As a travel vlogger, I have faced many challenges. However today’s story is not about facing challenges, rather more than that.
Let’s clear first, why I am writing Gangtok and Pelling travelogues!
The reason behind to write Gangtok Pelling travelogue is to help travelers like you to choose the right step towards your dream destination.
This is not the first time I have visited Gangtok and Pelling. So I was confident. I choose an unknown travel agency to go there.
Though I visited their registered office just 10 kms away from my house. And even one of my students recommend that travel agency as they frequently travel with that travel agency. According to his word of mouth I thought it would be a nice travel agency.
However, I have no idea about their knowledge and experience. From starting to end they had lots of mismanagement, noncooperation, adjustment and above all they did everything for profit seeking.
As a travel enthusiastic I don’t want any people would face this interruption and hardship while they plan a memorable trip mainly in Sikkim.
Through my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, I would like to give you detailed information about how to reach, where to stay, sightseeing and more.
Even my Gangtok Pelling travelogue would work as a complete guide book.
Have you read my Buxa Jayanti travelogue? However my Gangtok Pelling travelogue would be different.
So, let’s start!
Are you excited?
I start from the beginning.
My Gangtok Pelling Travelogue Starts with a 10 Hours Train Journey
My Gangtok Pelling travelogue is a diary. It was 28th of may 2024. My journey starts on that day from my hometown, Jirat, a popular place in Hooghly district.
Have you ever heard the name ‘Jirat’? It is mainly famous for Durgapuja in West Bengal. Though there is a strong historical connection in Jirat.
One day I shall discuss on Jirat.
I took a local EMU train and reached Ambika Kalna. Because my boarding station was Ambika Kalna.
My train was 13141 up Teesta Torsha express at about 16.57 pm. The train was 10 minutes late.
I booked a sleeper class. My coach was S5 and seat number was 34.
The overall experience in the train was as usual. I spend all the watching nature outside and listening to audio stories and music.
Here is one thing I must share with you. My whole journey was with a travel agency. However, as per contract, they will communicate with me from New Jalpaiguri Station after reading my train there.
At about 9 o’clock, I took my dinner and tried to take a nap.
The train reached New Jalpaiguri station at about 2.10 am, midnight.
Though this was not the first time I reached NJP station. I knew a few things about where to rest, where to take food and more.
I took a little rest there and got ready to reach my destination, Gangtok.
From NJP station, the taxi service is available from 4 am.
After a while, I came out from NJP station to taxi stand and met my travel agency.
The travel agency took 39 passengers. At last our cab starts from NJP station at about 4.30 am.
Day 1: NJP to Gangtok
One of the most significant part of my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, is the journey.
The cab stated its journey at about 4.20 am in the morning on 29th May 2024. The road was less crowded as it was dawn.
The sky became clear when the time passed. After a while I witnessed the beautiful sunrise.
My cab was Tata Sumo Gold. My travel agency gave breakfast kit of a banana, cake, boiled egg and a sweet.
After a while, I entered the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary road. The spectacular and spellbound beauty can forget you everything.
You may ask why I was going Gangtok again!
The answer is very simple. I love mountains. I have plan to explore the most beautiful Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Kashmir in future.
I was spellbound by the olfactory image of Mahananda Wildfife Sanctuary.
The greenery and back road amid the forest is a perfect combination of every nature lover.
I reached at Rongpo. Rongpo is the border between West Bengal and Sikkim.
On the way to Gangtok, the beautiful Teesta river was my companion. Sometime it was in right sometime it was in the left.
Our cab halted for a tea and toilet break. I took a cup of tea. The tea was good.
After enjoying the beauty of the river Teesta there for almost an hour, we started towards Gangtok.
Can you imagine a travel agency without planning? They didn’t have enough seat in the reserved cab.
Actually they planned to cover 3 cabs for 39 passengers. So, at the middle of journey some of the organizers had to take another shared cab.
That adjustment took another hour. We waste almost two hours of time.
I was busy enjoying the natural beauty, so I didnt care first. Later after reaching Gangtok Taxi stand I understood their mismanagement.
It was my mistake to continue journey with them.
