Location: West Sikkim is yet another heaven for nature lovers and it is better to take NH-31A by road via Singtham, Rongpo, Namthang, Namchi, Ravangla, Legship and Geyzing to visit W-Sikkim. The road ends at Geyzing at 5000ft. From Gangtok to Geyzing is about 138km via Melli / Jorethang, and112km via Ravangla, both the roads end at Legship. From Siliguri to Geyzing is 122km via Coronation Bridge / Teesta bazaar / Melli / Jorethang / Nayabazar / Legship / Geyzing From Geyzing you could visit Pelling (6100ft) which is 7km away, (10 km away).

Climate

Due to its altitude and sheltered environment, the town remains a mild, temperate climatic zone all year round. Temperatures range from an average maximum of 22 °C (72 °F) in summer to an average minimum of 4 °C (39 °F) in winter. Summers (lasting from late April to June) are mild, with maximum temperatures rarely crossing 25 °C (77 °F). The monsoon season from June to September is characterised by intense torrential rains often causing landslides that block the roads and thereby access to rest of the country. Rainfall starts to rise from pre-monsoon in May, and peaks during the monsoon, with July recording the highest monthly average of 649.6 mm (25.6 in). In winter temperature remains between 4 °C (39 °F) and 7 °C (45 °F). Snowfall is in the very high altitude villages or places but foggy weather is very often.

Transport:

The nearest railhead connected to the rest of India is the station of Siliguri Jn. and New Jalpaiguri. The most convenient trains to NJP station from Kolkata is Darjeeling Mail, Kanchan-Kanya Express which reaches in the morning. There are 3-wheeler service besides taxis to travel to and fro main bus stand at Siliguri. The car takes about 4 hours to reach Gangtok from Gangtok.

The closest airport is Bagdogra Airport, 16 km (10 mi) from Siliguri. Although, the state capital Gangtok does not have an airport, it is linked to Bagdogra airport via a daily helicopter service. Air service connects Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati airport with Bagdogra. There are some hotels at bagdogra also. Due to frequent traffic dislocation caused by agitations or political problems in the hill areas or delayed arrival of flights, the stranded air-passengers may avail of these hotel accommodations instead of proceeding to wards Siliguri. There are plenty of taxis available for Gangtok from Bagdogra town / Airport.

Travelers Entry permit: The Indian tourists need not to take permit to visit the principal tourist destinations viz. Gangtok, Pelling, Rumtek, etc. Carrying of a photo ID card is advisable while traveling. However, the permit is required to obtain locally for traveling to interior places beyond the limit. The foreigners are required to obtain necessary permit.

Travel Agents in Sikkim:

The tourists may require the assistance of the travel agents to visit the places outside the town due it's timings, obtaining of traveling permit, where ever required, arrangements of vehicles, etc.

Places of interest in West Sikkim:

Geyzing (5600 ft), was known as Gyalshing even sometime ago. There are hotels, markets, video centers also. One could visit Pemayangtse (7km) from Geyzing to see the sunset and Pelling (9km) on the way to Yuksom (45km).

Pemayangtse (2076.64m) (2137m) – meaning ‘ Perfect Sublime Lotus' , from where you can have close unhindered view of Kanchenjunga and Mt Pandim, and facing an un ending chain of mountains with snowy peaks : Koktang (6147m), Kumbhakarna (7710m), Ratong (6679m), Kabru South (7338), Kabru North (7338m), Kabru Dom (6600m), Talung (7349m), Kanchenjunga (8585m), Pandim (6680m), Jopuno (5936m), Simbho (6811m), Narsing (5825m), Siniyalchu (6887m) and many others. Pemayangtse is the principal Monastery in Sikkim and it is 112 kms west of Gangtok. One of its most prized treasures is the ‘Sang-tok-palri', an elaborate and minutely detailed curving on wood by late Dungzin Rinpoche depicting the Mahaguru's heavenly ascent. Opposite Pemayangtse is a small hill, and top of it is a Buddhist Monastery, which was built probably at 1705 at the period of the 3 rd Chogyal (Chador Namgyal), is the third (2 nd ) oldest Monastery in Sikkim . It was damaged in the earthquakes during 1913 and 1960, and renovated many times. The ornately decorated monastery has big prayer hall, Thangkus, many images, brillent pieces of murals and intricate trellises. Dungzin Rinpoche, the head of the monastery, took five years to build a wooden Sangtokpalri or Paradise of the Maha Guru, on the 2 nd floor. Worshippers come from far away places during Drugmar Chham or Mahakal Dance festival is held towards off the evil, in mid – Feb (the Tibetan New Year). There the ruins of Gradients near Ting – the meeting point of the Pemayangtse – Geyzing bus route. The old dilapidated Chorten still stands there. Sikkim 's capital was shifted from Yuksom to Gradients in the later years of the 17 th century, during the 2 nd Chogyal's rule.

Pelling (2085m) is the hill of hidden paradise, mountains in a row from left to right –Koktang, Kumbhakarna, Ratong, Kabru Dom, Kanchenjunga , Jopuno, Simbho, Narsingh, Pandim and Siniyalchu, and many others. Pelling in the full moon is maddening, the rising sun on the mountains is a magic, and the mountains change colours constantly like a prehistorical chameleon. At south – west of the Helipad a narrow jungle track is bedecked with flowers, goes up for 4km and takes you within an hour to Sanga Choeling, the oldest monastery, at 9000 ft build during 1697 situated on a ridge above Pelling and the famous gompa at Pemayangtse.

