Chenrezig Statue and Skywalk

137-foot statue of the bodhisattva of compassion with a glass-floored walkway

One of the newer landmarks around Pelling, the Chenrezig statue stands at 137 feet and is visible from much of the valley. The giant gilded figure of the bodhisattva of compassion dominates its hilltop setting, with Kanchenjunga visible (on clear days) directly behind it.

The attached skywalk is a semi-circular glass-bottomed bridge that lets you walk out over the hillside. It is not for those afraid of heights, but the views across the valley and towards the snow peaks are exceptional. The complex also houses a meditation hall and small museum of Buddhist art. Allow an hour including the walk from the car park.

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A story
Chenrezig — known in Sanskrit as Avalokitesvara — is the bodhisattva of compassion, and this massive statue faces Kanchenjunga as if in perpetual contemplation of the mountain. The glass-floored skywalk that spirals around the base offers views straight down to the valley floor through your feet.