West Sikkim

Last Updated Monday, 24 May 2010 00:17

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 22C (72F) in summer to
an average minimum of 4C (39F) in winter. Summers (lasting from late April to June) are
mild, with maximum temperatures rarely crossing 25C (77F). 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 649.6mm (25.6in). In winter temperature remains between 4C (39F) and 7C
(45F). Snowfall is in the very high altitude villages or places but foggy weather is very often.

Transport:

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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, 16km (10mi) 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).

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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.

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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, sit
uated 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,

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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

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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.

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