Rimbi Falls is 12km away from Pelling. The Khecheopalri Lake is 29km from Pelling and 14km from Rimbi, the Holy Lake the Lepchas believe, is for wish fulfillment. The placid water (at 1820m) is surrounded by prayer flags and trees. But the water never gathers leaves, the belief is – the birds pick up any leaves floating in water. There is a small gompa by the lake side, during a festival in Feb- March devotees both Hindus & Buddhists float in the water butter lamps in small wooden containers. Fiercely rushing down from a 300ft high cleavage, Kanchenjunga Falls is an attractive sight, and its only 29km from Pelling. It is also known as Rainbow Falls for the spectrum created by sunrise in the water mist. Yuksom is 6km from here. Singshore Bridge across the second deepest gorge (198m long) in Asia hangs between two mountains. The location is Dentam , only 27km from Pelling and the river flows 678ft below, looks like a silver ribbon. Dentam is famous for the Alpine Gouda Cheese factory which is also an hour drive from Hee Bermiok.

One could see Sangay falls on the way. Across the bridge – 9km right is Uttaray , a small hamlet lost in the clouds which surrounded by mountains on the Nepal border. The gompa on the hill top overlooks a fascinating vista of mountains and Valleys. Uttaray is 10km from Varshey and 28km from Pelling. It is the favourite spot for trekkers. A walk up 1000ft at your left takes you to Kagaj gompa with its chorten and the temple of a particular goddess. The entire road goes through large cardamom plantations.

Soreng is a picturesque village with beautiful landscape. It is two hour drive from Pelling as also from Melli, and a casual trek of 10 km from Varshey. Ringchenpong & Kaluk, situated at an altitude of 1700m, it has a panoramic view of Kanchenjunga range. These 2 villages are 3 Km apart. Shared vehicles are available in day time to and fro Reshi/ Jorethang. A visit to Resum Monastery is an interesting experience. One can also trek to Khandi Danra / Melanpso, a rich forest area with various species of wild animals and birds. Hee Bermiok is one and half hour journey from Pelling where the main attractions are the mountain biking, nature walk, Sirijonga Holy Cave at Martam.

Yaksum the holy meeting place of three lamas, the beautiful valley of Yuksom was the first capital of Sikkim in the past. It was from Yuksom that the Nyingma-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism started spreading in the state. It takes 4hours from Geyzing via Pelling, and is a small hamlet of the Nepalese, Lepchas and Bhutiyas. The Chogyal dynasty was established in 1641 at Narbugang in Yuksom, and later in 1670 the capital was shifted to Gradients The remnants of the Coronation Throne of the 1 st Chogyal of Sikkim (Chogyal Phenstok Namgyal) lie even today under a legendary tree by the side of Karthok Lake, this mystic, shaded place is down on the way to Geyzing from Pemayangtse, Pelling. The throne was made of clay and stones that came from different parts of Sikkim . A chorten has been built in Narbugang, Dubdi the second oldest monastery (1701), is on the top hill. Yuksom is a trekker's paradise.

Dzongri (3939m) is a sheer dream, 14km on your left is Goecha la Pass, fierce cold wind from Kanchenjunga sweeps over all the time. The best time for a trip to Dzongri is Feb-May and Oct- Dec, Walk through a splendid nature from Yuksom to Bakhim of 9000ft (16km), 2km ahead is Tsokha at 10000 ft. It is the last human habitat with hardly one hundred Tibetans. At its north are the five proud peaks of Mt Pandim. An 8km trek for another 5000 ft take you to Dzongri, it stands face to face with Dzongri Peak . The way up to Tsokha is a steep ascent, full of Leeches and more than 20 species of rhododendrons welcome you by the road side. Trekkers often make it up to Mt Pandim (6890m) from Dzongri, and another trek of 8km to Thansing (12600ft) is about 4 hours, from Thansing you may trek for another 6km to Samiti Lake (14000ft), a stretch of clear blue water, 2km above Samiti is Zemathang . You feel as if you can stretch your arms to touch Kanchenjunga . There is also a 28km jungle trek to Rathong Chu and Parakh Chu, you may also trek to Tashiding which is 19km away. On the way are Narbugang Chorten (1km), one of the oldest and beautiful monastery built in 1642 at Dubdi (4km) located above Yaksam the place where the first coronation took place among verdant forests, and Phamrang Falls (5km).

Tashiding, 40km from Geyzing and 19km south of Yuksom, Tashiding stands like a wedge of a mountain. The two rivers Rangeet and Rathong keep flowing by it side, a track through the beautiful but now thinning out jungle takes you to the monastery on the hill top, which was built in 1716.The monastery has around it many rocks and stones with holy inscriptions. The holiest chorten of Sikkim the Thongwa Randol is also situated here. During the main festival Bumchu festival , devotees come from near and far which is held in February. The lid of Bumchu or a big stone jar is opened every alternative year. The 300 year old jar has an unending amount of water in it, believed to be a panacea the holy water fetches a large number of devotees.

Legship is a small hill town at 520m. A three prolonged roads leads from here to different directions. Phursa- Chu, a hot spring is quite near legship. A Kirateshwar Mahadev temple is situated on the banks of river Rangeet. Jorethang is 26km south.

Jorethang is 84km from Siliguri, river Rangeet flows around the south- west of Jorethang. Manpung a beautiful valley with trees and water falls is 12km ahead of Jorethang – the main bus station of West Sikkim . There is a road from Manpung to Namchi which is 21km away and from Namchi to Ravangla and also 42km from Jorethang to Geyzing through Legship which is on the midway Jorethang to Yuksom is 78km. One could travel to Darjeeling from Jorethang through a winding stretch of tea plantations within 1.5hours which is 26km away.

Where to stay: Pelling has a large number of hotels but other places has a few hotels/ resorts of different tariff ranges. Out of these places, Kaluk/Rinchenpong has around half a dozen of hotels.

Last Updated on Monday, 24 May 2010 00:17