On reaching Pelling, we checked into our hotel Simvo. I had already done the hotel booking online through Goibibo and got a good discount. After some crispy pakodas and tea we decided to check with them the sight seeing itinerary and charges for the next day. I already had my list of places, a list that I had meticulously prepared for the last 6 months.
We compared the sight seeing rate with others and found that our hotel was giving us the most competitive one. There was full day and half day sight seeing. half day was not much complete, so we decided for the full day. We requested for a Bolero. And also since my list and the hotel's list was matching quite well we decided to zero on to it.
The places that we covered are :
Kanchendzonga Falls
Rimbi Waterfall
Darap Village
Khecheopalri Lake
Pemayangtse Monastery
Rabdanse Ruins
Changey Waterfall
Dentam Valley
Singshore Bridge
We started at 8 am after breakfast. Our driver was ready. We first went to the Kanchendzonga Falls. It is towards the north of Pelling on the way to Yuksam. This was probably one of the best waterfalls in Sikkim. There is entry ticket of Rs 10 per head, even though a part of the falls is visible from the road.
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| Kanchendzonga Falls |
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| Kanchendzonga Falls |
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| With a local beauty at Kanchendzonga Falls |
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| Kanchendzonga Falls |
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| Kanchendzonga Falls |
Next we saw the Rimbi waterfalls on the way towards Khecheopalri Lake. Darap village was somewhere on the way but we did not stop. There are plenty of orange orchards in Darap. Rimbi waterfalls is nothing so great, just a waterfall on the way.
Next we went to Khecheopalri Lake. There is entrance fee of Rs 10 per head and Rs 30 for vehicles. This lake is considered holy by the Sikkimese people. In fact almost all lakes in Sikkim are considered holy and so littering is absolutely not okay. From the entrance we had to walk a little through dense greenery, the brick lined path full with moss and pine cones, There was colorful flags fluttering all the way.The lake remains hidden in the rich forest cover. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface. Also there are fishes in the lake but visitors are not permitted to feed them as that may cause littering.There is also a monastery and while getting out of the lake premise we visited it.
There is also toilet and restaurant just outside the ticket counter of Khecheopalri Lake.
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| Road leading to Khecheopalri Lake |
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| Khecheopalri Lake |
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| Khecheopalri Lake |
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| At Khecheopalri Lake |
Next was Pemayangtse Monastery. This is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim founded in the year 1705. There is entry fee of Rs 10 per person. The 3-storied building of the monastery houses a good collection of wall paintings and sculptures.The monastery is mostly made of wood and also serves a school for the little monks.
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| Pemayangtse Monastery |
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| Pemayangtse Monastery |
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| Pemayangtse Monastery |
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| Wild orchids |
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| Orchids |
By now we were hungry and tired to climb to the Rabdanse Ruins. The ruins are near to Pemayangtse Monastery but one needs to walk for about 45 minutes to reach the ruins from the entrance gate. So we decided to let it go. Instead we saw the ruins from a distance and headed to our hotel for lunch.
On a clear day the Kanchendonza ranges can be seen very clearly against the ruins back drop.
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| Rabdanse Ruins |
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| Rabdanse Ruins |
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| Violet hibiscus |
After a light and hearty bengali lunch we took some 30 minutes rest. We refilled our bottles and put on our woolens and started our second half of the sightseeing tour.
On our way to Singshore Bridge, we saw Changey Falls. This is a multi layered falls and I must say a very beautiful one.This falls gushes on the road and falls down the hill. One can see both the parts by standing on a bridge created next to the road. This is another beautiful falls maybe after Kanchendonza Falls.
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| Changey Falls |
Our driver also stopped at a place from where Dentam Valley was visible from a distance. Like all other drivers he also tried to convince us that the valley resembles India's map.
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| Dentam Valley |
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| Dentam Valley |
We reached Singshore Bridge. Here also there is entry fee of Rs 10 per person. I must say this bridge looks so very awesome and spectacular. This suspension bridge is the highest bridge in Sikkim and the second highest in Asia, but putting aside the statistics, this bridge is so amazingly beautiful.
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| Singshore Bridge |
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| Us |
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| Singshore Bridge |
There is the beautiful Sangachoeling Monastery in Pelling, but to include that in your itinerary, one must have one more extra day in Pelling. Also the way to this monastery is by a steep 45 minutes through the jungle with no facilities on the way. So from beforehand I had decided to skip it, in case if you are interested all hotels can arrange a trip to Sangachoeling Monastery.
Returned back to hotel. Next day we will be going to Gangtok.
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| Kanchendonza from Pelling |
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| Kanchendonza from Pelling |
Information Bits:
Full day sight seeing cost for Bolero: 2500 INR
For smaller cars the cost will be less. Also the cost will vary based on season.
Make sure to stress on the fact that the car must be good, else one full day sight seeing can be tiresome.
Full day Sightseeing points:
Kanchendzonga Falls
Rimbi Waterfall
Darap Village
Khecheopalri Lake
Pemayangtse Monastery
Rabdanse Ruins
Changey Waterfall
Dentam Valley
Singshore Bridge
Cost : 2500 INR
Half day sightseeing points
Kanchendzonga Falls
Rimbi Waterfall
Darap Village
Khecheopalri Lake
Pemayangtse Monastery ( some packages have, some don't)
Cost : 1500 INR
Lovely frames.
ReplyDeletethanks so much :)
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