Where is it?
Ravangla is a small town situated in South Sikkim between Pelling and Gangtok. Along with clear views of Himalayan peaks from here, this place is laden with a variety of Himalayan flowers during the flowering season.
How to get there?
Bagdogra in West Bengal is the nearest airport. From there, most taxis are available to Gangtok and a few to Pelling. We made our way to Ravangla via Pelling early in the morning. After a drive of about 2 hours, we reached Ravangla at the Buddha Park and it was a sight to see.
Gypsy’s Trail:
Buddha Park: We arrived at the park around 9:30 AM. With clear blue skies, snow-laden mountains in the background and a huge park in front, an enormous Buddha statue shining in gold captures our imagination. Excited, we make our way to the entrance to get a closer view and we couldn’t seem to get enough of it.
But before we could visit the statue and the shrine there, which was about a few 100 meters from the viewpoint of the park, we were starving. So we stopped at one of the handful tiny shops inside the park. Limited in menu, we had to choose between Maggi and sandwiches for breakfast along with some tea.
The walk to the statue comes with a series of stairs downwards, making way to the lawns which is extremely well maintained, and another series of stairs leading up to the statue and the shrine. The 130 feet statue is surrounded by numerous giant offering bowls filled with water, where visitors and devotees have tossed coins into for good luck.
Photography is not allowed inside the shrine but take a walk around the statue and you are sure to get some terrific pictures.
Additional Places To See: We just stopped by Ravangla for the magnificent Buddha Park. If you have enough time, you can go visit the Samdruptse Hill and the Ralong Monastery.
Our Take:
The Buddha Park is a must visit place. The sheer beauty of the place with the towering Buddha statue glistening in the sunlight is something you don’t want to miss.
Wandering Gypsy 
2 thoughts on “Spellbound at Ravangla”