Pelling

Pelling East Sikkim

Here are a few pictures from my Pelling trip in April, 2009. Pelling, the laid back, scenic, but rapidly swelling hamlet is situated at 2,085 m above sea level about 2 km beyond Pemayangtse. Pelling is famous for the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of Khangchendzonga.

Pelling is about 133 km away from Siliguri and 125 km from Gangtok and well connected by bus and jeep services. Placid Pelling pulls most of the visitors for its representative status in history, nature and culture of the state. Situated at an altitude of 6,800 ft, including the Koktang, Kumbhakarna, Rathong, Kabru, Dom, Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Zopuno, Shimbho, Narsing, Siniyalchu and others.
Pelling itself consists of little more than a road junction, Helicopter pad and numerous hotels, creating the so-called "Bengali Boulevard", a strip of highly unimaginative identikit concrete blocks. Luckily, from most angles this development is hidden by the forested slopes and Pelling offers numerous attractive walks and hotel terraces from where one can gaze in awe at the world's third highest peak.
Pelling gives a spectacular views of the Mount Khangchendzonga, the Guardian Deity of Sikkim and the worlds third highest mountain along with other sister mountains bowing before the Godly figure in reverence. Pelling is an ideal getaway for tourists as its vicinity has numerous waterfalls, soft trek routes, villages and soothing atmosphere for all discerning.

How to Get to Pelling:

Foreigners visiting Pelling must possess an Indian visa. No special permit is required for either traveling or trekking inside Pelling. However, necessary travel documents need to be shown as and when required.
LOCAL TRANSPORT: Shared jeeps travel regularly until mid or late afternoon between Pelling and Ghezing; twice daily for Gangtok, and once a day for Siliguri. There is no direct service to Yoksum from Pelling but a daily bus leaves Ghezing and travels via Legship and Tashiding. One bus leaves Ghezing daily for Khecheopalri Lake and passes through Pelling, and two leave Pelling for Ghezing, and eventually back to Pelling.
AIR CONNECTIONS: Bagdogra Airport is km (hours) from Pelling.
ROAD CONNECTIONS: Pelling is connected with all weather metaled road with Siliguri, Kalimpong, Gangtok etc.
RAIL CONNECTIONS: Out-station trains (Indian Railways) generally come into either New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri. From there, visitors may proceed to Pelling by "Toy-Train" (journey time 6.5 to 7 hrs) or bus or taxi, Limo Van or Land Rover (journey time 3 to 3.5 hrs) to Pelling.
TOURIST CARS/BUSES: Tourist Cars, Tourist mini coaches and Taxis are available for transfer of passengers between Pelling and Siliguri/New Jalpaiguri Junction/ Bagdogra, and also for sightseeing at fixed rates and may be reserved through Tourist Bureau, Govt. of West Bengal, Pelling.

Hope you would like the photo graphs.

Any comments would be highly appreciated.