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Route · Gangtok
Gangtok to Pelling is about 115–130 km and 5–6 hours, down to Singtam, up through Ravangla, down to Legship and up again via Geyzing. Shared jeeps cost about ₹400–600 a seat, often with a change at Geyzing; a reserved car about ₹4,500–6,000.
A few shared jeeps run from Gangtok to Pelling in the morning; more go to Geyzing (Gyalshing), the district town 10 km below, where you change for Pelling for a small extra fare. Ask your hotel which Gangtok stand they leave from that season and buy the seat a day ahead. Leave by 8 am to arrive in daylight.
A reserved car lets you stop at Ravangla's Buddha Park or Temi tea garden on the way, which adds an hour or two. Split between four, it is good value. Agree the route and stops before you leave, as drivers sometimes go round via Namchi and Jorethang instead of Ravangla when landslides or repairs block the road.
Local tip: Sit on the left side of the jeep after Ravangla for the best views of the Kanchenjunga range on clear mornings.
Questions people ask
About 5–6 hours by car for 115–130 km, depending on the route and road repairs, and up to 6.5 hours by shared jeep with a change at Geyzing. The road drops to Singtam on the Teesta, then climbs through Ravangla before dropping to Legship. Landslides in the monsoon can add hours, so check current status before you travel.
A few run in the morning in the main seasons, for about ₹400–600 a seat. More often you take a jeep to Geyzing (Gyalshing) and change there for the last 10 km to Pelling. Ask your hotel the day before which Gangtok stand they leave from, and buy the seat early in October and May.
Yes, in a reserved car. Temi tea garden and Ravangla's Buddha Park both sit on or near the Gangtok–Pelling road, and a driver can stop at both for an hour or so each, making a full day. Shared jeeps do not wait, so this works only with a car you hire.
Either works. Many people start in Gangtok, for the permit trips, and end in Pelling and Yuksom, then go down to Siliguri via Jorethang, about 5 hours. That avoids doubling back. If Pelling is your first stop, reverse it and finish in Gangtok.
Plan with a local
Where you want to go, how many of you, and roughly what you want to spend a day. A planner who lives in these hills replies within one working day with a route and every rupee written down.