Darjeeling Tourism & Travel Guide - Tourist Places near Darjeeling

Darjeeling Tour & Travel Guide - Tourist Places near Darjeeling

Gangtok

The capital of Sikkim, Gangtok is not just beautiful but also one of the cleanest cities you would see in India. A popular haunt of trekkers, it has beautiful landscapes and abounds in waterfalls. Largely Buddhist, it has a number of beautiful monasteries such as the Rumtek Monastery – a lovely four-storied shrine, enrobed in jewel colours of green, red and yellow. Intricate hand-painted murals adorn the walls and there’s a ten feet idol of Sakyamuni Buddha in the main hall. Other popular places to visit are the Banjhakri Falls,  the Do Drul chorten, the Namgyal Institute of Technology and Changu (or Tsomgo) Lake.

Lachung

A small hamlet in the mountains, Lachung has been recognized as Sikkim’s ‘most picturesque village’ and its lush forests, snow capped peaks and mountain streams, all stand testament. The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is particularly breathtaking, a unique destination by virtue of several species of rhododendron trees, hot sulphur springs and glacial streams that run through it. If you are a nature lover, Lachung will find a place in your heart like no place ever has.

Pelling

A small picturesque Sikkimese town in the district of Geyzing, Pelling promises to take every traveller’s breath away with beautiful alpine mountain ranges and waterfalls that tumble down with amazing alacrity. At 6800 metres above sea level, it is often chosen as a base camp for trekkers, and offers terrific views of several snow capped Himalayan peaks and ranges such as the Kanchenjunga, Dom, Kumbhakarna and Kotan. The Khecheopari lake, in the midst of dense forests, is a beautiful lake and considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Also known as the ‘Wishing Lake’, like many others in different parts of the world, it is also considered to fulfill wishes of all those who pray to it sincerely.