Gyalshing is the district headquarter of West Sikkim. West Sikkim witnessed the consecration in the wilderness of 'Chogyal' or Dharma Raja, the birth of a dynasty and the spread of Buddhism. 

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Pelling:
Distance - 117 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  2,085 m
STD Code:  03595
Hotels: Newa Regency(258596), Dzongree Hotel(250664); Hotel Garuda(250614); Hotel Haven(258238) ; Hotel Kabur(250685); Hotel Pelling(258232); Hotel Simvo(258246); Hotel Sitara(258211); The Touristo(250678/ 258206); Hotel View Point(250638); Window Park(250551) Kyide Khang(250660); Magnolia Lodge(258233); Norbu Gang(250566); Norbu Gang Resort(258245); Pham Rong Hotel(258218); Resort Stellate(250571); Samtenling Hotel(250689); Sister Family Guest House(250569)

Pelling, a quiet village in West Sikkim houses the famous Pemayangtse Monastery and has now turned into a bustling tourist destination and has come up with numerous hotels and lodges.

From here one can view Mt. Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Siniolchu and other ranges. At The hillock is Pemayangtse monastery, the sublime lotus, the premier monastery in Sikkim belonging to Nyingmapa sect and is head of all other monasteries of the sect in Sikkim...More

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Pemayangtse:
Distance - 120 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  7000 ft.
Hotels: Hotel Mount Pandim is located just across the monastery( 03595/50-756)
Pemayangtse Monastery, the sublime lotus is the premier monastery in Sikkim. It is the oldest monastery here and houses priceless thankas, icons, Buddhist texts, paintings and frescos. Built on the 18^th century AD, this monastery follows the Nyingmapa sect of the Tibetan Buddhism. On the top floor of the temple, there lies the Architectural Design of Heaven called the Zangdoplari. It's a masterpiece art crafted single handedly out of wood by the late Dungzim Rimponche and photography is prohibited. The walls of this area is hundreds of years old and are original and on vegetable paintings...More

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Khecheopalri Lake:
Distance - 24 or 33 km ( from Pemayangtse )
Hotels: Trekker's hut has been provided by the Tourist Department. There is also a pilgrim's hut, managed by the Tourism Department, which is meant to provide accommodations to the people who come on pilgrimage tours.
This lake is also known as the wishing lake. This unusually tranquil lake, surrounded by verdant forest  is considered as one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim both by the Buddhist and the Hindus and no water sport or other activities besides prayers are allowed around it. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface. The vicinity of the lake is an ideal place to find the Lepcha Houses and their communities.

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Yuksam/ Yuksom:
Distance - 124 km( from Gangtok ) ; 40 km ( from Pemayangtse )
Altitude -  1780 m
STD Code: 
Hotels: Hotel Tashigang

The hamlet of Yuksam is set amidst pristine hills and lakes, where according to the historical records and it was here in 1641 AD the first Chogyal (King) Phuntsok Namgyal of Sikkim was consecrated by the three wise lamas. Yuksam literally means the meeting place of the three learned monks. This was the first capital of Sikkim. The Norbugang Chorten and the Coronation

© Deepak Bardewa

throne are the silent witnesses to the event of 1641.

This quaint little village  is also the starting point for all the treks into West Sikkim like Dzongri and Goechala...more

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Tashiding:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
STD Code:  03592
Hotels: Siniolchu Guest House.

About 16 km away from Yuksam and about 40 Kms from Gyalshing, via Legship is this important monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa order. It was built on the top of a hill that looms up between the Rathong river and the Rangit river, where a rainbow emanating from Mount Khangchendzonga came to an end. At first only a small Lhakhang was built by Ngadak Sempa Chempo in		© Alexander J. Beecroft
the 17th Century. The main monastery was built by Pedi Wangmo during the reign of Chakdor Namgyal and some of the statues built then still exist. The sacred objects of worship in Tashiding are the chorten Thongwa Rangdol and Bumchu( holy water). The chorten was built by the Lhatsun Chenpo and it is believed that merely to view the chorten is enough to cleanse one of all sins.Carved skillfully on flagstones surrounding the monastery are holy Buddhist mantras like 'Om Mane Padme Hum' by the master craftsman Yanchong Lodil.  The heart of Sikkimese Buddhism as Guru Padmasambhava considered so and houses the Tashiding Monastery along with Sacred Thongtwa Chorten. Its so holy that even a slight glimpse of cleanses all sins. Rich environment flooded with oranges and cardamoms and gateway to Borong hot springs, ideal for soft treks and perfect Sikkimese village in the setting.

