Gangtok or Pelling?

Radjesh

Hi
I will be reaching Sikkim on April last week. I have made a plan for the places to visit. I have 1 day in which i can either visit Tsomgo lake and Nathula pass in Gangtok or i can spend it at Varsey valley in Pelling, i dont know which one to choose. Can someone advice on which is better?


Thanks
Radjesh

jyotirmoy

I would choose Pelling

tacita

hi radjesh...welcome again to indiamike.

maps of sikkim, especially those in guidebooks, can be maddeningly deceptive, especially inasmuch as the roads are astonishingly difficult to traverse. what looks (or even is) close is, in terms of time, usually not so at all.

tsomgo lake is not in or even very near gangtok. rather, it's a day-trip from there so, unless there are other things that particularly interest you there, pelling would seem the better bet. tsomgo lake is more remote than pelling and harder to reach, though this depends, of course, from where you're traveling. if you're not otherwise going to be in east sikkim, it would be quite an expenditure of time and energy to get to tsomgo. (admittedly, i did not visit the lake because i didn't have a requisite second person to make my "group" of two for a permit. that, and the weather forbade it.)

but even setting all that aside, i could not more strenuously encourage you to go to pelling! it's stunning - especially just as the sun is rising, when the snowy peaks awaken as a deep gold, cooling to yellow and then to white within 45 minutes or so. the steep hike up to sangha choeling is also a worthy venture - near 360 degrees of grandeur from the summit. there's also quite a bit to be found near pelling, so that you can have your glorious sunrise and see some other sights as well. monasteries were my thing, but there's something for everyone. to my mind, pelling is about as lovely a destination as you could find.

the patheticly (sp?) few pix i've thus far managed to upload can be found here in the sikkim forum. a pelling sunrise is among them.

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cyberhippie

You could try Changu Lake which is a pretty impressive drive up into the mountains!

robin312007

HI rajesh

If u take my advice I would suggest u to visit Tsomgo and Nathula. Pelling is a beautiful Place but its not worth staying there for just 1 day !!!
I think its a great time (April) to visit tsomgo or Nathula. Maybe u may see frozen Tsomgo. And visiting Nathula is a great experience. U can see the Chinese Soldiers too. its windy and chilly at 14000 ft. U should not miss Nathula Pass.

But it all depends on ur Choice.

Byeeeeeeee

backpakker

Depends on what you want to see - Pelling is beautiful and serene ..Visiting nathula pass is a great feeling ..tsango may be frozen and will give you a sense of natural beauty too ..

paulomi

i will surely select pelling to gangtok. very beautiful cant discribe in words.