Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

  The Ridge in Gangtok, known for its long and narrow hilltop, is widely popular today as Ridge Park, a must-see destination for tourists. Some twenty-three years ago, while working as a news reporter for Weekend Review, I first heard of the King Edward bust at Ridge Park and the small, traditional memorial house associated with the King Edward Memorial. Since then, I have struggled to find documents to support this claim. However, I am pleased to have finally found a reference to the King Edward Memorial in the 1922 book, A Concise History of the Darjeeling District Since 1835 with a Complete Itinerary of Tours in Sikkim and the District by E. C. Dozey. While much remains unknown about the original King Edward bust, it was eventually replaced by a bust of John Claude White, which was later succeeded by a bust of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Interestingly, about ten years ago, I discovered the original bust of J.C. White sitting under a tree on the prem...

The Lt. Shanker Lamichaney Chess Tournament 2026 was held on June 7, 2026, at Singtam. 40 players participated in the tournament and showed great strategic skills across five competitive rounds. In the Under-18 age category, Aarav Pradhan secured the 1st position, followed by Arnav Rai in 2nd place, and Suyog Shital Pradhan in 3rd place, with all three top achievers remaining unbeaten throughout the entire tournament. In the Under-11 age category, the top spot was claimed by Sufiyan Nasim, while Yedhant Agarwal took the 2nd position, and Palak Agarwal finished strong in 3rd position. The event was organized at Euphoria Restaurant, Singtam, in collaboration with the Knight Chess Academy Singtam. To support the young local talents of Singtam, the tournament was sponsored by the family of Lt. Shanker Lamichaney – Mrs. Devika Lamichaney (his wife) and sons – Ashish Lamichaney and Anand Lamichaney. Notably, this is the very first time a chess tournament has been hosted inside a restaurant...

  Local chess talents Suyog Shital Pradhan and Aarav Pradhan have officially secured their FIDE ratings following a stellar performance at the recently concluded 6th Dolakha International Chess Tournament 2026 in Nepal. Suyog earned a standard rating of 1495 and a rapid rating of 1595, while Aarav achieved a standard rating of 1478 and a rapid rating of 1570.

 

14.04.26: East Point Senior Secondary School, in technical collaboration with the Sikkim Chess Association (SCA), successfully hosted the inaugural 1st East Point Inter-School Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 today. The event saw a massive turnout of nearly 300 students representing 30 schools from across the region, gathered to compete in a showcase of intellectual skill and discipline. The tournament was graced by Chief Guest Smt. Kusum Tamang (President, West Pendam GPU), alongside SCA President Shri Lila Prasad Acharya and other distinguished guests. Director Nishant Subba emphasized that the event aligns with NEP 2020 guidelines, promoting holistic education by encouraging students to engage in sports that build concentration and strategic thinking. The competition was fiercely contested across multiple age groups, highlighting the growing chess talent in Sikkim. In the Under 7 category, Aavya Agarwal (Girls) and Nivaan Agarwal (Boys) secured first place, followed by runners-up Tritya ...

06.04.26: A Dental Health Camp was held at Dongeythang Primary School under the National Oral Health Program. It was organized by Sang PHC in association with the school to spread awareness about dental and overall health. A total of twenty-five students, eleven school staff members, and seven parents attended the camp. Officials from Dongeythang PHSC were also present and conducted free blood pressure (BP) and blood sugar tests, which benefited everyone. The camp included free dental check-ups, simple brushing demonstrations, and guidance on how to take care of teeth. The visiting doctors, Dr. Bindhya Sharma and Dr. Anjulika Sharma, Dental Surgeons from Sang PHC, along with the Mrs. Indira Sharma (ANM), Mrs.Tika Bhattrai, and Mrs. Kabita Sharma, officials from Dongeythang PHSC were warmly welcomed by the Headmaster with khadas. Dr. Bindhya Sharma also conducted a short awareness session where she explained easy and correct ways of brushing teeth. The students found the session ver...

  The release of the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khangchendzonga National Park, was held at Hotel Tibet, Gangtok. The event took place in the presence of Shri Supriyo Ghosh, Postmaster General (Mails & Business Development), West Bengal Circle; Shri Suraj Thatal, Conservator and Field Director of Khangchendzonga National Park; Shri Ivan Lepcha, Principal of Paljor Namgyal Girls’ SSS; and Shri Shital Pradhan, an eminent philatelist of the region. The cancellation design features a Red Panda in its habitat, set against a stunning mountain backdrop.

11.03.26, Adampool, Gangtok: The state-level philatelic exhibition, Sikkimpex 2026, concluded with a vibrant celebration of history and heritage. A major highlight of the opening day was the release of two Special Covers dedicated to traditional Lepcha musical instruments: the Pumtong (bamboo flute) and the Tungbuk (plucked instrument), further cementing the event's focus on Sikkim’s indigenous culture.  In a unique move to bridge generations, a Time Capsule Mail was also established; these special messages were sealed to be cleared exactly ten years from now, on March 10, 2036. In the School Category, North Point Academy claimed the top spot (1st Mark) for their global theme, "Heal the World," followed by Reconocer Academy in 2nd and 3rd. The Senior Category saw Nilema Yonzone earn a "Large Silver" (LS) for "Women Empowerment," while Abhishek Prasad, Anand Yonzone, and Deepen Pradhan secured "Silver" (S) honors. Avishu Pradhan led the Juni...

Two Special Covers was released during the  SIKKIMPEX 2026.  Pumtong Pulit is a traditional bamboo wind instrument of the Lepcha community of Sikkim, deeply rooted in their cultural and religious life. Tungbuk is a three string instrument of the Lepcha community of Sikkim that plays a central role in Lepcha folk music, storytelling, and spiritual practices deeply revered for its rich cultural significance and distinctive acoustic quality.