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

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS BY PRANIL SUBBA GANGTOK, February 27: ‘Small but Beautiful’ Sikkim has not only bagged yet another tourism award but this Himalayan State has also cemented its position as a most sought-after destination in the nation. This actuality is reflected strongly in the phenomenal growth in terms of tourism flow to Sikkim in 2008 and another national tourism award from the Ministry of Tourism that was given on February 24. The award, national tourism award 2007-08 as the Best State for tourism-related programmes was received by the State tourism secretary SBS Bhadauria from Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the presence of Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni at the awards function held in New Delhi.   Speaking to the media here today, Mr Bhadauria said that this was the 14th major award won by Sikkim in the field of tourism in the last decade due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the State government which had been instrumental in achieving the goals. “The award p...

The historic bell (the new mandir is in the background) I first wrote about this Rongli Shivalaya Mandir bell in 2003, but even to this date, the mere thinking of that bell fascinates me. I never had imagined that a small article would have such an impact that the old mandir was dismantled and the new mandir was set, which is still being completed. More than five years later, when I again decided to re-write an article on this bell, I just wanted to have a first look at that antique metal piece. But this time, I was awaiting more mystery about the bell's whereabouts. I still recall when the century-old Shivalaya Mandir at the heart of the Rongli bazaar was dismantled for renovation in 2004. The relics were kept in Rongli Police Station for safety. This time, my cousin's brother Praveen and I were looking for that historic bell. Still, to our surprise, the personnel at the Rongli Police Station were somewhat surprised to know that such valuable materials were a...

The Vice Chancellor, Sikkim University, Prof Mahendra P Lama met with the President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, who is also the Visitor of Sikkim University. As Visitor of the University, the President of India may from time to time, appoint one or more persons to review the work and progress of the University, including Colleges and Institutions maintained by it and to submit a report thereon. The various appointments to the highest offices of the University, like that of the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor are made by the President of India in her capacity as the Visitor of the University. The Vice Chancellor in his meeting with Madame Patel, the President of India briefed her about the progress made by Sikkim University in these 19 months of its existence. The President was deeply impressed by the progress made by the University and expressed her deep appreciation. She showed great interest in the affairs of the various Colleges and ...

Such is the miracle of the world that I came across a boy in a Mela at Pulbazaar (Bijanbari), Darjeeling who had two heads joined to his single body. I paid him ten rupees to watch him, he was the highlight of the fair...(04.02.2009)

Zaluk The valley where the animal man was spotted Nar Bhadhur Sunar (eye witness) The team we had L.T Bhutia, Swarup Rai,Nar Bhadhur Sunar, Pranay Pradhan, Beren Gurung and Praveen Pradhan (Well i was the photographer here)

  BY SHITAL PRADHAN I was at Zaluk last Friday, the day most of the couples across the globe were busy celebrating Valentine's Day. More or less an exciting adventure was awaiting us when we came to know that there was a Yeti sighting at this remote place in 2004 in April. Zaluk is a small place where the population is below 300 and the world-famous Changu Lake is an hour and a half drive from Rongli Bazaar. We were a five-member team myself, Praveen, Rocky, Swarup, and Beren. The video above is a short interview I took where the prime eye witness Nar Bahadur Sunar confirms that he along with other 10 labourers and a GREF Officer had come across a Yeti in April of 2004 while going for daily work. Sunar a farmer now was working as a baidar then. They were in a vehicle and the "animal man" as he was called was on the other side of the road along the Valley walking on two feet along with the bushes of pareng ( a bamboo variety). The distance between the...

Ok...this was an interesting photograph i found in Corbis website can you say who are they?

Well Uli i am sure without you my article on late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal and his adventure with Ham radio was not possible. So when i get it printed on this monthly magazine from Gangtok i dedicate this article to you. I shall ever remain grateful for the help you provided to me along with those numerous scans. I also thank Rajesh Verma for his inputs on being the only post merger Hams from Sikkim. This article is published in the February issue of Talk Sikkim monthly magazine printed and published from Gangtok.

