Pedong (community development block)

Pedong
Community development block
Coordinates: 27°10′N88°38′E / 27.17°N 88.64°E / 27.17; 88.64
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Kalimpong
Languages
• Official	Nepali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha constituency	Darjeeling
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kalimpong
Website	kalimpong.gov.in

Pedong is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Kalimpong subdivision of the Kalimpong district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

In July 2021, the Kalimpong II CD block was broken up into two separate blocks named Pedong and Lava. The headquarter of the Pedong CD block is at Pedong and the headquarter of the Lava CD block is at Algarah. ^{[1] [2]}

Geography

A little north of the erstwhile Darjeeling district, the snow-capped mountain range forms the main Himalayan mountain range. Ranges extending from the main Himalayas pass through Darjeeling district. To the northwest is the towering Kanchenjunga (8,579 m) and to the northeast is Dongkya (7,066 m). The Singalila Range slopes southwards from the Kanchenjunga to form the border between India and Nepal. Manebhanjung, Sandakphu and Falut are popular trekking in this mountain. It continues to extend south and southeast through other areas including Tonglu and Senchal forming the Darjeeling Hills west of the Teesta. To the east of the Teesta, a high ridge extends south to Dongkha and bifurcates at Gipmochi (3,511 m), forming two bifurcations containing the Jaldhakar valley. The lower part of this hilly region forms the Kalimpong Hills. Four large mountain ranges spread out from a point on Ghum Hill. The first is the sleepy mountain range on the western side of the settlement; The second is the Senchal-Mahaldiram range, which slopes south towards Karsiong. Its highest point is Tiger Hill (2,595m) in East Senchel. The third, the Takdah or Takbu range, slopes north-eastwards to a point above the confluence of the Bara Rangit and the Teesta; The fourth is the Darjeeling Jalpahar range, which extends northwards towards Darjeeling. ^[3]

The Pedong Block is part of the Kalimpong Ridge. Average altitude ranges from 500 to 3,000 meters above sea level. ^[4]

To the north of the Pedong block is the East Sikkim district of Sikkim, to the south and west is the Lava CD block and to the east is the Gorubathan CD block. ^[5]

The block has 1 Panchayat Samiti and 6 Gram Panchayats. It is under Jaldhaka Police Station. ^[6] The block is located in Sadar Pedong.

Gram panchayats in Pedong CD block are: Kashyong, Lingseykha, Pedong, Kagey, Lingsay and Siyakiyong. ^[7]

References

1. "Kalimpong gets new block in Pedong". The Telegraph, 6 July 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
2. "Kalimpong district gets a Pedong Block". Millenniumpost. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
3. "District Gazeteer" (PDF). Pages 5-7 Physical aspects. District administration. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
4. "District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India" (PDF). Page 13: Physiography. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
5. "Sikkim Tehsil Map". Maps of India. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
6. "Search a Police Station". Kalimpong Police. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
7. "Kalimpong". District Profile. District administration. Retrieved 21 September 2024.