Pedong – A picturesque hamlet

Pedong stands on the old silk route that connected India and Tibet through Jelep La. This quaint little hill station is one of the few in north Bengal which is an avalanche of tourists has not managed to spoil.

Nearly 22km from Kalimpong, Pedong is a picturesque hamlet situated on a ridge and surrounded by pine forests. It commands a majestic view of the Kanchenjungha.

The Teesta flows for almost the entire length of the journey from New Jalpaiguri to Pedong. You have to pass the CoronationBridge, Kalimpong, Algaraha and several other tiny hamlets before reaching Pedong.

The sightseeing at Pedong starts with the pine-covered Sillery Gaon, situated at an altitude of 6000ft. From Sillery Gaon you can proceed to the Ramitey viewpoint, from where the Teesta is seen meandering through the valley with the majestic Kanchenjungha in the backdrop. The queen of the Himalayas can be seen playing hide-and-seek with the clouds.

Tin Chuley is another hilltop around Pedong. It also provides a grand view of the forest-covered valley, the Kanchenjungha range, and the towns of Sikkim, Jelep La and Nathu La.

Trekking through the way up to Tin Chuley summit is a great experience. The day tour consists of the lush green Valley of Silence and Sangchhen Gumpha, a Bhutanese monastery built in 1706.

 Damsang fort is visiting place, provided you withstand the deplorable road condition to reach the spot.

After lunch a leisurely stroll to Cross Hill is worth enjoying. In 1882 a Frenchman, Fr Desgodins, had built a cross here to symbolise a place of pilgrimage.

As evening descends, the chirping of crickets and other insects breaks the silence of the hills.  At night the mountain slopes looks as if dotted with dim lights.

From here you can also visit places like Rikkisum, Rishyap and Delo. Rikkisum is situated on the way to Lava. There is an old bungalow, built in 1902 by the British, ideal for picnic or camping.

The beauty of Rishyap cannot be enjoyed fully without spending a night here. Delo is covered by lush green coniferous forests and flower gardens. The hilltop offers a panoramic view of mountain slopes.

Reshi, 17km from Pedong, is located on the banks of the Reshikhola, a small stream that runs through the border of West Bengal and Sikkim.

From Reshi you can go to Aritar in East Sikkim. It is 26km from Reshi and is famous for the AritarLake.

The evening in Reshiis quite romantic. The babbling river, the starry sky and dots of dim light on the hills — all come together to take you to a land of dream.

How to go?

The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and airport is Bagdogra. You can hire a car from NJP or Bagdogra. Pedong is 97 km from NJP via Kalimpong.

Where to stay?

There are many hotels in Pedong. Some of them are as follows:

Damsang Guest House: 9933615828, 9933390727
Pedong Holiday Resort: 9932758187, 9932516125
Damsang Sillery Village Homestay: 993274440, 9932680170

There are two resorts in Reshi:
Reshi Eco Tourism Resort : 9932744407, 9932680170
Prakriti Eco Retreat: 9933489717

Note : Phone numbers given above are according to the information available with us. If you find any contact number/s given above is/are incorrect or not in use, please let us know.