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

  News published in the Voice of Sikkim regarding the discovery of megalithic structures around Dentam has excited me a lot. I have always believed that the land of Sikkim is not just old, but ancient, contrary to theories focusing only on 'young fold mountains.' Attached is a newspaper clip from 2002 regarding Neolithic tools found in Sikkim by a team from the Archaeological Survey of India, Nagpur. According to historical records, the 150,000-year-old fossilized antelope horn found in Sajyong is particularly fascinating. If the dating is accurate, this fossil pushes the timeline of animal life in the Sikkim Himalayas back to the Middle Pleistocene era—long before the Neolithic humans who left stone tools in the same region.

AI Generated Image From the pages of  “Kanchenjunga” magazine Organized by the Janahit Library , the Saraswati Puja ceremony was concluded on the date 31-1-71 in Rongli Bazaar. On the morning of Sunday, 31-1-71, the worship of Mother Saraswati and a competitive literary seminar were held. On this occasion, some local youths also participated in the seminar as non-competitors. The winners of the competition were: First Place: Mr. Purna Gurung Second Place: Mr. Purna Pradhan and Ratna Bahadur Moktan Third Place: Mr. Shiv Kumar ‘Shiv’ In the evening, a competitive cultural performance was also held. Among the award winners in the cultural showcase: Dance Category: Rongli School (First), Chujachen School (Second). Folk Song Category: Chhujachin (First), Rongli (Second), and Regu (Third).

These four weathered paper slips are quintessential relics of Indian pop culture from the late 1990s. Issued by the Northern Scales Co. in New Delhi, these tickets were dispensed by mechanical weighing machines commonly found at bustling railway stations and public squares. For a small coin, a commuter would receive not just their weight, but a collectible souvenir featuring a "red-ink" portrait of a reigning cinema icon. The cards showcase a diverse lineup of Bollywood royalty, including Akshaye Khanna, Shilpa Shetty, Saif Ali Khan, and Amitabh Bachchan. Interestingly, the tickets contain charming typographic errors typical of mass-produced street ephemera, such as "Akshay" for Akshaye and "Bachan" for Bachchan. The images use a distinct halftone dot-matrix style, a low-cost printing technique that has since become a visual hallmark of vintage Indian street kitsch. Beyond being simple receipts, these cards served as a primitive form of interactive ent...

  Today, I am sharing a historical shop rent receipt paid by my great-grandfather, Khadga Narayan Pradhan. This rare document takes us back to 1949, when Sikkim was still under the rule of the Chogyal. According to the receipt, the payment was made to the estate of Rai Saheb Rhenock Kaji Sanam Dadul, a member of the powerful hereditary nobility of Rhenock, in the eastern part of Sikkim. Khadga Narayan Pradhan had been a cardamom merchant and the tenant based in Rongli, which was on the way to the legendary Old Silk Route. The receipt specifically mentions "Dukan Kiraya" (Shop Rent), where he managed his famous "Elaichi Khazana" (Cardamom Warehouse), with the date November 1, 1949. The amount my great-grandfather then paid was 7 Rupees and 8 Annas for the month of October.

From my collection, these are movie tickets for Prashant Tamang’s films produced in Sikkim. These early films of the late actor hold deep nostalgia for me, as I visited the sets during filming and was even present for the Mahurat shots. The three films are: Angalo Yo Maya Ko (Released 2011) – Directed by Vinod Sereng and produced under Sinai Commercial Pvt. Ltd. Kina Maya Ma (Released 2011) – Directed by Chunilal Ghimire. Nishani (Released 2014) – A tribute to the Gorkha soldiers, also directed by Vinod Sereng.

Nothing beats the energy of the Singtam Golitar Mela! From the sacred vibes of Maghey Sankranti to the vibrant stalls along the riverside, this is where the heart of Sikkim beats loudest in January. So glad I caught this moment. 

11.01.26: I am saddened to hear the news of the passing of Prashant Tamang. My association with him started during his Indian Idol days, when I had a blog dedicated to him. Since 2007, we remained in touch with each other, and I received a final call from him a few months ago while I was undergoing treatment in Vellore. He was always cheerful and well disciplined, and his humility and gentle way of speaking touched everyone around him. I closely followed his film career, including 'Angalo Yo Maya Ko' and 'Kina Maya Ma', and even personally visited his film shoots. I was also fortunate to be invited to his marriage ceremony. This is indeed a personal loss for me. I will always cherish his warmth and happy moment we shared.