How to reach Ravangla — from Bagdogra, New Jalpaiguri, Gangtok, Namchi and Pelling
How to reach Ravangla, South Sikkim: Bagdogra 127 km, New Jalpaiguri 119 km, Gangtok 68 km, Namchi 30 km and Pelling 41 km by road, with measured times.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Things to do in Ravangla — the Buddha Park, Ralang, the Tibetan settlement and Maenam
Things to do in Ravangla, South Sikkim: the 130-foot Buddha at the Buddha Park, Ralang Monastery, the Tibetan settlement, mountain views and birds, and Maenam.
Ravangla, on its pass at about 8,000 feet, is a quiet base in South Sikkim. Five things to do, nearest first, with our measured road times.
Photos: Joydeep (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
1. The Buddha Park
About 3 minutes from the town, the Buddha Park of Ravangla holds a 130-foot copper statue of the Buddha, built between 2006 and 2013.
2. Ralang Monastery
About 24 minutes away, Ralang Monastery is a large monastery of the Kagyu school, rebuilt between 1975 and 1981, with a newer monastery added in 1995.
3. The Tibetan settlement
About 1 km from the market, the settlement spreads over seven camps and about 328.5 acres, with some 1,300 people, a school, two monasteries and a clinic, by Wikipedia's account. Walk through respectfully and ask before photographing people.
4. The mountains and the birds
On a clear day Kanchenjunga, Pandim, Siniolchu and Kabru stand to the north. The forests around the town are full of birds: Wikipedia names verditer flycatchers, blue-fronted redstarts and white-browed fantails as common, and the rare satyr tragopan.
5. Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
The trek into the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, about 35 km² of forest established in 1987, starts from Ravangla. Its name means treasure-house of medicines. We have no verified walking time, route or entry rule, so ask in the town first.
When to come
Spring for the rhododendrons and orchids, autumn for clear mountains; see the best time to go and how to reach Ravangla.
Places around Ravangla
The Ravangla guide →
Ravangla town — the pass town with a Tibetan settlement and mountain views
Buddha Park of Ravangla — the 130-foot Buddha above South Sikkim
Ralang Monastery, Ravangla — a large Kagyu monastery of thangkas
Tashiding Monastery — the holiest hilltop monastery in Sikkim
Pemayangtse Monastery, Pelling — the old Nyingma seat on the ridge
Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling — the second capital of Sikkim's kings
More stories to read
All stories →
Best time to visit Ravangla — rhododendrons in spring, clear mountains in autumn
When to visit Ravangla, South Sikkim: orchids and rhododendrons in April and May, clear mountain views in autumn, winter snow up high, and the monsoon roads.
Things to do in Haridwar — 5 sites, and how far each is
Five things to do in Haridwar by distance from the ghat: Har Ki Pauri, the Maya Devi Temple, Chandi Devi, Kankhal and Mansa Devi, with measured times.
Things to do in Namchi — two great statues, a monastery, Sikkim's only tea garden and Kitam
Things to do in Namchi: Siddhesvara Dham's Shiva, the Samdruptse Padmasambhava, Namchi Monastery, the Temi Tea Garden, Kitam and the Mamley stromatolites.
Best time to visit Joshimath — Auli's snow in winter, the valley's flowers in summer
When to visit Joshimath and Auli: winter for Auli's ski slopes, June to October for the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib, with IMD figures for the town.
How to reach Haridwar — distances and drive times
How to reach Haridwar from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Roorkee and Rishikesh by road, with measured times, plus the railway station and the nearest airport.
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Today on HimLocal
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.
Questions people ask
What is Ravangla famous for?
For the Buddha Park, with a 130-foot copper statue of the Buddha completed in 2013, and for its views: Wikipedia lists Kanchenjunga, Pandim, Siniolchu and Kabru among the peaks seen from the town. Ralang Monastery and a Tibetan settlement are close by.
Is Ravangla good for birdwatching?
Wikipedia says Ravangla attracts many Himalayan birds, naming white-browed fantails, grey bush chats, blue-fronted redstarts and verditer flycatchers as common, with laughing thrushes, babblers, cuckoos and hill partridges in the forests around, and even the rare satyr tragopan at times.
What is the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary?
A sanctuary of about 35 km² at Ravangla, established in 1987, whose name means treasure-house of medicines for its medicinal plants; Wikipedia says the trek into it starts from Ravangla. We have no verified walking time or entry rule, so ask the forest office in town first.