Why?
At Gangtok Taxi stand, I and some of our co-passengers had to book another cab (though the travel agency paid the rent) to reach the hotel Grandala, Arthang (middle).
While I booked, the travel agency told, the hotel was 300-400 meters from the Gangtok Mall. Actually the distance is almost 1 km.
Whatever, I reached the hotel at about 12.30 pm.
After reaching the hotel, we had to wait because rooms were not available for all.
Another mismanagement I had experienced.
They booked 1 hotel before and then other 2 different hotels and even after raching there.
At last I was shifted to another hotel and I was offered a room. The room was big. Atlast I took my lunch at about 3 pm and then went to my room.
At evening I went to Gangtok Mall with some of my co travellers.
Hotel to Gangtok Mall
The temperature of Gangtok was around 26 degree centigrade which was higher than normal. The shocking part was, the feeling. According to my Google Pixel 6A, the feel was like 31 degree.
However, after a little rest, I came downstairs to go to Gangtok Mall. The cab was arranged by the travel agency. After 15 minutes, I reached Gangtok Mall.
Gangtok Mall is always an attraction to the tourists. Mainly if you love shopping and enjoying a city life.
Many people across the world come to this beautiful Gangtok mall. This is one of the major attractions of Gangtok tour.
Surprisingly there was a folk cultural festival to pay tribute to the Tenzing Norgay, my inspiration, who climbed the Mt. Everest, on his birthday.
I always appreciated the local festivals as it depicts the entire culture of native people. I enjoyed the beautiful dance, music, and their beautiful attrires.
Then I planned when I would write my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, I would definitely mention that incident.
It was one of the most memorabe days in my life.
After spending a couple of hours, the rain came. After sometime, I went to my hotel and took my dinner.
The dinner was ok. At about 10 pm, I went to bed.
No Gangtok Sightseeing
Can you imagine a travel agency intentionally skip the valuable Gangtok sightseeing! I had faced this experience too.
At first I thought, they would definitely cover it on day 2 after returning from Tsomgo and Baba Temple.
But they intentionally avoid it.
I had lots of plans about Gangtok sightseeing, what to Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Enchey Monastery, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Tashi view point, Bakthang waterfall and more.
If you read my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, don’t forget to explore the Gangtok sightseeing.
I made a mistake to trust them. Otherwise I could easily visited Gangtok sightseeing hiring a cab at just INR 1200.
If you travel with a travel agency and your travel agency don’t arrange a sightseeing tour of Gangtok, take a cab and pay just 1000 -1800 and explore.
Day 2: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Temple
One of the most excited episodes in my Gangtok Pelling travelogue would be Tsomgo and Baba Temple, however, all was in vain.
The first reason was rain. It was raining almost the entire day (previous day) and mainly at night (previous).
As per our earlier conversation, the time of the journey was 7.30 am on 30th May 2024. Though actually it started at about 9 am.
After sometime our cab halted in a parking area just near the upper Arthang because all of our other 3 cabs were not available.
The complete mismanagement of the travel agency made our journey delayed. At last we resumed our journey at about 11 am.
On the way to Tsomgo and Baba Temple, I had heard that the travel agency didn’t book Nathule Pass.
I consisted the cab driver about to go Nathula Pass, but it was delayed.
Later the weather became worst. Though the morning was pleasant to reach Nathula Pass.
When we reached the Baba Temple, many cabs returned. Just imagine how bad our timing was!
The height of Baba Temple is 13121 ft. The distance of Baba Temple from Gangtok was 53 kms.
I spent around 1 hour there.
Baba Temple was a memorial institute. It is said that Baba Harbjahan Singh still protects all the soldiers in this area and surroundings.
When I was there, the rain came again. So, I decided to come down and I did it.
As we had no permission to Nathu La Pass, we had to return. On the way to return to our hotel, we stayed at Tsomgo Lake.
Tsomgo Lake is one of the major tourist attractions in East Sikkim. People love to witness the reflexion of the surrounding hills on the lake.
According to local people, the water of Tsomgo Lake is holy. Even in the Buddhist mythology, Tsomgo Lake is regarded as one of the most sacred places.
