In the verdant hills of Sikkim’s East District, Pendam Fort rests quietly atop a ridge in Central Pendam. Pendam Fort, known as Pendam Dee among the Lepchas, stands as a living monument to Sikkim’s rich and complex history. Spanning 304.8 metres in length and 30.48 metres in width, it occupies a significant 2.3 hectares of land at an altitude of 1,874 metres. Its ruins, however, lie shrouded in neglect and layered narratives, each vying for dominance. Among these, the Lepcha story of Gaeboo Achyok—a warrior king and spiritual leader—remains the most deeply rooted, yet the least acknowledged.