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West Sikkim |
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Pelling : Over the last few years, Pelling
somehow seems to have developed into a hub of
tourism activities in West Sikkim. Till as recently
as 1996, Pelling was a nondescript village with a
few houses. But over the last few years, it has
undergone a sudden metamorphosis. Up class hotels
and fast food centres offering continental,
Sikkimese and South Indian dishes have mushroomed.
What was prompted this rapid development in perhaps
 Pelling’s
vantage location as a take off point for Pemayangtse
monastery, Kecheopari Lake, Yoksum, Dzongri,
Tashiding and the Changshey, Kanchendzonga and
Fambrong waterfalls and the Shinshor Bridge. The
area a few kilometers away from Pelling offers
wilderness and solitude and is ideal for taking
walks. The Pelling area has developed into a
separate tourist destination with many tourists
preferring not to include Gangtok in their itinerary
perhaps because of the hustle, bustle and the noise
of the capital.The Government run Mount Pandim
(03595-250855) at Pelling near Gyalshing is an up
class hotel. Hotel Fambrong (03595-250660) and Hotel
Norbugang (03595-250556) also have well appointed
accommodation. For hiring taxis fro Gyalshing for
Yoksum and other places, one-way contact M/S Biju
Chhetri (03595-250673) at Gyalshing Bazar |
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Pemayangtse Monastery,
Rabdantse Palace Ruins and Sanga Chelling Monastery
: Pemayangtse
 monastery
at an altitude of about 2105 m (6840 ft), is
situated about 6 kms from Gyalshing town and less
than a kilometer from Pelling. It is the most
important monastery of the Nyingmapa order and was
first built as a small temple in the late
seventeenth century by Latsun Chembo. Later
duringthe reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor
Namgyal, Jigme Pawo who was the third reincarnate of
Latsun Chembo extended and rebuilt the structure in
the form of a big monastery. The main hall of the
monastery has an area of about 180 square meters.The
monastery houses numerous religious idols and other
objects of worship, most of which are priceless
because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the
monastery there is a wooden sculpture potraying the
Mahaguru’s Heavenly Palace Sangthokpalri. The main
dance of the monastery is on the 28th and 29th day
of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, normally
corresponding to the month of Febraury three days
before Losar. A particularly impressive Chaam is on
the second day that of the god Mahakal-a huge 8 feet
high effigy. The highlight of the third day is the
unfurling of a huge thanka, the largest in Sikkim,
depicting Sakya Muni the living Buddha, at the
entrance of the monastery.Rabdantse, which is a
couple of kilometers from Gyalshing bazaar and near
the Pemayanste Monastery, was the second capital of
Sikkim and was established in the late seventeenth
century by the second Chogyal of Sikkim. It was
abandoned towards the end of the eighteenth century
because of the threat posed by the Nepalis and the
capital was shifted to Tumlong. The
Rabdanste Palace is in ruins and one has to trek
about two kilometers from the main road near
Pemayanste Monastery through a thick forest to reach
it. The chortens around the palace have however
withstood the elements of nature. The ruins are now
being preserved by the Archaeological Survey of
India and have been declared as a monument.Sanga
Chelling Monastery, considered the oldest in Sikkim,
lies amidst a thick-forested hill top opposite the
Pemayanste Monastery towards the west. Less than a
kilometer ahead of Pemayanste on the road to Yoksum
is Pelling and it is from here that one starts
walking to this monastery. The track is wide and
moderately steep and it takes about half an hour to
reach the monastery from Pelling. Just adjacent to
the Pemayantse Monastery is Mount Pandim Hotel
suited for the upper class tourist. For tourists on
a low budget, cheap but comfortable accommodation is
available at the Gyalshing bazaar. Daily bus
services are available from Gangtok for Gyalshing. |
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Kechopari Lake : Kecheopari
Lake at an altitude of about 1951 m (6400 ft) is
located on a bifurcation on the road
 between
Gyalshying and Yoksum. Kechopari means the Wishing
Lake. The water in this lake is placid and crystal
clear. Not even a leaf can be seen floating on the
water surface although there is a beautiful dense
forest above the lake. It is said that if a leaf
drops on the surface of the water a bird picks it. A
trekkers’ hut has been built near the lake for the
convenience of the tourists. An hour’s walk uphill
from the lake takes one to a holy cave and a further
one hour and a half walk uphill takes one to the
highest point overlooking the lake and offers a
bird’s eye view. The lake looks like a footprint
from here.A ten minutes walk uphill walk from the
lake is the Kechopari Monastery situated amidst a
large stretch of flat land. A stupa, which is a
replica of the Swayambunath temple in Katmandu,
flanks the monastery. This is perhaps the only
monastery in Sikkim that has such type of a stupa. |
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 Kanchendzonga waterfall :
The Kanchendzonga waterfalls are located about 15
kilometers away from Pelling on
the way to Yoksum. The thunder of the icy cold water
cascading down the granite rocks resounds in the
surrounding. The sound is so loud that it is
impossible to hear each other. A mist of water
droplets from the waterfall lies suspended in the
air and this can make your clothes cold and moist. |
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Yoksum, Norbugang, Kartok lake
and Dubdi Monastery : Yoksum is situated 33
kilometers away from Pelling.
