Good month · West Sikkim
West Sikkim in January
Pelling −1 to 11 °C, frost, clear skies
Photo: Santanu Paul · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cold, dry and often very clear. Kangchenjunga stands sharp at sunrise from Pelling's helipad and the Pemayangtse ridge, and rooms are cheaper than in autumn. Nights drop near freezing in Pelling and Uttarey, and snow can dust the Singalila Ridge. The Goecha La trail is snowbound and most agencies do not run it. A good month for monasteries, photography and quiet roads if you pack warm layers.
- Weather
- Pelling −1 to 11 °C, frost, clear skies
- Rating
- Good
- Best months
- Mar – May · Oct – Dec
Book a room with a heater or extra blankets, and plan sunrise from the helipad viewpoint.
Where to go
Our picks for January
town
Pelling2,150M
Pelling
West Sikkim's base, facing Kangchenjunga across the Rangeet
monastery
Pemayangt…2,085M
Pemayangtse Monastery
Sikkim's senior Nyingma monastery, home of the Zangdok Palri model
lake
Khecheopa…1,700M
Khecheopalri Lake
The sacred lake where birds are said to clear the fallen leaves
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartFestivals
On the calendar in January
Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims…
Maghe Purne at Khecheopalri Lake
On the full moon of Magh, pilgrims from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Nepal and Bhutan gather at the sacred Khecheopalri Lake to pray and …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartMost festival dates follow the lunar calendar and move each year. Ask us for the date in the year you travel.
Packages
Trips at their best in January
Questions travellers ask
West Sikkim in January
Is January a good time to visit West Sikkim?
Cold, dry and often very clear. Kangchenjunga stands sharp at sunrise from Pelling's helipad and the Pemayangtse ridge, and rooms are cheaper than in autumn. Nights drop near freezing in Pelling and Uttarey, and snow can dust the Singalila Ridge. The Goecha La trail is snowbound and most agencies do not run it. A good month for monasteries, photography and quiet roads if you pack warm layers.
What is the weather like in West Sikkim in January?
Pelling −1 to 11 °C, frost, clear skies. Conditions differ by altitude and coast, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in West Sikkim in January?
We suggest Pelling, Pemayangtse Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake. Book a room with a heater or extra blankets, and plan sunrise from the helipad viewpoint.
Get my price
Travelling in January?
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed