West Sikkim · Road guide
Jorethang to Pelling
Jorethang to Pelling is about 50 km and 2 hours via Legship and Gyalshing. Jorethang is the lowland junction where most roads from Siliguri, NJP, Bagdogra and Darjeeling enter West Sikkim.
Photo: Santanu Paul · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Your options
How to make the trip
Shared jeep
2–2.5 h · ≈ ₹150–250 a seat
Jorethang's busy taxi stand sends shared jeeps to Legship, Gyalshing and sometimes Pelling through the day. Change at Gyalshing if no direct Pelling jeep is leaving. From Siliguri, shared jeeps to Gyalshing pass through Jorethang and cost indicatively ₹500–650 for the whole run.
Private car
1.5–2 h · ≈ ₹2,500–3,500 one way; ₹5,500–7,500 from NJP or Bagdogra
Most of our guests coming from NJP or Bagdogra (about 135–145 km, 5–6 hours) pass through Jorethang in a private car: Siliguri–Sevoke–Teesta Bazaar–Melli on NH10, then Jorethang, Legship and Gyalshing. If NH10 is closed, drivers can come via Darjeeling to Jorethang instead.
Fares are indicative. Landslides, snow and check-post timings change journeys: check current status before you travel.
On the way
Stops worth the time
- Jorethang bazaar
- Rangeet river at Legship
- Gyalshing
NH10 between Sevoke and Melli closes after monsoon slides, so check current status before you travel and ask us about the Darjeeling road.
Questions travellers ask
Jorethang to Pelling: questions
How do I get from NJP or Bagdogra to Pelling?
By road, about 135–145 km and 5–6 hours, via Sevoke, Melli, Jorethang, Legship and Gyalshing. A reserved car costs indicatively ₹5,500–7,500. Shared jeeps from Siliguri go to Gyalshing for about ₹500–650 a seat, then a local taxi covers the last 10 km. In the monsoon allow extra time.
How far is Jorethang from Pelling?
About 50 km, around 2 hours by car, via Legship and Gyalshing. Jorethang is a low, warm market town on the Rangeet at roughly 300 m, while Pelling sits at about 2,150 m, so the road climbs steadily for most of the way. Shared jeeps cost about ₹150–250.
What if NH10 is closed?
NH10 between Sevoke and Melli is the usual road from Siliguri, and it closes after monsoon slides. The alternative is to drive via Darjeeling and down to Jorethang, which adds an hour or two. Our drivers track road news each morning. Check current status before you travel.
Is Jorethang worth a stop?
It is mainly a transport and market town, useful for an ATM, lunch and fuel. Nearby sights such as Namchi's Char Dham and Samdruptse are in Namchi district and can be added with a private car if you have an extra 3–4 hours. Otherwise most travellers pass straight through to Pelling.
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