Located in West Sikkim, Pelling and Yuksom are among the best places to visit for waterfalls, monasteries, mountain views, and peaceful village landscapes. While Pelling is known for attractions like the Sky Walk and Pemayangtse Monastery, Yuksom offers a quieter and more historical side of Sikkim.
Planning to cover all these places in one trip? Check out my detailed 3-day Pelling & Yuksom itinerary from Gangtok with route planning, hotel stay, transport tips, and costs.
Best places to visit in Pelling
Pelling Ropeway
The Pelling Ropeway offers scenic aerial views of the surrounding hills, roads, forests, and Kanchenjunga on clear days.
The ropeway directly connects visitors to the entrance area of the Sky Walk and monastery, making it one of the most convenient ways to reach the attraction.
Pelling Sky Walk and Monastery
The Pelling Sky Walk and Monastery is one of the most visited attractions in West Sikkim. After a short uphill climb and staircase, visitors reach the skywalk along with a giant Buddha statue overlooking the hills.
Prayer wheels line the staircase leading up to the monastery. Visitors can also enter the monastery and climb internally to reach terrace viewpoints near the base of the statue.
Photography is not allowed inside the monastery.
Pemayangtse Monastery
Pemayangtse Monastery is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Sikkim, dating back to the 17th century.
One of its biggest highlights is the detailed wooden structure called “Zangdok Palri” on the top floor, believed to represent the celestial palace of Guru Padmasambhava. It was handcrafted by a single monk over several years.
The monastery also contains old manuscripts, paintings, statues, and religious artifacts.
Rabdentse Ruins
Rabdentse Ruins are the remains of the second capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim. Located near Pelling, the ruins are reached through a scenic 500 meter forest walk.
Visitors can see old stone structures, palace remains, chortens, and viewpoints overlooking the surrounding hills. The walk itself is peaceful and surrounded by forest.
Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park
Located near Rabdentse Ruins, the Sidkeong Tulku Bird Park houses several colorful Himalayan bird species.
One of the highlights is an open enclosure area where some birds can move around more freely, making the experience more interactive compared to standard cages.
Best places to visit on the way to Yuksom
Kanchenjunga Falls
Kanchenjunga Waterfalls is one of the most popular waterfalls near Pelling and Yuksom. A short staircase climb takes you closer to the powerful waterfall.
There are small eateries, souvenir shops, toilets, and local photographers near the entrance, making it a convenient stop during the drive.
Khecheopalri Lake
Khecheopalri Lake is one of the most peaceful and sacred lakes in Sikkim. Surrounded by thousands of colorful prayer flags, the lake has a calm and spiritual atmosphere.
Most visitors only walk to the viewpoint, but there is also a trail that circles around the entire lake and loops back to the entrance. The walk passes through forest sections where mushrooms and small forest fauna can often be spotted.
A small hidden trail near the entrance leads to the Guru Rinpoche Cave, which contains a statue of Guru Padmasambhava and is associated with Buddhist meditation traditions in the Himalayas.
Nearby, visitors can also try wood-fired pizzas at Latop’s Pizzeria and locally brewed rhododendron wine.
Rimbi Orange Garden
The Rimbi Orange Garden is a relaxing stop surrounded by orange trees and greenery. Visitors can walk down toward the Rimbi River and spend some time near the riverbed.
There is also a small restaurant overlooking the river, making it a pleasant place for tea or coffee during the journey.
Yorong Waterfalls (Rimbi Waterfalls)
Yorong Waterfalls, also known as Rimbi Waterfalls, is a small roadside waterfall located near Rimbi. It works well as a short scenic stop while driving between Pelling and Yuksom.
Best places to visit in Yuksom
Yuksom is a small peaceful village about 35–40 km from Pelling, taking around 1.5 to 2 hours by road. Unlike the more crowded tourist areas of Sikkim, Yuksom feels calm, uncrowded, and slow-paced.
Historically, it was the first capital of Sikkim and is also the starting point for the famous Goechala Trek.
Dubdi Monastery
Dubdi Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and was built in 1701. Located on a quiet hill surrounded by dense forest, it is one of the most peaceful places to visit in Yuksom.
Reaching the monastery involves a short uphill forest walk. There are two entry routes, and the shorter one is marked by a blue Archaeological Survey of India board.
The monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism and contains traditional murals, Buddhist symbols, manuscripts, and old stupas around the complex. The peaceful atmosphere and forest surroundings make it worth the short hike.
Kathok Lake and Monastery
Kathok Lake is a sacred lake located close to the main town of Yuksom. Surrounded by colorful prayer flags, the lake becomes especially beautiful when the wind picks up and the flags flutter across the water.
The lake is considered spiritually important and is believed to be the “soul lake” of Lama Kathok Kuntu Zangpo. Monks still perform annual purification rituals here.
The lake also lies within the buffer zone of the UNESCO-listed Khangchendzonga National Park. A small monastery called Kathok monastery (also known as Kathok Wodsal Ling Monastery) is located nearby.
Norbugang Coronation Throne
Norbugang is one of the most historically important places in Yuksom. This is where the first Chogyal of Sikkim was crowned in 1642, marking the beginning of the Namgyal dynasty.
The complex includes a large white stupa, smaller chortens, ancient pine trees, and the historic stone coronation throne. One of the highlights is a giant prayer wheel that visitors can spin.
The area has a calm spiritual atmosphere and is also good for spotting birds.
Thangtong Gyalpo Statue
Located close to Norbugang is a statue of Thangtong Gyalpo, a Tibetan saint and engineer famous for building iron chain suspension bridges across Tibet and Bhutan.
The statue shows him holding blue iron chain links in his hand, symbolizing his engineering contributions.
