Buddhist faithful from the region gather at Pemayangtse Monastery for prayers, butter lamp offerings, and circumambulation on this sacred day.
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Naksh.iq
ISSUE Nº 47 · MAY 2026
Festival · SIKKIM
Saga Dawa.
May–June (full moon) · Pelling
Going for this? Pelling in June
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The monsoon arrives like a wall. Rain hammers Pelling daily, turning trails to mud rivers and wrapping Kanchenjunga in an impenetrable grey shroud for weeks at a stretch. Leeches emerge on every forest path. The Skywalk looks out at nothing but cloud.
Getting there
Elevation
2150 m
Nearest airport
Bagdogra — 151km
Nearest railway
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) — 170km
Live in Pelling
Where to stay in Pelling
Norbu Ghang Resort
Rs 3500-7000/nightboutique · Upper PellingWell-appointed resort with panoramic Kanchenjunga views, restaurant serving local and continental cuisine, beautiful gardens
Hotel Garuda
₹1800-3500/nighthotel · Lower PellingSolid mid-range option in Lower Pelling with clean rooms, a decent restaurant, and helpful staff who arrange Singalila and Khecheopalri day trips. The mountain-view rooms on the top floor are worth the small premium.
Elgin Mount Pandim
₹2,500-5,000/nightguesthouse · Upper PellingHeritage-style hotel with the best Kanchenjunga panorama in Pelling. The rooms face the mountain range directly. The restaurant is the town's best. Staff arranges Skywalk and Rabdentse tours.
Where to eat
Kunphan
Upper Pelling · ₹₹SignatureThen-thuk (hand-pulled noodle soup)
Order 20 minutes before you arrive if you can — kitchen is small and dishes are made to order. Skip the continental section and stick to the Tibetan-Sikkimese menu.
Lotus Bakery
Upper Pelling · ₹Signaturefresh-baked apple pie
Cinnamon rolls sell out by mid-morning — get there before 10am. They'll pack a sandwich-and-cake combo for the road if you ask.
Hotel Kabur Restaurant
Main Pelling · ₹₹SignatureVed-thenduk (Sikkimese noodle soup)
Sikkimese menu is on a separate sheet — ask for it. The standard Indian Chinese menu is fine but doesn't show what the kitchen actually does well.
Big Bowl
Upper Pelling · ₹₹Signaturepork chilli with steamed momos
Tables turn slowly — order before you sit if you're catching the Pemayangtse Monastery sunset. The chocolate pancake is the unexpected dessert.
What else to see in Pelling
Rabdentse Ruins
Ruins of the second capital of Sikkim (1670-1814). Short forest trek to the ruins with Kanchenjunga views.
monument1-2 hoursPelling Skywalk
Glass-floor skywalk at 7,200 ft with 360-degree views of Kanchenjunga and surrounding peaks.
viewpoint30 minKhecheopalri Lake
Sacred "Wish-Fulfilling Lake" revered by Buddhists and Hindus. No leaves are allowed to float on the surface.
lake1 hourPemayangtse Monastery
One of Sikkim's oldest monasteries (1705). Houses an extraordinary 7-tier wooden sculpture of heaven.
monastery1 hour
Other festivals in Pelling
Other festivals in June, elsewhere
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