Sightseeing in Pelling

DeepPavi

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Hi,
We are reaching Pelling on 1st May 2 PM and plan to leave next day at 10 AM. Can you sugegst us the way to plan sightseeing in Pelling. We have only this much time at hand as 2nd day we need to return to Gangtok(supposedly 3.5 hours from Pelling) and visit local sightseeing there.

Mod Note

Hi DeepPavi. Found you multiple questions about sightseeing in Pelling in various threads (most of which were in threads over a year old). Have created a new thread here so that hopefully you'll get more replies (and as a result - have removed your other posts).

ambar_81

I don't know how you can manage sightseeing with only this much of a time. Actually sightseeing of Pelling occurs in two halves. The first half includes Kanchenjunga Falls, Khechiperi Lake which is near Yuksom. And in the second half they takes to Pemyangtsy Monastery, Rabdentse and Helipad. So you can only manage this second half tour. But I'd suggest an extra day in Pelling,otherwise Pelling tour is of no means.

DeepPavi

Hi Ambar,

Thanks for your update!!

Can you tell me the approx time needed to cover each half.
Can i manage 1st May 2nd half with Pemyangtsy Monastery, Rabdentse and Helipad?
On 2nd May how long it will take to see Kanchenjunga falls and Kheciperi lake. I have to leave Pelling by 10 AM otherwise I will miss Gangtok places.

fsg

You do not say by which method of travel you will be taking, private or share jeep, but each will take the same time, just depends on connections.

From Pelling to Geyzing 1/2 hour, Geyzing to Gantok at least 4 hours, some of the roads are in pretty bad condition, potholes, breakdowns, at least the mud slips should have dried up by now.

This is very hilly country, up one valley and then down the next.

It all takes time.

Timetable accordingly

DeepPavi

Hi,
I will take a shared jeep. Is Geyzing the place where monasteries are there?
How far will be the Kanchenjunga falls.

I will tell you my itinerary and need help in phrasing them:-

a) reach NJP on 1st May 7 AM. Start for Pelling reach by 1-2 PM.

Plan for local sightseeing that day:- (1)
b) Get up for Kanchenjunga Sunrise scenary and if any sight possible by 9-10 AM...(2)
Leave for Gangtok by 10 AM.

I want to see Pemayangtse monastery, tashiding monastery,khechipiri lake and yuksam if possible.Any other places in Pelling that i missed?

Can you tell me which places fit in (1) and (2).

fsg

Arrive at 2pm and leave next day by 10.....................wow.
By share jeep to Kechoperi as well, they only go once a day, and sometimes dont return to Pelling either. That is out

You will only be able to fit in the monasteries/ sunrise, hope the weather is good.

By share jeep you have to wait till they are full, or timetable.

I do not have the times Pelling to Gantok, 110 km.
I have a note of time from Gantok to Mangan, 70k appx 2.5 hours, so do your own sums, and allow for delays

tacita

deepPavi, i replied to you in post #26 in this thread. if you rise early, you can hike up to sangha choeling in the morning before your 10 am departure from pelling. if you can arrange to make a few stops on the way to pelling, i think you can make it worthwhile, even with so short a time in pelling itself. after all, there's not really anything to see in pelling; rather, the sights are around it, at varying distances. you can make stops near pelling en route to gangtok, as well. check my posts in the other thread for some ideas in that regard to see if they may help.

__________________
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DeepPavi

HI,
Is kechoperi lake a one day trip? Then will have to leave as I am bound by time factor. I need to return to Gangtok that day for its local sight seeing.
So, you suggest the monasteries only will be a best fit along with few waterfalls.

tacita

Deep, can you please clarify what you mean when you say "return" to gangtok? i understood from your earlier posts that you'll be going from NJP to pelling to gangtok. or have i got it wrong?

