Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Pelling, Sikkim
Perched on a ridge in West Sikkim with an uninterrupted view of the Kangchenjunga range, Pelling trades Gangtok's bustle for a quieter base built around monasteries, ruins and a glass-floored skywalk.
Sep 24, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Pelling sits on a ridge in West Sikkim at around 2,150 metres, and its main draw needs no explanation once you arrive: on a clear morning, the Kangchenjunga massif, the world's third-highest peak, fills the horizon directly from town. It is a quieter, less developed base than Gangtok, built more around monasteries and mountain views than markets. Here are seven ways to spend time there.
1. Watch sunrise over Kangchenjunga
Most guesthouses and hotels in Pelling face the mountain range directly, and the clearest views typically come early, before mid-morning cloud rolls in. Several dedicated viewpoints around town are set up specifically for this, with the light hitting the snowline first.
2. Visit Pemayangtse Monastery
One of Sikkim's oldest and most important Nyingma monasteries, founded in the 17th century, Pemayangtse holds an elaborate seven-tiered wooden sculpture depicting a celestial palace, built by a single monk over several years and considered one of the finest examples of monastic woodwork in the state.
3. Walk the Pelling Skywalk and Chenrezig statue
A glass-floored viewing platform extending out over the hillside, paired with a large statue of Chenrezig, the Buddhist deity of compassion, the Skywalk is a more recent addition but gives an open, unobstructed view over the valley below.
4. Explore the ruins of Rabdentse
A short walk from Pemayangtse, Rabdentse was the second capital of the former Kingdom of Sikkim, and its stone ruins, set on a narrow ridge with Kangchenjunga behind them, are among the more atmospheric historical sites in the state.
5. Take in Khecheopalri Lake
Considered sacred by both Buddhists and Hindus in the region, this small forest-ringed lake is said to remain free of floating leaves, which local belief attributes to birds removing them as they fall. It is a roughly hour's drive from Pelling.
6. See the Kanchenjunga Falls
One of Sikkim's taller waterfalls, reached via a short walk from the road connecting Pelling to Yuksom, it runs fullest just after the monsoon, when the surrounding hillside is at its greenest.
7. Use Pelling as a base for Yuksom
Yuksom, Sikkim's first capital and the traditional starting point for treks into the Kangchenjunga National Park, lies around an hour and a half from Pelling and makes a worthwhile day trip even without continuing on to a multi-day trek.
Traveller tips
- The nearest airport is Pakyong, roughly two hours by road; Bagdogra, near Siliguri, is the larger and more frequently used gateway, around four to five hours away.
- October to December and March to May offer the clearest mountain views; the monsoon months bring heavy cloud cover that can hide Kangchenjunga for days at a time.
- Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit to visit parts of West Sikkim near the Nepal border; Indian citizens do not require a permit for Pelling itself.
- Rooms facing Kangchenjunga book out fastest in peak season; confirm the view direction when booking rather than assuming it.
Where this is
Pelling, West Sikkim