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

  This was something strange for me but more than that very excited when i first saw this particular species while going to Gangtok today. There was a jam of vehicles where the army vehicle had collided with a Bolero near Sikkim University. Our vehicle was in the queue near Ranipool LPG storage where i came across this banana species planted in-front of a nearby residence. I had never come across such banana with its flower and fruits growing upward. I searched at internet about this strange species, there was nothing exactly i could find but this species finds close resemblance with musa ornata, a banana species of Indian origin,

Postal envelope showing the Rangpo cancellation of 1909 Last year I read in one of the daily newspapers from Gangtok mentioning the heritage status to be given to the Rangpo Post Office for being the second oldest post office in Sikkim. Truly, it is an appreciating gesture but how correct is it to give the year of establishment as 1927. I rushed through other newspapers that carried the story but I did not find any changes in the year of establishment. Surprisingly, being related to philately I felt I need to provide some input about Sikkim's Postal History. So how about this, I have a scan of postal envelopes with a clear postal cancellation of Rangpo that reads 9 October 1909. So it makes a clear picture that Rangpo Post Office was set up prior to 1909.   On a similar account, I read in the newspapers about Rhenock making a bid for the first post office in Sikkim. I am not so sure about the old post offices; here I am talking about the houses in which the post office was se...

New Zealand is a lush, verdant country with so much to offer the holidaymaker in terms of culture, history, art and nature. It's an often overlooked country that really deserves to be visited. Its chief destination and major city is Wellington and it has so much to entice the casual holidaymaker that it's easy to spend time there exploring the sights and sounds. Visiting Wellington One of New Zealand's most vibrant places, this city offers a lot in terms of culture and exciting things to do. For anyone interested in food and drink, it has a wealth of tempting and interesting food tours that take in local markets, cafes and restaurants and are a perfect way to sample local delicacies, coffees and wines. Visitors to Wellington should really leave the diet book and calorie sheet at home. Nature and Culture For those interested in museums, history or art there are many places to whet the appetite. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongewara is not o...

This strange spider i saw at Dalapchand was different of the lots i have come across so far. watch out its four eyes. The most peculiar thing i noticed about this small creature was it jumped at me twice while taking its photograph.

Gyalmo Hope Cooke with Daugther Hope (1972) SOURCE: EBAY

Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal was a popular painter and one such coloured works "Glacier", an oil painting is placed at  the entrance hall of Chumbi Residency at Gangtok.  Time magazine in 1963 in one of its article about Sikkim writes ...." Ever since, India has handled Sikkim’s foreign affairs and defense. Tashi retired into a private life that consisted largely of prayer and painting —he specialized in misty Sikkimese landscapes, and painted one “vision” of the Abominable Snowman, who is pictured as a skinny, jet-black animal with a red face scampering over a snowy summit carrying a nude, pink-skinned lady with an alarmed expression. Tashi conversed with spirits, who are prevalent in Sikkim, looked out at the world through green-tinted glasses, and seemed fashioned of gold, so stiff and heavy were his brocaded robes."

DALAPCHAND, AUGUST 15 : Dalapchand SS celebrated the 65 th Independence Day at their school premises.   PC Rai, Panchayat President Dalapchand GPU was the Chief Guest of the day. ST Bhutia, Headmaster, his staff and students were present on the occasion.   PC Rai hoisted the National tri-colour flag that was followed by the singing of National Anthem by the students. The students also sang communal harmony song in nepali. CD Rai, senior teacher of the school gave a brief history of Indian Independence struggle and the reason of celebrating Independence Day. ST Bhutia also spoked about the Independence Day celebration. Rohan Chettri, Class V student gave a short speech on Independence Day that was applauded by everyone. Sweets were also distributed on the day. It was also informed to the Chief Guest that three separate parade contingent (boys, girls and Scouts and Guides) along with a cultural program of Dalapchand SS was send to Rongli for the Sub-Division level Independenc...

Gagan Narang celebrates winning the bronze medal at the end of the men's 10-meter air rifle at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Source : Zee News  Gold medallist Alin George Moldoveanu (C) of Romania, silver medallist Niccolo Campriani of Italy (L) and bronze medallist Gagan Narang of India pose on the podium during the Victory Ceremony following the men’s 10m Air Rifle Shooting final on Day 3.                 Source: http://summergames.uxadditive Gagan Narang won the bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2012 London Olympics with a total score of 701.1 becoming India's first medal winner at the 2012 games. Gagan was just behind the silver medallist Niccolo Campriani of Italy who scored 701.5, while the gold medallist Alin George Moldoveanu of Romania was at 702.1.   However he failed to qualify for the finals of the men's 50-metre rifle three positions at the Royal Artiller...

AUGUST 10, RONGLI: NK Pradhan, HRDD Minister inaugurated the new six-room two-story school building at Phadamchen Secondary School on August 9.   A few  hours-long program that was held at the farthest Secondary School in East District had a colorful cultural program along with a Stamp cum Photo Exhibition that was enjoyed by the gathered audiences. Present on the occasion were Puran Gurung   (MLA   Chujachen), Tshering Wangdi Lepcha (MLA Lachen-Mangan), Prakash Pradhan (Joint Director HRDD, East), Normit Lepcha   (SDM, Rongli), Chador Bhutia (AD, Regu BAC), Dhiraj Pradhan (BDO, Regu BAC), Assistant Commandment SSB, 46 Battalion,    2 nd In Command 5 Mahar Regiment, Arun Thatal (PI Rongli), Panchayat Presidents of Lingtam-Phadamchen GPU & Subney-Sisney GPU, Head of Schools under Regu BAC, Praveen Pradhan and Sunita Gurung (Badhaichha Creation), locals and others. The students of Phadamchen SS rendered a greeting song followed by the speech from ...

A sketch of Tumlong Palace