Silent Valley

Hours: 6am - 6pm
Entry: Free
About 5km from the bus stand (2km from Damsang Fort), Silent Valley is exactly what its name promises: a broad green meadow ringed by tall pine trees, where the only sounds are wind in the branches and birds in the undergrowth. It is a wonderful spot for a slow morning walk or a picnic, and the contrast with Pedong's bazaar, never exactly chaotic but busy enough, is immediate and restorative. During the monsoon months of June to September, the meadow floods partially to form Siyal Pokhari, a seasonal lake fringed by emerald grass that makes the landscape look almost impossibly green. The photographic opportunities during and after the rains are extraordinary, though the path can be slippery.