Ravangla
Laid-back South Sikkim town under a 130ft Buddha statue
Best time to visit Ravangla
- Jan, shoulder season
- Feb, shoulder season
- Mar, peak season
- Apr, peak season
- May, shoulder season
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, best avoided
- Aug, best avoided
- Sep, best avoided
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, shoulder season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: March to April and October to November
- Shoulder: May and December to February, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: June to September
Ravangla season by season
Winter December to February Shoulder
Clear, cold mornings at Buddha Park. Good light for the Kanchenjunga range from Tendong hill.
Summer March to May Prime time
Mar-Apr rhododendrons bloom around the park; pleasant before the pre-monsoon haze sets in.
Monsoon June to September Do not go
Cloud cover kills the panoramic views this town is built around; hill roads turn landslide-prone.
Autumn October to November Prime time
Best combination of clear skies and mild days. An easy, uncrowded stop between Gangtok and Pelling.
What Ravangla is actually like
Quiet monastery town, far fewer tourists than Gangtok or Pelling - good for slow days.
Getting to Ravangla
3-4hr shared jeep from Gangtok, en route to Pelling.
Practical ways in: road
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Mid-range
- How busy
- Quiet at its peak
- Solo travel
- Fine solo
- Altitude
- 2135 m
- State
- Sikkim
- Coordinates
- 27.2925, 88.3594
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Ravangla?
March to April and October to November is peak season in Ravangla. May and December to February is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Best combination of clear skies and mild days. An easy, uncrowded stop between Gangtok and Pelling.
How many days do you need in Ravangla?
2 days is the usual stay. Quiet monastery town, far fewer tourists than Gangtok or Pelling - good for slow days.
How do you get to Ravangla?
3-4hr shared jeep from Gangtok, en route to Pelling. Practical ways in: road.
Is Ravangla expensive, and does it get crowded?
Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.
Is there a festival in Ravangla?
Aug-Sep: Pang Lhabsol at Ralang Monastery. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Pelling
Sikkim
Closest hotel-window views of Kanchenjunga in Sikkim
20 km from Ravangla, roughly under an hour by road
-
Namchi
Sikkim
South Sikkim pilgrim town with a 108-ft Shiva and Char Dham
20 km from Ravangla, roughly under an hour by road
-
Yuksom
Sikkim
Sikkim's first capital, trailhead for the Goecha La trek
20 km from Ravangla, roughly under an hour by road
-
Gangtok
Sikkim
Sikkim's capital and gateway: monasteries, MG Marg cafés
40 km from Ravangla, roughly about 1 h by road
-
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (Hilley)
Sikkim
Singalila ridge walk at 3000 m through rhododendron forest
40 km from Ravangla, roughly about 1 h by road
-
Kalimpong
West Bengal
Quiet hill town near Darjeeling - monasteries, nurseries
40 km from Ravangla, roughly about 1 h by road
-
Darjeeling
West Bengal
Queen of the Hills - tea, toy train, Kanchenjunga views
40 km from Ravangla, roughly about 1 h by road
-
Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)
Sikkim
Lepcha-only reserve of cardamom, hot springs and gorges
40 km from Ravangla, roughly under an hour by road
More places to visit in Sikkim
- Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (Hilley) Sikkim
- Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) Sikkim
- Gangtok Sikkim
- Namchi Sikkim
- North Sikkim (Lachen-Lachung) Sikkim
- Pelling Sikkim
- Yuksom Sikkim
- Zuluk Sikkim