Pelling - God's special artwork 

The poet’s eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,

Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven,

And as imagination bodies forth,

The forms of things, unknown, the poet’s pen,

turns them to shapes and gives airy nothing,

and there lies a small habitation called “PELLING”.

Have you heard of it? Probably yes; probably No. It’s though a small town, it has nested in itself many beautiful hill tops. The town of PELLING is second smallest in size and first in population in its state. This beautiful city lies at an altitude of about 6100ft above the sea level. The road that leads to the small but beautiful town is made-up of multi-directional curves. While we were traversing through, it was pouring down heavily and the terrain was so tough that the visibility was reduced to half a meter. It was like, we were surrounded by clouds and not hills or trees.

Pelling is the closest inhabited town near the highest peak of India, Mt. Kachenjunga (Sikkimese spell it as Kachendzonda).  This mountain is at an altitude of 8686m from the sea level and its only 37kms from Pelling. The scenario, the flora, the fauna left me speechless. When the sun rises in the morning, the first rays fall on the peak of the hunk mountain. The reflection it creates, makes the hilltop studded with pearls and diamonds of various shapes and colors.  It’s the shining ice that forms the crown of the Kachenjunga. It was marvellous, the picturesque has left a deep impression in my heart.  The landscape during the dusk and dawns left me speechless. 

We consider Kashmir to be heaven on earth. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan said – “Agar duniya mein kahi Jannat hai toh, woh yahi hai, yahi hai, yahi hai!” Translated to – “If there is any heaven on earth, it’s here - Kashmir”. This town definitely falls in the same line if not outbeat it.

Clouds in Pelling are like you and me - they wander around us. When I touched them, a nerve of enthusiasm ran from my head to toe. No words can pen down my feeling. It was nothing but great. I was elated, on top of the world. Sky was no more my limit. We have beautiful waterfalls all along the route. Among many, there is one where the ice melts from Kachenjunga and comes rolling down the hills and forms the Kanchenjunga waterfalls. We have special kind of stone called Ting-Ting stone, which is special of its kind because it creates unique melodious sound when hit at a particular side and no sound which hit at an adjacent part. It also houses one of the oldest kingdoms – Yuksom. There is beautiful lake called Kartok Lake. This is one of the oldest lakes of India. Many bridges have been built to connect the hills with one another thus making it tress passable.  A perfect example of human architect. Man with all the might has conquered the toughest terrains. I brought with me bountiful memories and experiences. They shall remain evergreen and always close to my heart. It reminds me of a quote which sums up the beauty -

Nature presently distilled,

Helen’s check but not her heart,

Cleopatra’s majesty,

Sad Lucretia’s modesty,

Thus Rosalind of many parts.

By heavenly synod was devised.

Isnt it true !