Pelling in West Sikkim is renowned for the tallest Chenrezig statue in the world, at 137 feet. But now, it has also become famous for the glass walkway that leads visitors to the statue. This glass skywalk or walkway, has added to the exceptional beauty and serenity of the place.
The skywalk was funded by Government Departments of Culture, Buildings, and Housing, and was inaugurated in 2018. Today, people visit Pelling as much for the glass skywalk as for the Chenrezig statue.
The concept behind the skywalk was to represent the four elements of nature - water, fire, earth, and air. Representing air was the biggest challenge for the team, as it is omnipresent. How then could they remind people about it? That is when they came up with the idea of the glass walkway.
A mesmerizing combination of engineering, architecture, and innovation, the glass skywalk is a magnificent addition to the Bodhisattva statue. The clear, sparkling glass makes people feel that they are walking on air, as the transparency allows them to see everything that lies below.
The glass used to construct the walkway is Vetrotech, which is a sustainable, fire-resistant, and sturdy glass for not only buildings, but the marine sector as well. The Saint-Gobain guarantee of safety allows visitors to not just have a thrilling but safe experience as well.
The Pelling walkway offers brilliant, unobstructed, and panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes: lofty mountains shrouded in mist; verdant greenery, gushing waters, and more. It seamlessly blends with its natural surroundings, creating a smooth flow between Nature and architecture.
Aesthetically appealing, functional, and secure, the walkway is a result of innovative thinking, meticulous planning, and flawless execution. The project was extremely challenging; but thanks to Vetrotech Saint-Gobain glass, the dream envisioned by the team, could be brought into fruition.
The brilliant team of engineers and architects worked with Vetrotech Saint-Gobain to ensure precision and security. As the design stands now, the walkway glass is capable of supporting loads of 500 kg per square metre. The load-bearing glass was customized for the project, ensuring it underwent stringent quality checks at each phase.
Despite the design posing a huge challenge for the structural components and the glass floor itself, Vetrotech Saint-Gobain strived to ensure that the glass would meet the requirements of the project: glass sheets were cut into custom shapes according to the team’s request, and are sturdy enough to withstand the severe elements present in a hilly terrain.
Above all, the glass is very easy to maintain, and employees need to put in minimal effort to keep it looking pristine.
Vetrotech glass can be implemented in a wide range of architectural applications, maintaining aesthetic brilliance while providing utmost safety. Manufactured at the World Glass Complex of Saint-Gobain at Sriperumbudur, Vetrotech glass is exported to over 25 countries.