 The
first king of Sikkim was coroneted here on the
throne made of stones close to the Norbugang
monastery and the chorten. The footprint of one of
the lamas, Latsun Chembo, who consecrated the king,
can also be seen close to the throne. The small but
beautiful Kartok Lake is also situated in Yoksum and
is a nice place to spend a quiet moment. About a two
kilometers walk uphill from Yoksum is the Dubdi
Monastery, which is the oldest in Sikkim. Besides
the trekkers huts, which can be booked through the
Kanchendzonga Conservation Committee Hotel Tashigang
as well as many other hotels, offer good
accommodation. Yoksum is a takeoff point for treks
to Dzongri. |
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Fambrong waterfall :
Though not as majestic as the Kanchendzonga
waterfalls, Fambrong does offer a spectacular sight.
These waterfalls are located about 10 kilometers
away from Tashiding towards Yoksum. |
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Tashiding Monastery : This
is another important monastery belonging to the
Nyingmapa order and is about 40 kilometers from
Gyalshing by road via Legship. It lies nestled on
the top of a hill that looms up between the
Rathong River and the Rangit River and is surrounded
by a profusion of prayer flags that flutter in the
air. There are also many chortens dedicated to some
Chogyals and other religious personalities of
Sikkim. Carved skillfully on stone plates
surrounding the monastery are holy Buddhist mantras
like “Om Mane Padme Hum” by the master craftsman
Yanchong Lodil.Ngadak Sempa Chembo built the
monastery in 1717 during the reign of the third
Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal. The sacred ceremony of
Bumchu is held here at midnight of the 14th and 15th
of the first Tibetan month. A brief description of
this festival is given elsewhere in this book. There
is a bus service from Gyalshing to Tashiding. A
trekkers hut is available for the tourist at
Tashiding. |
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Changey Waterfalls : These
waterfalls are located about 10 kilometers from
Pelling on the road to Dentam. |
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Singshor Bridge : This
suspension bridge is located about 25 kilometers
from Pelling and about 5 kilometers
 ahead
of Dentam towards Uttarey. The bridge has been built
over a gorge that is about a thousand feet deep. The
building of this bridge was an engineering feat
indeed. |
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Shri Kiriteshwar Temple,
Legship : Situated at Legship (16kms from
Gyalshing on the Gangtok-Gyalshing highway). On the
banks of the River Rangit, this Hindu temple is
dedicated to God Shiva. It is said that many years
ago a rock in the shape of a Shiv Linga miraculously
appeared at the base of a tree. The temple has been
constructed at this very spot. The temple complex
also houses a Dharamsala (living accommodation for
worshippers) and a community kitchen.The temple is
fast developing into a favorite stop over point for
tourists going to Pelling and Yoksum. |
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Purchacu Reshi Hot spring:
These hot springs are located about 25 kilometers
from Gyalshing near Reshi on the River Rangit. One
has to walk about ten minutes from the highway
across the River Rangit by a pedestrian bridge to
reach the hot springs. The water of these springs
has medicinal value as it contains sulphur and can
cure some skin diseases. People from all over the
state and neighboring Darjeeling come here during
the winter months and spend days together lying
submerged in the soothing water of the hot spring.
There are a couple of trekkers’ huts for the
convenience of the tourist. These springs also
considered very holy, as one of the four caves is
located here. This holy cave is called Kadosang phu
or cave of the occult fairies and lies on the south
of the four cardinal points. Although approachable
from West District, the hot spring and the cave are
in fact located on the border of South District. |
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Kongri Labdang: Around
Tashiding, there are also couple of other
attracrtions like Sinon Monastery,, Hungri Monastery
and Pao –Hungri. The Paha khola falls on the way to
Kongri complimented by the wild beehive on the side
of the falls is worth a visit. is worth a visit.It
is also an important point for trekkers visiting
Kastura Orar near the dzonri trail. Besides, Jhang
Lhari Nyingpo, on of the most sacred caves of Sikkim
can also be visited from Labdang |
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Other Attraction in West Sikkim |
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 Rinchenpong
Kaluk: Rinchenpong is one of the most beautiful
villages in the state and it commands probably the
best view of Mt Kanchenjunga and its ranges in the
state.The drive to Rinchenpong takes about 1 and
half hour from Pelling touching small towns of
Dentam and Kaluk. Located at an altitude of 5576 ft,
Rinchenpong is a forest and a buffer zone of Barsey
Rhododendron Sanctuary. The area is gifted with
abundant natural resources and has got a significant
historical, cultural and religious importance |
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Recommended Stay: 2 Nights |
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 Accommodations: Range: Rs.
400 to Rs.1800. There are few small resorts in
Rinchednpong:, You may check with Rinchenpong
Village resort or Mandarin resort which provides
decent accommodation and services. |
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Recommended activities:
Village walks. Full day hike to around Rinchenpong
covering Resum Monastery/ Rinchenpong Monaster–
statue of Ati Buddha with a Lady/ Tagor’s ViewPoint
/ Lepcha Heritage House / Lepcha village/ Hati
dhunga / Rinchenpong Lake/GairiDara / Gangyup and
Boom. |
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Hee Bermiok: About one and
half hours drive from Pelling, Hee Bermiok is a base
for visiting, Versey Rhododendron Sanctuary. It also
has couple of attractions like Historical Sirijonga
Yuma Mangheem, Sirijonga Holy cave and lots of
nature village walk options Adventure lovers can
enjoy two and half hour trek to Versay. Impressiver
village tourism facilities are being developed here
with help of INTACH, New Delhi. |
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 Versay : It lies at an
elevation of 10,000 ft. and has a motorable road
access upto Hilley. An easy 4 kms trek from there
takes one up to the Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.
One can also trek from Soreng or Dentam in West
Sikkim. The place provides a magnificent view of the
mountains. Visitors can halt at beautiful Guras Kunj
trekkers hut. hut. |
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