About Kanchenjunga Falls
Kanchenjunga Falls near Pelling in west Sikkim flows in a triple cascade down a rocky cliff face backed by the extraordinary spectacle of the Kangchenjunga massif — the world's third-highest mountain — on clear days. The falls are reached by a short walk from the main Pelling road through rhododendron and oak forest, emerging at a viewpoint where the cascade and the mountain peak are visible in the same frame — one of the most dramatically composed natural sights in Sikkim.
The cascade feeds into the Rani Khola ('Queen's River') which drains through Gyalshing town toward the Rangit. The surrounding forest is part of the buffer zone of the Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ecosystem quality is reflected in the forest's diversity — over 600 orchid species are recorded in the national park, and even the buffer zone around the falls harbours spectacular floral diversity in spring and monsoon.
April–May for rhododendrons and mountain views; September–November for clear skies + good flow.
A telephoto lens (200mm+) can frame the falls with the Kangchenjunga massif in the background — one of India's most extraordinary compound compositions.