Nature · Sanga Choeling Monastery
Spring rhododendrons on the Sanga Choeling ridge
In March and April the forest on the Sanga Choeling ridge flowers with rhododendron and magnolia, turning the short climb into a flower walk with the monastery at the top.
Photo: Spattadar · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sikkim has dozens of rhododendron species, and the tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum) flowers red and pink in the mid-hills around Pelling in early spring. The ridge path to Sanga Choeling passes through mixed forest where flowering trees stand beside oaks and magnolias.
Walk slowly and look up: blooms often grow high in the canopy. Birds such as sunbirds visit the flowers for nectar. The best weeks vary with altitude and weather, usually between late February and April around 2,000–2,200 m.
Higher up, rhododendron season moves to the Goecha La trail and Uttarey's forests in April and May. On the Sanga Choeling ridge you get a taste of it within an hour of your hotel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
When do rhododendrons bloom near Pelling?
Around Pelling, at about 2,000–2,200 m, tree rhododendrons usually flower from late February to April. Higher forests on the Goecha La trail and near Uttarey bloom later, in April and May. Exact weeks vary each year with temperature and rain.
Can I pick rhododendron flowers?
No. Picking flowers or breaking branches harms the forest and is against the rules in protected areas. Photograph them instead. Some local people make rhododendron squash from fallen flowers, which you may find in Pelling shops.
Is the rhododendron walk suitable for seniors?
The path is steep, so seniors should go slowly with rests and a walking stick, or enjoy the trees near the Chenrezig statue without climbing to the top. At about 2,200 m, avoid rushing. Go in the morning when it is cooler.
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