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

  [ It has been a wonderful response from different places in the state, including Darjeeling District, regarding my findings on the Postal History of Sikkim. I am happy that my readers found information that they have heard less. Continuing the previous article, I share the Postal System of the British Expedition of 1888, which played an important role in turning Sikkim into what it is today.] Geoffrey Flack, in “ Sikkim Field Force 1888-89; Precursor to the Younghusband Expedition,” published in Postal Himal (No.78, 2 nd Quarter 1994) writes ……. on March 20 th 1888, Brigadier General T Graham was sent with a force of 2000 men to retake the lands of Sikkim that were invaded by the Tibetans. The Tibetans offered little resistance, crossed the Jalepla, and attacked Gnatong; the British men forced the Tibetans to drive them to the frontiers. Brigadier General T Graham requested the extension of the telegraph line towards the Tibetan side of Jalepla, which was later sancti...

For the stamp-sized state of Sikkim, November 6, 2006, held a moment of glory and recognition in the world philately. In a group of five lakes from different parts of India, Indian Postage featured a postal stamp on Changu Lake. This Changu Lake stamp with an Rs. 5 denomination can be found among the five Himalayan Lakes of India, including Roop Kund, Sela, Tsomo Riri, and Chandra Tal. Bharati Mirchandani designed the stamp and First Day Cover, and Alka Sharma designed the cancellation.  The stamp is printed by India Security Press in Nasik using photogravure. It was the first time in the history of Indian postage stamps that a theme from Sikkim was introduced on an Indian postage stamp. For the last few years, efforts have been made to feature individual themes from Sikkim. Along these lines, various tourist destinations, including Rumtek Monastery, Changu (Tsangu) Lake, Guru Dongmor Lake, Nathula Pass, and the cultural diversity of Sikkim, were discussed, but it was ...

For a stamp sized state of Sikkim, 6 th  November 2006 hold a moment of glory and recognisation in terms of world philately. Indian Postage had featured a postal stamp on Changu Lake in a group of five lakes from different part of India. The Changu Lake stamp with Rs 5 denomination features among the five Himalayan Lakes of India that include Roop Kund, Sela, Tsomo Riri and Chandra Tal. The stamp and First Day Cover had been designed by Bharati Mirchandani and Cancellation designed by Alka Sharma. The stamp is printed in photogravure process and printed at India Security Press, Nasik. It was for the first time in the history of Indian Postage, an individual theme from Sikkim got introduced in Indian postage stamp. For the last few years efforts were made on to feature individual theme from Sikkim. Along the lines various tourist destinations including Rumtek Monastery, Changu (Tsangu) Lake, Guru Dongmor Lake, Nathula Pass and cultural diversity of Sikkim were discussed but it...

pic: Deepen Pradhan

NDTV is revealing the Seven Wonders of India though voting. Sikkim is known for its tourism hub in the entire world. Sikkim is placed along with other North Eastern States and finds three representatives. The three selected wonders from Sikkim include Changu Lake, Tashiding Monastery and our Mountain deity Mt. Kanchenjunga. So vote and lets help our Sikkim be the pride of India. VOTE FOR SIKKIM http://7wondersofindia.ndtv.com/vote.aspx?id=7 Mt Kanchenjunga It is located on the border of Nepal and Sikkim, just 46 miles northwest of Darjeeling. Kangchenjunga is known for picturesque views from the hill station of Darjeeling. On a clear day, it presents an image not as much of a mountain but of a white wall hanging from the sky. It is regarded as a holy mountain of Sikkim. Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world (after Mount Everest and K2), with an altitude of 8,586 metres. Kangchenjunga translated means `The Five Treasures of Snows`, as it cont...

Dasain celebrations marred by long hours of power cuts GANGTOK, October 24 : Tourists making a beeline to the historic Nathula Pass on their annual vacation was in for a big surprise. On Friday, October 19, visitors to this must-see destination were greeted with the first snowfall of the year, much to their delight and wonder. The Tsomgo Lake was covered in a blanket of snow, making the Sikkim trip all the more special for vacationers, especially those from the plains who had never seen snowfall in their lives. “We were told that we would not be seeing any snow this time of the year here. But we were certainly in for a big surprise. As soon as we reached ...

Gangtok, June 4: After two months of overflow in tourism in the state beginning from April with different tourist hotspots locked in a fierce battle, the mountainous Nathu La-Changu corridor still stands out as the lifeline of Sikkim tourism. Nowhere in the world can one travel from an elevation of 5,000 ft (Gangtok) to the surreal heights of 14,400 ft (Nathu La) wihtin two hours flat, tourism stakeholders basking in the after-glow of a bumper season said here. According to the figures provided by the State Tourism Department, around 1.7 lakh domestic and 6763 foreign tourists had already arrived in Sikkim in the past four months. The figures of the peak month, May have yet to be accounted by the department. Among these tourists, especially the domestic tourists, a visit to Nathu La-Baba Mandir-Changu Lake axis is a must. Fifty tourist vehicles are permitted by the Army per day to visit Nathu La border, while a visit to Changu Lake and Baba Mandir carries no ceiling. ...