Pelling: Mountain Views, Nature and Culture

Pelling combines views of the Kanchenjunga range with nature walks, short treks and festivals. From Pelling, you can see the mountain range that includes the world's third-highest mountain. When choosing a destination, both the landscape and activities, as well as the cultural and festival offerings that interest you, therefore play a role.

Mountain Scenery and Outdoor Activities

Pelling is well suited to nature walks and short treks. The views of the mountain range and the outdoor opportunities offer different experiences: one is a scenic experience, while the other involves being active in nature. When planning your trip, you can consider whether the panorama or walks and short treks are more important to you. This distinction can help you decide what interests you most in a destination.

Nearby Places to Visit

The Sanga Choling Monastery and the ruins of Rabdentse are near Pelling. Sanga Choling Monastery is on the hill opposite Pemayangtse Monastery and can be reached via a footpath of about 40 minutes. The ruins of Rabdentse lie off the main road and can be reached on foot from Pemayangtse Monastery. If you would like to include monasteries and ruins alongside the mountain scenery, these places offer additional points of interest nearby.

Khecheopalri Lake is 25 km from Pelling and is associated with trekking, nature photography and spiritual meditation. The surrounding area therefore also offers opportunities to pursue nature-related and spiritual interests. Together with the monasteries and ruins, these places offer a range of different themes to consider when deciding whether to stay in Pelling.

Festivals and Culture

The Khangchendzonga Festival is held annually in Pelling. Its programme includes flower exhibitions, traditional handicrafts, stalls serving ethnic foods and displaying costumes, as well as folk dances and music. Activities also include white-water rafting on the Rangit, kayaking, trekking, mountain biking, sightseeing, traditional sports and birdwatching. The individual offerings may vary from one edition to another. The festival thus combines cultural events with a variety of outdoor activities.

Nearby, traditional dances are performed during the annual Guru Drakmar Chamm Festival at Pemayangtse Monastery. The two festivals offer different options for planning a trip: the Khangchendzonga Festival is held in Pelling and features a wide-ranging programme, while traditional dances at Pemayangtse Monastery are the focus of the Guru Drakmar Chamm Festival.

Find Hotels in Pelling

Pelling has hotels and resorts to suit a wide range of budgets. This means you can choose a destination and look for suitable accommodation without assuming any particular accommodation features.

Discover more destinations: Dentam, Rinchenpong.

Go to the main travel overview: West Sikkim.