3-Day South & West Sikkim Itinerary - Namchi, Ravangla, Pelling

Sikkim is a beautiful state located in north-east India. Although it’s the second smallest state in India, Sikkim is a treasure trove with diverse landscape and natural beauty.

I had fallen in love with Sikkim during my last visit and I was longing to explore more of this beautiful state. I also wanted my husband to get a feel of my favourite state. So we searched for a long weekend on the calendar and took off for 3 days in Sikkim to celebrate our first anniversary! Since I have already been to parts of East Sikkim & North Sikkim a few years back, I decided to visit a few places in South & West Sikkim this time. Namchi, Ravangla & Pelling seemed like the perfect combination for spending 3 days in Sikkim.

3-Day Sikkim Itinerary – South & West Sikkim

Day 1: Arrive In Pelling Via Namchi & Ravangla
Day 2: Pelling Sightseeing
Day 3: Eat & Shop In Pelling, Return/Onwards Journey

Day 1: Arrive In Pelling Via Namchi & Ravangla

It is most likely that you’ll reach one of these three places to begin your journey to Sikkim – New Jalpaiguri Station, Siliguri Bus Stop or Bagdogra Airport. It takes around 5 hours to reach Pelling from either of these places. The drive to Sikkim from North Bengal is really beautiful. You’ll be driving through tea-gardens and forests to make your way to the mountains. The gorgeous aqua green Teesta River will be flowing alongside, which will later be replaced by the beautiful blue Rangeet River (a tributary of Teesta) after you enter Sikkim.

It is a great idea to visit Namchi & Ravangla on the way to Pelling. It will take additional 2-3 hours to explore these places but it’s definitely worth it.

Car Fare

Shared cabs or buses are not frequent on this route so be prepared to hire a full cab. Car fare from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to Pelling is Rs. 4,500 for a Bolero (or any SUV). They charge Rs. 2,000 extra to cover Namchi & Ravangla on the way to Pelling.

Must-Visit Places In Namchi & Ravangla

Namchi

Namchi is the capital of South Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim.

Siddheswar Dham (or Char Dham)

Situated 5 km southwest of Namchi, atop the Solophok hill, the Siddheswar Dham temple complex comprises replicas of the highly revered Hindu pilgrimage sites namely Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram and Jagannath Dham, with the main attraction being the giant 87 feet Shiva statue surrounded by 12 prominent jyotirlingas.

Samdruptse Monastery

Samdruptse Monastery used to be the most popular tourist spot in Namchi before the Siddheshwar Dham came into existence. A giant 135 feet statue of Sikkim’s patron saint Guru Padmasambhava stands on an elevated platform overlooking the town of Namchi. Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, revived Buddhism in Tibet and was also the propagator of Vajrayana or tantric form of Buddhism.

Samdruptse Monastery is an amalgamation of Sikkimese, Tibetan and modern-day styles of architecture.

The foundation stone of this monastery was laid by Dalai Lama in the late 90s.

In the local language, the word ‘Samdruptse’ means ‘the wish fulfilling hill’. It is believed that the Samdruptse hill is a dormant volcano and only prayers can hold it from erupting, that is why the local monks offer their reverence and devotion to it.

Temi Tea Garden

Temi Tea Garden, located in South Sikkim, is the only tea garden in Sikkim and considered one of the best in India and in the world. The garden is laid over a gradually sloping hill emerging from the Tendong Hill.

The lush green tea garden provides a picturesque panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, Mount Kanchenjunga is visible from Temi Tea Garden.

Ravangla

Ravangla is a small tourist town situated in South Sikkim. Located at the base of Maenam Hill, Ravangla is usually a transit point for trekkers and travellers heading towards other parts of South & West Sikkim.

Ravangla Buddha Park

Buddha Park, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Ravangla in South Sikkim district. The inauguration of the Buddha Park in Ravangla marked the 2550th birth anniversary of Buddha.

The 130 feet tall gorgeous statue of Shakyamuni Buddha can be seen clearly from all sides of South-west Sikkim and from a few areas of West Sikkim. A lake called Cho-Dzo is located within the complex and is surrounded by forests on all sides.

Surrounded by the majestic Himalayas from all sides, the park offers some brilliant views of the Eastern Himalayan ranges on a clear day including Mount Kanchenjunga, Mount Pandim, Mount Siniolch and Mount Kabru.

You can choose to stay a night in either Namchi or Ravangla and explore more of these beautiful places before heading to Pelling. We covered the most popular & must-visit places in Namchi & Ravangla and reached Pelling by evening.

Pelling

Pelling is a small charming town located in West Sikkim district, at the foothills of Mount Kanchenjunga. Inspite of being one of the most popular tourist places in Sikkim, Pelling’s calm and quiet atmosphere is a sharp contrast to the state’s capital city Gangtok.

