boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleOvernight train Delhi → NJP, sleeper (~₹800).
- check_circleShared jeep NJP/Siliguri → Pelling (~₹600/seat, 5–6 hrs) from the SNT stand area — they leave when full, mostly before noon.
- check_circleStayed 4 nights in a family-run homestay in Upper Pelling (~₹900/night including breakfast).
- check_circleJoined shared sightseeing for Pemayangtse + Rabdentse + skywalk (~₹600/person) and split a cab to Khecheopalri Lake with two other guests (~₹400 each).
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Delhi~₹800overnight train, sleeper ~₹800
- 2New Jalpaiguri / Siliguri
- 3Shared jeep~₹600~₹600/seat, 5–6 hrs via Jorethang–Gyalshing
- 4Pelling, Upper Pelling homestay4 nights
- 5Shared sightseeing: Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Skywalk~₹600~₹600
- 6Khecheopalri Lake + Kanchenjunga Falls~₹400split cab ~₹400
- 7Shared jeep (~₹600) → Siliguri/NJP → train → Delhi
articleMy Experience
Pelling doesn’t shout for attention — it just shows you the best Kanchenjunga sunrise of your life and lets that do the talking. My homestay host knocked at dawn: “Kanchenjunga clear hai, jaldi aao.” I watched the whole range turn gold from the terrace, still wrapped in a blanket.
The shared jeep from Siliguri took 5 hours via Jorethang, packed with locals heading home who gave me a running commentary on every waterfall. Days here have a rhythm: slow mornings, one outing, early nights.
The shared sightseeing day covered Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, and the glass skywalk. Khecheopalri Lake was my favourite — a still, sacred lake in the forest where I sat for two hours and wrote half of Wayfare’s early notes. Solo in Pelling felt completely natural.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Delhi → NJP train (sleeper) | ₹800 |
| Siliguri → Pelling shared jeep | ₹600 |
| Homestay, 4 nights × ~₹900 | ₹3,600 |
| Food, 6 days × ~₹350 | ₹2,100 |
| Shared sightseeing day | ₹600 |
| Khecheopalri split cab | ₹400 |
| Pelling → Siliguri shared jeep | ₹600 |
| NJP → Delhi train (sleeper) | ₹800 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: October 2025
lightbulbMoney Saver
Upper Pelling homestays that include breakfast (~₹900/night) beat “cheaper” ₹700 rooms in Lower Pelling with no view and no food. The breakfast alone saves ₹150/day, and the sunrise view is the reason you came.
verified_userReality Check
Shared jeeps both ways and one shared sightseeing day instead of a private cab (~₹4,000+).
Trying to walk to Khecheopalri from Pelling town to “save” the cab fare — it’s 25+ km. I gave up after 3 km and paid for the split cab anyway.
Not confirming the return jeep timing. Pelling’s shared jeeps to Siliguri mostly leave early morning; I nearly missed my train.
How little I spent on “activities.” Pelling’s best experiences — the sunrise, the monastery, the lake — are nearly free.
Yes, and I’d add a day just to sit by Khecheopalri Lake again.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- The last shared jeeps Siliguri → Pelling leave around noon — plan your train arrival accordingly.
- Upper Pelling for views, Lower Pelling for budget; there’s no wrong choice, just know the trade-off.
- October–November has the clearest skies; monsoon (Jun–Sep) hides the mountains for days.
- Mobile data is patchy on the Jorethang–Pelling stretch — download offline maps.
personAbout the Traveler
Written by the Wayfare founder — travelling the Himalayas on a budget and writing down everything, so the next traveler spends less.
Founder stories · real trips, real costs.
forumNaina from Bengaluru
Can I do Pelling as a day trip from Gangtok?
Technically yes (5–6 hrs each way) but I’d strongly advise against it — you’d spend 10+ hours in a car for 3 hours in Pelling. Give it at least 2 nights; the sunrise is the whole point.
How did you find the homestay? Booked online or on arrival?
I booked the first night online (so I had an address to give the jeep driver) and then extended directly with the family for a slightly better rate. October is peak season though — don’t arrive with zero booking.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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