Pelling, the laid
back, scenic, but rapidly swelling hamlet is situated at 2,085 m above
sea level about 2 km beyond Pemayangtse. Pelling
is famous for the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of
Khangchendzonga. High above the forest covered
hills, in an amphitheatre of cloud, snow and rock, the entire route from
Yuksam over Dzongri La to the Rathong Glacier can be seen.
Pelling is about 133
km away from Siliguri and 125 km from Gangtok and well connected by bus
and jeep services. Placid Pelling pulls most of the visitors for its
representative status in history, nature and culture of the state.
Situated at an altitude of 6,800 ft, including the Koktang, Kumbhakarna,
Rathong, Kabru, Dom, Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Zopuno, Shimbho, Narsing,
Siniyalchu and others
Pelling itself consists
of little more than a road junction, Helicopter pad and numerous hotels,
creating the so-called "Bengali Boulevard", a strip of highly
unimaginative identikit concrete blocks. Luckily, from most angles this
development is hidden by the forested slopes and Pelling offers numerous
attractive walks and hotel terraces from where one can gaze in awe at
the world's third highest peak