Where To Stay In Pelling

We stayed at Magpie Chestnut Retreat in Pelling and would highly recommend it. The property is centrally located yet isolated from the rest of the hotels and offers brilliant views of Mount Kanchenjunga along with the other Eastern Himalayan mountain ranges.

Day 2: Pelling Sightseeing

Wake up to a gorgeous sunrise over the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga (the highest mountain peak in India) and have a scrumptious breakfast before heading out for local sightseeing. Start early since Pelling has a lot of amazing places worth visiting.

Must-Visit Places In Pelling

Pelling Skywalk & Chenrezig Statue

The Pelling Skywalk is India’s first glass-bottom skywalk & probably the most popular sightseeing spot in Pelling these days. You can witness an unobstructed panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga from here. The skywalk is connected to the giant Chenrezig statue which is located on a hilltop. Chenrezig (or Avalokiteshvara) is the earthly manifestation of the self-born, eternal Buddha, Amitabha.

Singshore Bridge

Singshore Suspension Bridge is believed to be the highest bridge in Sikkim and the second highest in Asia. It connects two beautiful villages Dentam and Uttarey in the West Sikkim district and is truly an engineering marvel. Moreover, the bridge offers a beautiful view of winding streams if you look down.

Kanchenjunga Falls

Kanchenjunga Falls is the largest waterfall in Sikkim and the most beautiful one in Pelling. It is believed that this stunning waterfall originates high up in the glaciers of Mount Kanchenjunga. Kanchenjunga Falls is an absolute must-visit during your trip to Sikkim.

Khecheopalri Lake

Khecheopalri Lake, estimated to be 3,500 years old, is believed to be a wish fulfilling lake. The name Khecheopalri literally translates to ‘heavenly abode of Padmasambhava’, the 8th century Buddhist master commonly believed to be the second Buddha. The lake is sacred for both Buddhists and Hindus.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Pemayangtse Monastery is one of the oldest and premier monasteries of Sikkim, as well as the most famous in this state. The Pemayangtse Monastery was specially built for the “pure monks” (ta-tshang) meaning “monks of pure lineage”, celibate and physically sound. This practice is still retained!

The main statue of Padmasambhava seen here is in his wrathful form with multiple heads and arms. The monastery building also houses many statues of saints and rinpoches, several antique idols and scriptures.

There are a few other beautiful places that you must visit in Pelling. I have a full post dedicated to Pelling which you can check here.

Read: Best Places To Visit In Pelling + Pelling Travel Guide

Pelling Sightseeing Cost

Hiring a car for full day sightseeing costed us Rs. 4000 for a Bolero. If you skip either the Pelling Skywalk or Singshore Bridge, it will cost Rs. 1000 less since they are both located on opposite routes (though I recommend skipping neither).

Day 3: Eat & Shop In Pelling, Return/Onwards Journey

Spend a relaxing day in Pelling. You can take a nature walk, eat at a local restaurant or simply sit at the balcony sipping coffee and admiring the gorgeous view.

Don’t forget to check out the local souvenir shops during the return journey.

Have some more time to spend in Sikkim? Visit Gangtok & North Sikkim for an unforgettable experience.

Best Time To Visit South & West Sikkim

Winter months from December to February is the best time to visit South & West Sikkim, especially if you enjoy cold weather. Tourist rush is much less in winter than summer season and you can enjoy in peace. October & November also sees clear skies and cool weather, but try to avoid the Durga Puja & Diwali rush.
Summer months from March to May is another great time to visit Sikkim. But this is also the peak season and sees heavy tourist activity.
Monsoon months are usually not considered ideal for visiting hill stations due to heavy rainfall and frequent landslides. Many of the tourist spots also remain closed during this time.

How To Travel Safely In Sikkim During The Pandemic

Wear a mask at all times in public places, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Wash/sanitize your hands before touching your eyes or face and before eating.
Keep yourself updated about the travel news if you intend to travel during the pandemic. Rules are changing constantly and restrictions are getting imposed or lifted in many states without prior notice. You should be aware of the mandatory documents required before visiting any state. As Indian states are re-opening slowly after the second lockdown, most states are only allowing entry to fully vaccinated people (even more reason to get yourself vaccinated). Sikkim also requires tourists to obtain a “Travel Card” by registering on the Sikkim Tourism Web Portal before traveling.

I have a full article dedicated to traveling during the pandemic with many tips that you might find useful. Click here to check it out.

Read: Useful Tips For Traveling During The Pandemic

Camera Gear Used For Photography:

Check out my ‘What’s In My Camera Bag‘ blog post for more details.

I really hope you enjoyed reading this article and you’ll find the information useful whenever you plan to visit South & West Sikkim.

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3-Day South & West Sikkim Itinerary – Namchi, Ravangla, Pelling