The height of Tsomgo Lake is around 12313 ft, It is one of the major attractive places among tourists.
Every year many tourists come to explore the beauty of this lake and its ambiance.
You can ride yak and take photos. You can enjoy a ropeway ride here.
Though the weather was very bad, so I didn’t go to the ropeway. Ropeway ride over Tsomgo Lake is one of the most satisfying visuals that you’ll never forget.
I had found the beauty of the cloud covered Tsomgo lake. I enjoyed the breeze, the atmosphere was really very mysterious.
However after a while, I had to return from there as many of my co tourists didn’t enjoy the cloud captured Tsomgo Lake .
Day 3: Ravangla
My last day’s experience was not good, however I reached from Tsomgo Lake was at about 7.30 pm. It was raining outside.
It was the last day in Gangtok because the next day we had booking in Pelling, west Sikkim.
After taking dinner I went to bed. The beautiful sound of rain worked as a medicine of sleep. I could not remember, how long I was wake.
The next day started with a rainly morning. We had to leave our hotels in Gangtok because we had bookings in Pelling.
Pelling was our next destination. I became ready at about 7 as the worst travel agency promised that the car would come at about 7.30.
The cab came at about 9. So our journey started late.
On the way to Pelling, my destinations were Ravangla and Namchi.
Through my Gangtok Pelling Travelogue, I would share some valuable information about Ravangla and Namchi.
Ravangla (Ra-Vong-La)
Ravangla or Ravongla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sikkim. It is in the southern part of Sikkim.
Mostly, tourists prefer to visit both Ravangla and Namchi on the way to Pelling from Gangtok or Pelling to Gangtok.
Let’s know some interesting facts about Ravangla.
Do you know the meaning of Ravangla?
The word Ravangla is a Bhutia Word. The word ‘Ra’ means Wild Ships. ‘Vong’ refers to rearing place and the word ‘La’ means pass.
Ravangla is a small hilly town located in the 8000 ft above from see level. One of the major attractions of Ravangla is, you can watch the most popular mountains from here like Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Siniolchu, Mt. Kabru.
Even you can observe snowfall during winter. On the other hand during summar (Apri and May) you will notice the area surrounding by flowers.
Now come to the most lovable attraction of Ravangls. Tathagata Tsal’s statue is at the hil top which is seen from far.
You’ll be mesmerized by the surroundings.
Now come to my Gangtok Pelling travelogue. I reached there at about 2 pm. It was partly cloudly.
I booked a ticket and entered the Ravangla. The ticket amount is INR 80 for Indian citizen. Students and children has discounts.
If you carry DSLR or Mirror Less camera, you have to pay extra. Same rule for action camera as well.
I enjoyed the beauty of that place. Suddenly the cloud captured the whole area.
I could not imagine how mysterious and interesting the place was after the cloud captured that holy place!
After a while, I came to the car parking.
Though the situation hypnotized me. However, I had to reach another destination and then Pelling.
Namchi Chardham
When you explore Pelling, Namchi would be an ideal destination for you. The major attraction is the miniature model of Chardham and the Samdruptse statue.
Do you know the meaning of Namchi? Namchi is a Bhutia word which means Sky (Nam) High (Chi).
While I planned to write my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, I thought of visiting both. However, my
travel agency did not cover all the spots.
Hence, I had to cover only Chardham.
Mostly, people love to explore this place on the way to Pelling to Gangtok and Gangtok to Pelling, however you can stay here.
Though you can stay here. Lots of hotels are available here.
Let’s come to Chardham and my overall experience.
I reached three after taking lunch on road. My travel agency sponsored that lunch. It was around 3.30 pm.
When I reached Chardham, the weather was cloudy.
The beauty of Chardham is, you can see the 87 ft statue of Lord Shiva, which is one of the major attractions among tourists.
Chardham is located at an elevation of 5000 ft above sea level. The hill where Chardham is located is Solophok hill.
Another name of Chardham is Siddeswar Dham as Lord Shiva is there.
The mythological belief says that Chardham is a place to wash away all sins. This is another reason to visit this holy destination of Sikkim.