DeepPavi

Hi,
My plan as of now is:-
1st May:- Reaching NJP at 7 AM. Start for Pelling by 8 AM and should reach there by 1 PM. So, the 2nd hald free for local sightseeing.
2nd May:- Morning wake up for sunrise view and Kanchenjunga point.Leave Pelling by 1-2 PM. Can i make good Kanchenjunga falls and Khechopori lake in 1st half this day?
Will reach gangtok by evening 7 PM. Can Rumtek Monastery be seen in the way?

DeepPavi

Hi Ambar,

My revised plan now gives me 2 full half days in Pelling.

1st May (Thursday):- I will be in pelling by 2 o clock.
2nd May (Friday):- I have postponed my departure from Pelling to Gangtok to 2 PM.


Which day will be ideal to visit Kanchenjunga Falls, Khechiperi Lake?
I hope the other day i.e Friday I can visit the monasteries and cover up fully.

tacita

you can stop at rumtek on your way to gangtok, depending on the time. check the open/close hours to see by when you'd need to be there.

see my posts here for some thoughts on sightseeing along your driving routes and around pelling. again, you need a map to see what's where. i started a thread in this subforum suggesting a very good road map and there are others mentioned around here as well.

DeepPavi

Hi Tacita,

Your report was quite informative. Based on which i have formed a blueprint of my trip to Pelling.Please add if I missed any major places and advise on time feasibility:-

1) Reaching Pelling on 1st May by 1 PM.
After Lunch by 2 PM will start for local tour:-

Targetting these this day:-
a) Pemayangtse monastery
b) Rabdenste ruins
c) Khecheopalri lake
d) hollow rock

2) 2nd May morning:-

a) Kanchenjunga view of sunrise
b) Kanchenjnga falls
c) Tashiding monastery


Return that day afternoon to Gangtok enroute Rumtek Monastery.

I am actually unaware of the spots distance in Pelling. So, can you rephrase them for 1st may and 2nd May to make trip feasible.

mousourik

Khechiperi lake and Kanchenjunga falls are on the same route - so no point in making two different trips. Club those two in the morning tour. We went there in 1997, don't know whether communication has improved or not. But it's advisable to hire a jeep on your own, you can always find some more tourists at the hotel who can join you in the same car. Consider Sangha Cholin monastery trek in the first day afternoon - it's app. 2 kms but you'd love it.

jaekae

Hi Deeppavi,
I'd been to Pelling earlier this month; club your visits as follows:

Tour A:
a) Pemayangtse monastery
b) Rabdenste ruins

Tour B:
a) Khecheopalri lake
b) Kanchenjunga falls
c) Rimbi falls & rock gardens

If you want to leave by 10am, then you must do Tour B on 1st May (Thurs) - like others have said, I'm not sure if you'll get a shared jeep at 2pm, but if you're ready to rent one by yourself, it'll cost around Rs.800 for that. Nothing great about the Falls, but Khecheopari lake is a must-see. Rimbi is on the route there; skip Kanchenjunga falls if you're short on time.

If you're waking up to see Kanchenjunga at sunrise, then you will be up by 5 - so you can do Tour A and leave by 10. Infact, Tour A will be a good walking tour (at most 3-4 hrs total) from Pelling, so you can still leave at 10am. Ofcourse if you go by jeep, you'll take much less. I'd say Rabdentse is beautiful, be sure to go there!

If however you can't do tour B on 1st, do tour A (in which case it'll be quite a relaxed evening) and do tour B on 2nd morning; but in that case, you'll be back only around 1:30 to Pelling. I doubt you can do Yuksom in either case.

However be prepared for the driving (that is a 60km round trip). Tour B is about 60km round trip. And whether you do it on 1st or 2nd, this 60km is in addition to a 120 km trip (from NJP to pelling on 1st or from Pelling to Gangtok on 2nd). Tour A, everything is close to Pelling (within 3-4 km).


Kanchenjunga view of sunrise is not a big issue, most hotels in Pelling offer a good vieiw of that, so just make sure you are up really early for that!
Tashiding monastery, if I'm right is a detour from the Pelling Gangtok route - so I'm not sure if you can do that if you leave at 2pm.

I'm not really sure about Hollow Rock - haven't heard of it..

Hope this helps!
- JK