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS Jiwan Mishra, one of the participants in the Special World Winter Games from India has bagged a silver medal in Alpine Skiing under male category. The 16-year-old hailing from Maney Dara in South Sikkim was one of the six participants from India. The sport event was held at Boise, IDHAO, USA from February 9. He was accompanied by his brother Kapil Mishra and his teacher RP Dhakal. Jiwan, who is studying in Class VI, suffers from mild mental retardation. Expressing happiness on the achievement of Jiwan Mishra, the area director of Special Olympic Bharat, Sikkim Chapter Dr BP Dhakal said, we are really proud of Jiwan as he has not only brought laurels for the state but also for the country. He managed to bring a silver medal despite little training on Alpine Skiing at Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh.  “Nirmal Dahal (the gold medallist) and Jiwan Mishra are a beacon of hope for many physically challenged children,” he said. It may be noted here that Nirmal Dahal from Si...

Singtam Bazaar at late-80s BY SHITAL PRADHAN Singtam at the moment is the busiest town among the four districts and its Friday haat one of the most popular in the entire state. But eight decades back the story wasn’t the same as these days. Those days it was the small siru bazaar of Sirubari (Sirwani) that was well known. People would never mind walking all three days to reach to this place to collect siru. This was the period when bazaar at Singtam was little heard off. But all of a sudden under mysterious circumstances the then popular Siru bazaar came to a halt and today stands an isolated Sirwani that helplessly gape up at vehicles passing by! Jay Dhamala in his book “Sikkim koh Ithihas” speaks about of a place called Shichuthang that was visible from the Bermoik Kazi kothi. The name Shichuthang is present day Singtam, marked the writer. It is familiar that on a clear weather Bermoik Kazi kothi is noticed from this town but it must also be mentioned that the other little known baza...

Singtam from Google Earth   This is the updated version of the earlier article I wrote about the early days of Singtam... When I first read a short biography of Danny Denzongpa in one of the national Bollywood magazines a decade ago, where he mentioned he saw a bus for the very first time in Singtam Town, I was very glad to read the name of my hometown. I never found anyone writing about this place that gave Sikkim its first Nepali novelist in Late Ganga Kaptan. Singtam was once a popular centre for oranges and equally for its weekly Friday haat, but today it is limited to one of the hottest places in Sikkim. Being brought up in the small town of Singtam, it was understandable that I would come across its early history someday. I had heard old folks talk about those pre-merger days in the early 70s when the gathered crowd in Singtam blocked the road near Bhanu Park and stopped the on-the-run Crown Prince in his motor vehicle, forcing him back to Gangtok. During that instant, the pr...

United Democratic Front (UDF) is the name of the new party formed on February 15 that has the Opposition parties in Sikkim joining hand together for the forthcoming election. The parties include Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), Sikkim BJP unit, Sikkim State CPIM Committee, Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) and Sikkim Gorkha Pratantrik Party (SGPP). pic: Sikkim Express

KAPIL THAPA with Kapil Thapa Fan Club at Delhi Pictured shared by Bishal Rai 'Kirath' KAPIL THAPA FAN CLUB – DELHI 'History repeats itself once as a Tragedy and Second Time as a Farce" The ultimate reunion of Gorkhas once again in a quest for identity was dealt with severe torture, hard work, dedication and perseverance. The integration of Gorkhas dates back to 1835 AD, but it repeatedly failed due to catechism. Thus, in an age of realization, an age of McDonald's and Coke, all our young Gorkhas were driven into a world of Modernization and, of course, into the threshold of a corporate world. By virtue of being Gorkhas, we live as Gorkhas worldwide. The world of Gorkhas was never invaded or conquered, and there will be no will to do so in the future. Alexander 'The Great' failed, Napoleon III had a signatory agreement, Hitler had all the praises, and Joseph Stalin paid the homage, not forgetting the British were always in good relations with...

Photographed by Subhash Ranjan Photographer's note "On my way to Gurudongmar lake the land beyond Thangu, North Sikkim became absolutely desolate with beginning of the Himalayan rain-shadow zone of cold desert that merges with Tibetan plateau. The mountains were painted heavenly with the beautiful tones of colors reaching the altitude of almost 20,000 to 25,000 feet ASL. Surprisingly I could see snow on one the side of the peaks only with local yak population grazing in the open pastures located on the steep slopes. I present you this peerless landscape for strange biodiversity India carries with its topography." pic: www.treknature.com

When i first read this letter, or the so called shop license of the shop at Singtam. I could not hide my smile....I found it interesting....did you? This letter dates back to 6.1.1928 send from the Sikkim Durbar, the king then was Chogyal Tashi Namgyal and on record this is the oldest shop in Singtam bazaar.