I was there for around 45 minutes. I enjoyed the ambiance.
Through the miniature form, the whole India pilgrimage tourism is depicted here.
You’ll find the 12 Jyotirlinga here in a miniature version. From north to south, east to west, visiting Chardham helps you to understand Indian popular pilgrimage.
Let’s see what are the major attractions in the Chardham.
Undoubtedly the major attraction is the Siddheswar Dham where you’ll see 108 ft statue of Lord Shiva.
Do you know this 108 ft Lord Shiva is encircled with twelve jyotirlinga?
These are situated in four major directions like East, West, North and South.
- North as Badrinath Dham
- South as Rameshawaram
- East as Jagannath and
- West as Dwarka
These are the miniature version and the most stunning attractions in namchi Chardham.
Let’s come to my Gangtok Pelling travelogue. After sending just an hour there, I returned to my cab. I had to reach Pelling.
Pelling Sightseeing
Tourist come Pelling to witness the beautiful Kanchanjungha. Though when I went, it was monsoon.
During monsoon, you cannot witness unless you have an unbelievable fate.
I have already discussed about the unprofessionalism of travel agency. Last day when we were returning from Namchi, it became night instead of evening.
Whatever I reached hotel Mount View, which is in middle Pelling.
As I reached at night, I took my dinner and went to bed.
The next day, after having breakfast, I went to sightseeing.
You may think in my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, I have complained our travel agency a lot.
I shared what I faced. Even in the first day of Pelling nothing was different.
I got ready at about 7.30 am, but the cab came at about 9.30.
Whatever, at last I reached one of the most famous tourist attractions in Pelling – the holy Khecheopalri Lake.
Khecheopalri Lake
According to a belief, the Khecheopalri Lake was created when God Shiva walked here. Even if you reach the view point of Khecheopalri Lake, you’ll notice the shape of this lake.
The shape of this lake is just like a left foot. It is said that this lake is created at the footprints of God Shiva.
Another interesting fact about this lake is, here fishes are worshipped.
You’ll see, many tourist feed fishes and wish.
This is also called wishing lake.
The most surprising thing is you’ll see no leaf floating on the lake water. It is a belief that when leaf falls in the lake, the birds automatically came and take them away.
It is a beautiful lake and its surrounding is breathtaking.
Let’s come how to reach there.
The best way to reach Khecheopalri lake is to hiring a cab.
You can ask your hotel and homestay. They’ll manage cab for sightseeing.
You can come to Pelling taxi stand to book a share cab to reach there.
After reaching there, you have to pay INR 30 as entry fee.
If you want to feed fishes, you can but fish foods from nearby shops.
I took a fishfood of INR 50. Generally the food is soybean balls.
Besides fish feeding, you’ll enjoy walking through the trails just alongside the lake.
I spend almost an hour there.
You’ll see a pagoda with a holy prayer wheel at the entrance of the lake.
The mesmaraising beauty is the major attraction of this beautiful lake.
Every year lots of people came Pellng to enjoy this beautiful lake.
Kanchenjunga Waterfalls
After Khecheopalri lake, we went to Kanchanjungha waterfalls. It is one of the major attractions among tourists.
Here you’ll witness a beautiful waterfall and its roar.
Surprisingly you have to pay INR 20 as entryfee to reach closer to this waterfall.
After enjoying sometime, I came down to parking. Suddenly I noticed an adventure activity.
People cross one hill to another just hanging by rope and wheel. The photo session amid this activity is one of the major attractions as well.
The Kanchanjungha waterfall gushes down to a pool from 100 ft high. In monsoon, you’ll hear the loud roar. Even almost every season, you’ll witness its beauty.
In general, if you want to explore the beauty of waterfall, the monsoon is the ideal time to visit.
Our cab started after having a little tea break. Our destination was hotel for lunch.
Glass Bridge
After taking lunch at hotel, I went to experience walking into the sky. It was my first time to get an experience of walking into the cloud.
If you’ve gone through this Gangtok Pelling travelogue, you’ll know overall journey. As it was my last day in Pelling, I tried to enjoy a lot.