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Uttaray:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
STD Code:  03595
Small hamlet situated at the extreme southwest corner of Sikkim. Base camp for Singalila trek. 

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Barshay/ Versay:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  10500 ft.
Rest House: Shambala Village Resort.

Located in the extreme west is noted for rhododendrons. It's a huge Rhododendron forest, is a must visit experience trip during the flowering season from mid march to April end. The whole forest is aflame with riot of Rhododendron Flowers with hues raging from blood red to pure white and against the back drop of the mountains its truly an unforgettable experience ...more

© Tripty

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Biksthang:
Distance - 119 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  4200 ft.
STD Code:  03595
Hotels: The Bliss Resort (252284/252285)

A short distance from Pelling is the small hamlet of Biksthang. Also know as Chuchen and Mangalbaray, calm, serene and tranquil natural surrounding  is the main attraction of Biksthang. It is a new and upcoming tourist destination in West Sikkim and you can watch the majestic Khangchendzonga and its lesser peaks standing tall from dawn to dusk on a clear day.

© The Bliss Resort

The Bliss Resort is a perfect gateway if you want to be surrounded by nature away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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Legship:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.
STD Code: 
Hotels: Hotel Trishna, Siniolchu Guest House 
This gateway to western Sikkim, has a holy Hindu Shrine of Lord Shiva on the banks of river Rangit. A must visit for all tourists specially the Indian Traveller. The festival of the temple takes place in the month of November known as the Bala Chaturdesi. Legship also houses the first ever built dam in the state for hydro electricity purpose. The water accumulated in the dam is used for Rangit Water World and local folks come here for picnics and rafting.

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Rinchenpong:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.
STD Code: 
Hotels: Rinchenpong Village Resort
The upcoming tourist spot in the western part of Sikkim, has a magnificent command over the mountain views, sunsets and rise, flora and fauna, village tourism ,historical sites and heritage of Resum Monastery, old as time. Rich forests and ample area for soft treks.

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Reshi Hot Springs:
Distance - 25 km ( from Gyalshing )
These hot springs are located near Reshi on the River Rangit. One has to walk about ten minutes from the highway across the river Rangit by a pedestrain bridge to reach the hot springs. The water of these springs has medicinal value as it contains sulphur and can cure some skin diseases. People from all over the state and neighbouring Darjeeling come here during the winter months and spend days together lying submerged in the soothing water of the hotspring. There are a couple of trekkers huts for the convenience of the tourists. These springs also considered very holy as one of the four holy caves is located here. This holy cave is called the Kadosang Phu or cave of the occult fairies and lies on the south of the four cardinal points.

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Rabdentse:  
Distance - km ( from Gyalshing )
Altitude -  ft.

This was the second capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim after Yuksam and till the year 1814 A.D., the king of Sikkim had ruled the state from this place. Today, the Rabdentse ruins lie hidden from the main road at a walking distance from the tourist lodge and the Pemayangtse monastery. It can be approached by following a footpath which branches off the main road.		Courtesy & © Siniolchu Tours & Travels
The scenic view from the top of the ruin scanning across deep valley to the mystic heights of Khangchendzonga ranges is something to be cherished and etched in memory.

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Norbugang:
Distance - 15 min walk from Yuksam
True to the prophecy of Tibet's founder of Buddhism, Guru Rimpoche, some nine centuries prior, three learned Lamas, Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Kathok Rigzin Chenpo, Nga-Dak Sempa Chenpo, gathered at Yuksam in 1642 from various directions and enthroned Chogyal Phuntsog as the first religious king of Sikkim.

A stone throne shaded by a 300 year old fir still stands here today. A foot print in stone in front of the throne is said to belong to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, and a nearby chorten (stupa) contains soil and water from all over Sikkim. Thus Yuksam occupies an important place in Sikkimese history as the first capital, and Norbugang as an historic cultural site maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Norbugang is easily reached on a 15 minute walk from Yuksam.

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