Hidden Sikkim gems! Explore Pelling with stunning Kanchenjunga views, Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdentse ruins, Khecheopalri sacred lake. Ravangla offers Buddha Park with 130-foot statue, Ralang Monastery, tea gardens. Namchi features Char Dham replica, Samdruptse hill giant Guru Padmasambhava statue (118 feet). Less crowded than Gangtok, these destinations offer authentic Sikkimese culture, mountain panoramas, and peaceful monasteries. Perfect offbeat Sikkim experience.
Day 1:
Bagdogra/NJP to Pelling (125km, 5 hours) - Arrive Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, drive to Pelling (West Sikkim hill town at 2150m altitude offering stunning Kanchenjunga views), scenic drive through Teesta River valley, enter Sikkim (carry valid photo ID, foreigners need Protected Area Permit arranged in advance), cross Rangit River, ascend through Uttarey area, reach Pelling, check-in hotel with mountain-facing rooms, evening walk exploring Pelling market (small town with shops, restaurants, money changers, trekking agencies), overnight Pelling|
Day 2:
Pelling Sightseeing - Early morning Kanchenjunga sunrise view from hotel/Helipad viewpoint (weather permitting, third highest peak 8586m turns golden at first light, five peaks visible, binoculars helpful), breakfast, morning visit Pemayangtse Monastery (one of oldest monasteries in Sikkim built 1705, belongs to Nyingma order, only pure Bhutia monks allowed, three-storied monastery with beautiful murals, thankas, sculptures, seventh floor wooden sculpture depicting heavenly abode, Ôé╣50 camera), Rabdentse Ruins (2km from monastery, capital of former Sikkim kingdom 1670-1814, stone ruins, archaeological site with palace remains, chorten, stone throne, Kanchenjunga views, peaceful atmosphere), afternoon Khecheopalri Lake (34km from Pelling, sacred wish-fulfilling lake for Buddhists and Sikhs, leaves never float on surface as birds pick them, prayer flags, monastery nearby, short walk from parking, serene spiritual place, birds chirping creates tranquil atmosphere), return Pelling evening, overnight|
Day 3:
Pelling to Ravangla (68km, 3 hours) - Morning visit Skywalk and Glass Bridge (Pelling Skywalk - walkway jutting out from cliff with glass floor panels, thrilling experience with valley views 7200 ft below, opened 2019, Ôé╣50 entry), checkout drive to Ravangla (South Sikkim at 2100m altitude, emerging tourist destination, peaceful town), en route visit Temi Tea Garden (only tea estate in Sikkim, established 1969, organic tea production, walk through manicured tea bushes with Eastern Himalayan backdrop, factory visit, tea tasting, buy fresh Sikkim tea, beautiful photo opportunities), reach Ravangla, check-in, afternoon visit Buddha Park (also called Tathagata Tsal, huge 130ft tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue atop hill completed 2013, one of tallest Buddha statues, surrounding park with smaller Buddha statues, meditation center, prayer wheels, Kanchenjunga range visible background weather permitting, peaceful ambiance, inaugurated by Dalai Lama), evening at leisure, overnight Ravangla|
Day 4:
Ravangla to Bagdogra - Morning at leisure or visit Ralang Monastery (hot spring, old and new monasteries, Kagyu sect), checkout, drive to Bagdogra (135km, 5 hours) via Namchi (optional 1-hour stop to see giant Char Dham complex with 108ft Shiva statue at Solophok and Samdruptse Hill with 118ft Padmasambhava statue, largest statue in India, if time permits), arrive Bagdogra/NJP afternoon, drop at airport/station, tour ends with Kanchenjunga views etched in memory