a hill at an altitude of 1465 meters. Tashiding Monastery is the venue for the annual Bumchu (Holy Water) festival, which occurs in February or March.
Rimbi Waterfall
The mountains around Sikkim are spotted with waterfalls. You can find water trickling down the mountains like a beautiful, narrow lace here and there. A few of them become wider and wilder to attract the attention of tourists. Rimbi Waterfall is one such waterfall, which has gained popularity for its enchanting beauty.
This beauty of nature offers an excellent view to tourists and has become an integral part of Pelling sightseeing in recent times.
Rimbi Orange Garden
On our way back from Rimbi Waterfall, we stopped at a gate located right by the road. It bore the sign "River Orange Garden". This spot is also popular as Rimbi Orange Garden.
A flight of stairs took us down from the main road to the Rimbi River. On the way, we came across a variety of well-maintained, colorful flowering plants, along with trees full of blooming oranges. The Rimbi River was flowing in full strength as a narrow brook here, jumping over the rocks and skidding through the slopes of the mountain.
There are also a few shops inside the Rimbi Orange Garden. You're also in luck if you want to stay in this beautiful place amid the gardens and just beside the river.
The Orange Village Homestay is located inside the Rimbi Orange Garden. This quaint little cottage is a beautiful Pelling homestay that you can book as a lodging option.
Together, the Rimbi Orange Garden, the Orange Village Homestay, and the nimble river flowing over the rocks have become one of the popular tourist attractions and a part of sightseeing in Pelling.
Khecheopalri Lake
The car took us to a certain spot and the driver asked us to start walking along a stone-paved road to reach Khecheopalri Lake.
This lake in Sikkim is considered sacred by both the Buddhist and Hindu communities. The silence of the forest, broken only by the chirping of birds, added to the beauty of the walk. When we halted on the shores of Khecheopalri Lake, its beauty took all the fatigue of the walk away. The vast lake lay there like a Buddhist monk in meditation.
Through its clear waters, we could see the large fish that lived in the still lake. The reflections of the surrounding forest added colors that made Khecheopalri Lake even more beautiful.
Singshore Bridge
Singshore Bridge, the second-highest bridge in Asia and the highest in Sikkim, is located 5 kilometers from Pelling, West Sikkim. Situated at a height of over 100 meters, this 240-meter-long bridge is one of the star attractions of sightseeing in Pelling. It offers almost a bird's-eye view of the valley between the surrounding mountains.
Standing on this magnificent bridge, we witnessed how the lush greenery of the gorge blended soothingly with the trees on the mountains around us. Then we sat in one of the cafes just beyond the bridge, enjoying piping hot momos and coffee.
The Singshore Bridge is open every day from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. The road beyond the bridge leads to Uttarey, Sikkim, just 10 kilometers away. Uttarey is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sikkim these days, so the bridge experiences a good amount of traffic on a daily basis.
Geyzing Market
Once we were done with most of the tourist attractions and sightseeing in Pelling, we headed toward our homestay, the Martam Farmhouse. On our way, we visited Geyzing Market. It is a small market where you can buy a few souvenirs of your Pelling trip. It is a good idea to visit Geyzing Market during an evening walk in Pelling, instead of on the same day as your sightseeing plan.
Planning to stay overnight in Pelling? Explore our guide to the best hotels in Pelling.
Final Thoughts on Pelling Sightseeing
That was all for the day for us. We had planned to visit Yuksom, the first capital of Sikkim, but couldn't do it because of lack of time. It was already evening and we were quite tired when we reached Martam Farmhouse in Tikjuk, but the memories were fresh and pleasant. The next day, we left Pelling for Siliguri to catch our flight to Kolkata from Bagdogra Airport.