My first fantasy over Sikkim history started with this nameplate ‘1929 Burn & Co. Ltd, Bridge Builders, Howah’ found hanging atop of the front and the backside of the old iron bridge at Singtam joining the District Hospital Singtam with the bazaar. I believe this is the oldest iron bridge still functional though these days limited to foot walk. For 91 years it has been an identification of Singtam and this heritage bridge is getting its major facelift these days, a crown added to its legacy. This bridge connected Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and other regions to Gangtok via Rangpo - Singtam motorable road. Well, I might be lucky enough to say that I had even seen bullock carts passed by this bridge till the late 80s. Tracing back the establishment of Burn & Co. Ltd, I found that according to an old record found in 1809, a company ‘Burn & Currie’ had Alexander Burn as the Head of the company along with another gentleman Mr. Currie. Currie left the ...
Proud to be a Sikkimese is the definitive digital encyclopedia of Sikkim State. Since 2007, we have archived the rich heritage of the Himalayas, from the history of the Namgyal dynasty to the vibrant cultures of the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. Explore expert insights on Sikkim travel, Buddhist monasteries, folklore, and biodiversity.