MPs from Sikkim call on Hon’ble Minister of State for Civil Aviation

August 10, New Delhi: MP Sikkim, Shri PD Rai, Lok Sabha and Shri Hishey Lachungpa, Rajya Sabha met with the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Jayant Sinha to discuss the status of Pakyong Green Field Airport. At present the airport will operate with ATR 42-seater turboprop aircrafts on a 2km long runway. The Minister stated that Rs. 150 Cr has been set aside for expansion of the width of the runway, post inauguration, in order to facilitate the landing of ATR 72-seater aircrafts. The Minister offered that the Airport Authority of India could operate the airport if the state so requests. However, the autonomy to decide lies entirely with the state if the land belongs to the State Government. He also enquired about the road connectivity of the airport to Gangtok. The Minister informed the MPs about the new policy on subsidizing Helicopter connectivity to Sikkim, through the UDAN scheme, that is under active consideration. He also expressed interest to meet with Shri Ugen Gyatso Bhutia, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sikkim, within this month, in order to discuss operational issues. The meeting will also target high quality tourism and increasing airport viability through the building of infrastructure around the airport.

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JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT

This was a national song of Sikkim sung in the Nepali language during the monarchy system. During the merger with India, the song got banned and later re-released. Two words on the 8th para, which earlier said 'Rajah rah Rani,' were replaced with "Janmah bhumi." This song was dedicated to the King and Queen of Sikkim. The song lyrics were penned by Sanu Lama, and the music was composed by Dushyant Lama. The song was first sung on the birth anniversary of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on April 4, 1970, at Gangtok by Aruna Lama, Dawa Lama, and Manikamal Chettri. JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT, JAHAN KANCHENDZONGA SEER YEHI HO HAMRO DHANA KO DESH, TAPAWAN HO PYARO SIKKIM INTERLUDE PHULCHAN YEHA AANGANAI MAA, CHAAP , GURAS, SUNAKHARI SWARGASARI SUNDAR DESH KO HAMRO PYARO PYARO JANMAHBHUMI JANHA BAGCHA…… BATASHLE BOKCHAA YAHA, TATHAGAT KO AAMAR WAANI ...

Pandam Garhi and its surmise

--> RUINS OF PANDAM GARHI BY SHITAL PRADHAN The stories of the legendary ruined walls at Pandam, a 16 km uphill climb from Rangpo, as I had heard from old folks a few seasons back, had ever since excited me to visit this place. Never in the pages of a history book do we come across its talk about when it was built or how it was constructed at the top of the hill? Over the years, many theories have evolved regarding its origin. Some theorists associate the fort with some Lepcha legends, while few disagree with it and have their own adage. They make us believe one of the Chogyals constructed it to stop the approaching Bhutanese army from entering Sikkim. The last theory to add up, already baffling and controversial, says it was one of the Gurkha Generals from Nepal who constructed the fort along with the Kalika Mandir, also called Nishani Mandir, just below it. With each theory making questions over my mind, I decided to have my second trek to the Pandam Garhi. I had ...

Snake like fish caught in Singtam River

The Indian mottled eel, locally known as Raj Bam, was recovered from the Singtam River at Golitar this early morning. The snake-like fish weighed around 7 kg and was four feet long. The local people said that they had never seen this species for so long. Such mysterious-looking marine fish are also sighted from time to time on the river banks, local people added.

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

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