Pedong

The village of Pedong is located in Kalimpong district near the northeast border to Sikkim. It lies at the historic trade route that connects India with Tibet and was previously a halting-place of caravans. The valley of Pedong used to be part of Bhutan until the second half of the 18th century. As a result, Nebesky-Wojkowitz had the opportunity to study customs and religious traditions from Bhutanese living around Pedong. On April 5th 1952, he witnessed and photographed Bhutanese religious dances (Tib. 'chams). In 1956 he filmed and photographed Bhutanese traditional costumes, archery exercises, and a sword dance. During his third journey in 1959, he purchased Bhutanese objects including lama robes, costumes used in religious dances, and scroll paintings – now all kept in the Weltmuseum Wien.

The Sacred Heart Church of the Catholic mission of Pedong, located in the center of the village, is a sign of vivid missionary activities in the area while the Buddhist monastery complex Sangchen Dorje Gompa belonging to the Drugpa Kagyü order lies on the outskirts of Pedong.