So I was very excited to reach Glass Brodge.
It took 30 minutes from hotel to reach Glass Bridge. Surprisingly, after reaching there I got rain.
Once I thought the walking might be cancelled due to bad weather. At last I got ticket.
The ticket price is INR 100.
The major attraction of the Glass Bridge is its beautiful landscape which you’ll enjoy walking skywalk.
On a clear day, you’ll notice beautiful Himalayan mountains and feel an adventure.
Just imagine, you’re walking towards Himalayan mountain range amid cloud.
The another attraction of skywalk on Glass Bridge is Chenrezig statue. You’ll spend a couple of hours there.
This glass bottomed Himalaya nestled skywalk is located at an elevation of 7200 ft above the sea level. The flight of stairs leading up to the Chenrezig statue, one of the major attractions in Pelling.
The height of this skywalk is 137 ft. This bridge was open on 1st November, 2018 for the tourists.
Do you know this skywalk is dedicated to Chenrezig.
Singshore Bridge
Singshore bridge is one of the major attractions among tourists. It was my last destination of this Pelling tour.
Thought the Singshore Bridge was not included in the travel package. I and some other tourists of our team booked this tour independently. It took INR 2500 as an extra.
After around 1.30 hours we reached Singshore Bridge. This is a hanging bridge.
Have you every visited Howrah Bridge? If yes, you will know that Howrah bridge is hangling bridge.
Singshore bridge is a suspension bridge located at an elevation of 198 m above the ground.
Singshore bridge is the highest bridge in whole Sikkim.
The length of this bridge is 240 m. Though the heavy vehicles are not allowed here.
Singshore bridge is paradise for those who love to trek amid jungle where a river roar just under the bridge and surrounding is nestled with hountains.
As I went there in monsoon, the surrounding was cloudy. If you come here in winter or any clear day, you’ll not take your eyes off the beauty.
The combination of greenery, landscape and the suspension bridge make this place more beautiful.
When I was walking on the bridge, suddenly it was raining.
Rainsoaked bridge and surrounding became more beautiful.
If you plan to explore Pelling after reading my Gangtok Pelling travelogue, make Singshore bridge in you bucket list
I spend there around a couple of hours there and enjoyed the whole atmosphere.
It was my last day and last destination in Pelling in that trip. So I tried to enjoy as much as possible.
After a couple of hours we returned to hotel. When we returned into hotel, it became dark.
Returning Day
I had experience with many travel agencies before, but to be frank and honest, this travel agency is the worst.
Why?
At previous night we talked to our travel agency owner about visiting Pashupati Market. Surprisingly they (travel agency owners) agreed. So the travel agency asked us to be ready within 7.30 am next day to checkout.
However, on the next day morning, I got ready at about 7 O’clock. Rest of our co tourists were ready as well.
After taking breakfast we were waiting for cab. However, the travel agency owners were budgaining with hotel and rented car owners about price.
After almost one hour, we started our journey towards NJP station. I thought, we’d reach Pashupati Market at about 1 pm.
By the way, I forgot to mention our train time. It was 13142 down Teesta Torsha express. The timing was 4 pm at NJP station.
But on the road, all of our cars halted at about 1 hour at Teesta Bazar without any reason.
Later I heard that it was the instruction by travel agency owner not to go Pashupati market as it was not included in the tour package.
So, as per conspiracy, we reached NJP station at about 2 pm. As per commitment, the travel agency arranged lunch at a nearby hotel at NJP station.
After lunch I waited at overbridge until the announcement of our train 13142 Teesta Torsha Express.
The train was on time. My seat was lower. I spent my whole journey reading and listening to music.
At about 2 pm, I reached Bandel station. Then after a while I took a local EMU Bandel Katwa local to reach my destination, Jirat station, from where I started my journey for that trip.
Conclusion
Throught my Gangtok Pelling travelogue I shared some unforgettable memories and unwanted experiences that I faced. The decision of going to Gangtok in pre monsoon was a bad decision. But the worse was to take such an inexperienced travel agency who was looking for profit only. However share your experience if you have visited Gangtok and Pelling.
