Pedong

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  ?Pedong
West Bengal • India
Map indicating the location of Pedong
Thumbnail map of India with West Bengal highlighted
Location of Pedong
 Pedong 
Coordinates: 27°09′N 88°37′E / 27.15, 88.62
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
Elevation

• 1,240 m (4,068 ft)
District(s) Darjeeling
Population 19,000 (2001)
Codes
Pincode
Telephone
Vehicle

• 734 311
• +03552
• WB-78, 79

Coordinates: 27°09′N 88°37′E / 27.15, 88.62 Pedong (pop. 19,000 est.) is a town in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal, located at 27.15° N 88.6167° E. It lies twenty kilometres east of Kalimpong on the way to Lava at an altitude of 1,240 metres (4.071 feet). The town which is located on a ridge, commands a panoramic view of the Kanchenjunga and the Himalayan mountains. The town is divided into two parts, Upper Pedong and Lower Pedong. Pedong lies on the historic Silk Road that connects India to Lhasa via the Jelepla Pass.

Near Pedong are the ruins of Damsanggudi, a fort built in 1690. Built by the Lepchas it was at the centre of the long standing feud with the Bhutias. Later, it was used to ward off the forces of the British East India Company. After the Anglo-Bhutan War of 1864, the fort fell into decay. Another highlight of the town is the Cross Hill, placed by priest Augustine Desgodins in 1882 on his way to Tibet. It is considered to have miraculous powers and is a pilgrimage site for the local Christians. St. George's School is one of the famous boarding schools in the region. So many different nursery schools are in high competition with their best efforts for the better education systems. Different villages as Sakyong, Kasyong, Dalep, Kagey have surrounded this place with their different beautiness of nature. Pedong monastery is another visited location, established in 1837.

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