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A stone and red monastery building with a green-trimmed blue roof and gilded finials seen across a lawn with clipped bushes
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Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu · CC BY 4.0
Day plancultureTemples & heritagebalanced

Tashiding and Yuksom from Pelling — a day on the old pilgrimage circuit

A day from Pelling to Tashiding Monastery, the Norbugang Chorten and Dubdi Monastery at Yuksom, Sikkim's first capital, with road times and the walk up.
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A full day from Pelling along the oldest part of the pilgrimage circuit: Tashiding, the Norbugang Chorten at Yuksom, and Dubdi above the town. Wikipedia describes these as stops on one circuit that also includes Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Sanga Choeling and Khecheopalri. For the sights near Pelling, take the ridge day.

Photos: Anjan Kumar Kundu (CC BY 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Visitors with a day to spare who care about the history of Sikkim, and who are happy with a long drive and a walk up to Dubdi.

Day by day

Day 1

The holiest hilltop and the first capital

3 stops · 54 min on the road

A long day by road: Tashiding is more than an hour from Pelling, and Yuksom is further. Leave early.

  1. 08:30
    Tashiding Monastery
    temple · 1 h 9 min from Pelling · about 1 h there
    The hilltop monastery called the holiest in Sikkim, with its field of chortens.
  2. ↓ 46 min by road · 24 km
    10:45
    Norbugang Chorten
    temple · 1 h 10 min from Pelling · about 45 min there
    The stupa and coronation throne where the first Chogyal was crowned in 1642.
  3. ↓ 8 min by road · 4 km
    11:45
    Dubdi Monastery
    temple · 1 h 16 min from Pelling · about 2 h there
    Sikkim's first monastery, about an hour's walk up from Yuksom; the monk must be told in advance.

Getting there

The day starts in Pelling; see how to reach Pelling.

Where to stay

Stay in Pelling and leave early. We have no verified lodging or prices.

Know before you go

  • Allow for the winding road: Tashiding is about 69 minutes from Pelling on our routing and Dubdi about 76.
  • Tell the Dubdi monk in advance through a local contact, as Wikipedia advises.
  • We have no verified opening hours or fees for any of the stops; ask locally.

Places on this route

Tashiding Monastery — the holiest hilltop monastery in Sikkim
Tashiding Monastery — the holiest hilltop monastery in Sikkim
temple · 1 h 9 min from Pelling
Norbugang Chorten, Yuksom — where Sikkim's first king was crowned
Norbugang Chorten, Yuksom — where Sikkim's first king was crowned
temple · 1 h 10 min from Pelling
Dubdi Monastery, Yuksom — the first monastery of Sikkim, on a hill
Dubdi Monastery, Yuksom — the first monastery of Sikkim, on a hill
temple · 1 h 16 min from Pelling

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Pelling itineraries →
Two days in Pelling — the ridge, Sanga Choeling and Khecheopalri Lake
Two days in Pelling — the ridge, Sanga Choeling and Khecheopalri Lake
1 night · 2 days · culture · Temples & heritage
A two-day Pelling plan: Pemayangtse, the Rabdentse ruins and the skywalk on day one, then Khecheopalri Lake and Sanga Choeling Monastery, with road times.
Best Apr–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
One day in Pelling — Pemayangtse, the Rabdentse ruins and the skywalk
One day in Pelling — Pemayangtse, the Rabdentse ruins and the skywalk
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day plan for Pelling, West Sikkim: Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins of the old capital and the Chenrezig statue and skywalk, with road times.
Best Apr–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Pelling →
Khecheopalri Lake — the wish-fulfilling lake north of Pelling
Khecheopalri Lake — the wish-fulfilling lake north of Pelling
lake · 939 m away
Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling — the second capital of Sikkim's kings
Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling — the second capital of Sikkim's kings
ruins · 4.2 km away
Pemayangtse Monastery, Pelling — the old Nyingma seat on the ridge
Pemayangtse Monastery, Pelling — the old Nyingma seat on the ridge
temple · 4.5 km away
Sanga Choeling Monastery, Pelling — a ridge-top gompa of 1697
Sanga Choeling Monastery, Pelling — a ridge-top gompa of 1697
temple · 7.6 km away
Chenrezig Statue and Skywalk, Pelling — a 42 m statue, a glass walkway
Chenrezig Statue and Skywalk, Pelling — a 42 m statue, a glass walkway
monument · 7.8 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Roofs and hotels of Darjeeling spreading down a steep ridge under distant blue mountain ranges and soft cloud
Darjeeling
29 km away · 3 itineraries · 10 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
38 km away · 4 itineraries · 11 places
A wide view over the houses of Shillong spread across forested hills under a sky of towering white clouds
Shillong
410 km away · 3 itineraries · 6 places
A deep, steep-sided green valley filled with low grey cloud seen from the Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint near Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji
414 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
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Questions people ask

How far are Tashiding and Yuksom from Pelling?

On our routing Tashiding is about 32 km and 69 minutes by road, the Norbugang Chorten about 34 km and 70 minutes, and Dubdi about 38 km and 76 minutes. Wikipedia's own distances for Tashiding vary, so trust the measured road times. Start early, because the day involves a lot of driving.

Can you do Tashiding and Yuksom in one day?

Yes, on a long day from Pelling, but it is mostly driving, and Dubdi is an hour's walk up from Yuksom by Wikipedia's account. Wikipedia gives 19 km between Tashiding and Yuksom. Skip the Dubdi climb if you are short of time or the weather is poor.

When is the best time for this plan?

We have no weather table for Pelling. Darjeeling, at a similar height, has its peak seasons in spring and autumn by Wikipedia's account, so April, May, October and November are our guess. Tashiding's Bumchu festival falls in February or March, when crowds are larger.