Visiting Pelling once is not enough to create memories of a lifetime. Each time you visit, you will bring back great memories to cherish.  

Pelling has its own history, natural beauty, and culture. From here you can get a panoramic view of the mountain ranges, which are often covered in snow during winters, including Mt. Khangchendzonga, which is breathtakingly close—as if you are watching a picture right in your hand. Also, Pelling is famous for trek routes, numerous waterfalls, and old monasteries. 

Unknown pilgrimage site in Pelling

Among the oldest monasteries and historical caves in Pelling is a holy pilgrimage site that was discovered a few years ago in Singyang village. This is located around the Bemkyung (stream) area, which gets deeper and wider during monsoon season. Not much information is available on it but according to the locals, it is said that the owner of the land who used to herd the animals and collect fodder in that area discovered it. The pilgrimage site houses a big stone with carvings around it. According to the Buddhist monks, it is a depiction of Dorjee Phamo (Dakini), a female goddess.  A Dakini is a sacred female spirit or a female messenger of wisdom. Dakinis can have many figures ranging from beautiful to wrathful. It is also known as “khando.” 

Carvings depicting the Dakini

The carvings on the stone depict the 109 holy lakes of Sikkim. According to the Nay-Sol ritual text, there are 109 sacred lakes associated with various protective deities of the Buddhist religion and are mostly situated in extreme North Sikkim.  During the time of political demarcation of the land with neighboring countries, some of the sacred lakes fell under Nepal and some in China-Tibet territory. Some of the lakes depicted in the stone still remain unidentified due to their location in inaccessible or unknown places. 

Carvings depicting the holy lakes of Sikkim

It is believed that the whole history of the sacred lakes of Sikkim can be found in that Dakini’s stone depiction. Not only lakes but there are other carvings, which hold many meanings according to the holy text of the Buddhists. Locals believe that if they travel to this pilgrimage site, it is par to travelling to all the sacred lakes of Sikkim like Kheculperi, Kathok, and Gurudongmar. When this pilgrimage site was discovered, Buddhist monks held a grand puja dedicated to the female goddess. One can even find many small stones around this Dakini, including prayer flags, butter lamps, and so on. 

Small stones surrounding the Dakini

Ask any of the locals and they will be quite pleased to share the history, meaning, and discovery of this place. Sometime in the future, they want to build a monastery associated with the Dakini’s stone depiction.

Discover a part of history

It’s not often that you come across interesting places that hold a sense of mystery about them. This was the story I heard from one of my monk uncles when I visited Pelling a few years ago, and I believe when I visit it again, I’ll get to hear other versions or tales associated with this pilgrimage site, and I can’t wait to find out!