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

Gnathang at the height of 13000 ft is a beautiful place compared to Ladhak in north India. I have been to this place few times and each time the charm of this silent valley attracts me. Be it the famed British cemetery or the Baba Dham nearby, this place do have visitors all the year. My last visit to Ganathang that was on 14.09.2014 had something new to add to my readers. I came upon a white capped redstart. Basically, I had been much familiar with this bird species at Shantinagar, Singtam, my home that I find every time I visit the nearby river. The elevation of my place is around 1400 ft and it did amaze me to find one at the height of 13000 ft. Later I get to know that that this bird was in a breed phase. It was normal for this bird to reach for higher altitudes for breeding. Only one bird was found at an undergoing construction house, moving around. White capped redstart is popular river water bird and can be prominently distinguished with its white pattern on its head...

It was very sad news that Danny Danzongpa's Secretary Madan Mohan Arora had passed away on February 10.  It was published in web pages that Arora had a long association with Danny, since his 'Boxer' days. He was more than a Secretary to the Denzongpa family. More popular for his simplicity, Arora was loved by all film fraternity as it was seen many popular actors of all ages paid visits to his prayer meet. Denzongpa family at the prayer meeting. (NDTV) I remember Madan Arora for the two reply letters he had sent to me during 2002 and 2003 when I wrote to Danny Denzongpa.  One of the letters is published above in my post where I had then written to Danny Denzongpa congratulating him for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India after Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhusan, and Padma Bhusan. The reply was unexpected but the words written on the page were something I still cherish. Thank You, Arora Sir....May you rest in peace. 

One of the reasons that I am getting less time for my blog is due to my involvement in the agriculture field. You heard it right, we are into agriculture and believe me we just had our first vegetable and that was tori ko saag . It might have been a small offering from this huge field, nevertheless, we are enjoying it and that is what matters the most. We had taken a 5 acre land on lease and have sowed tori (mustard), Anupama bean, and potato right now and in coming days we shall be into zinger and cardamom, while plans of integrated farming are also in the threshold.   One of the motives we are into this area, where three of whom are associated partners is truly raw persons when it comes to farming. We are together; with our interest and for the support of Sikkim State’s mission of Organic State. With each passing day, we are learning and with each passing day our interests are also getting deep-rooted We just plucked our mustard leaves (for vegetables) and it was a wonde...

  Interview of the week 1.       Please give a brief introduction of yourself. (A short bio. including where are you from) Hi, I am Shital Pradhan from Shantinagar, Singtam, Sikkim. I am a primary school teacher at Sakyong Chisopani JHS; a blogger and a biodiversity admirer from the heart. I started blogging in 2007 with my popular blog on Sikkim aptly called Proud To Be a Sikkimese ( http://sikhim.blogspot.in/ )”;  From this January (2014), I am working on my new blog “Sikkim Biodiversity”  ( http://sikkimbiodiversity.blogspot.in/ ).  2.       We learn that you were part of a mothing event concurrent to the observance of the National Moth Week 2014. Tell us about your event. (Where and when did it take place etc?) Since I am interested in clicking photographs of the rich Biodiversity of Sikkim, when I learned about Moth Week, I got excited and wanted to be part of it. I had not heard anyone i...