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

This group photograph of the Teachers and the students of Government Senior Secondary School, Singtam dates back to 1966. The school then was more popular as Singtam High School. 

October 01, Singtam: SGREWA Singtam Branch organized its general meeting at Nepali Dharamsala. Present on the occasion were DT Bhutia, President, SGREWA, PL Sharma, General Secretary, SGREWA, TP Koirala, Financial Advisor, SGREWA, GP Tiwari, President SGREWA Pakyong Branch, and members of SGREWA Singtam Branch. The highlights of the meeting included the constitution of the new executive body, discussion on memorandum presented to the government by the central committee, and other welfare activities of the organization. It was decided to submit a memorandum to the government with the request of; the establishment of a dialysis center at District Hospital, Singtam, enhancement of medical relief to the pensioners from Rs 2000 to Rs.5000, and construction of a playground for the Singtam SSS. Speaking on the occasion, guests from the Central Committee and Pakyong Branch appreciated the efforts of SGREWA Singtam for working towards the benefits of the retired employee's friends. Pres...

This screenshot is from a 4-second video clip from the video of HH the   Dalai Lama 's visit to the Kingdom of  Sikkim  (1956). The photograph shows the escort vehicle entering  Singtam  and the gathered people prepared to welcome the His Highness Dalai Lama. The hour-long documentary of Tibetan Community Channel shows he was welcomed at different places of Sikkim on the route to  Gangtok , where there was a royal welcome.

Despite better bowling against mighty Australians , India gave up the first match with a mere 36 runs all out in their second inning . This news is a talk of the media today. For me, a team dropping five catches in a match was equally embracing. This historic 36 runs of a team reminded me of another match during the early 90s at Sikkim . The tournament - Thirani Cup , the venue – Paljor Stadium and it was a match between Development Area, Gangtok against Singtam .   The match was 50 over , Development Area scored 194 runs with one of the opening batsmen reaching a century. The centurion batsman was dropped when he had not reached the double-figure. The bowlers gave a tough challenge. When the Singtam batsman came to bat, they never had expected the outcome. Singtam Cricket Team were bundled out for mere 36 runs that included eight players from Singtam getting a duck . The highest score from them was an extra.   Indian Team equaled the Singtam Cricket Team’s lowest...

Indra Jatra's celebration over the years had brought every newar family of Sikkim under one roof. It was that one-day entire newar population within the state anxiously waits. But this year the Covid-19 pandemic had a different plan for everyone. This August 31, we have the Indra Jatra but it will be silently observed without the red-black-white coloured masses of devotees.   Sikkim Newar Guthi completed the 25 th year of its formation last year and on this big occasion; I wish to share the history of my home town Singtam’s Newa Sakha, its origin, and stories so far. The term 'Singtam Sakha' started in the early 90s and over the years it has its own narrative. Blessed by Goddess Kumari and God Indra, the newars of Singtam are among the emerging Sakhas who hold promises to make the Newars of Sikkim, a proud family.   The establishments of the Singtam bazaar date back to the late 1880s and with each decade passing by the people of Singtam had collectively come toge...

Born to Kumar Chettri and Sashi Kala Chettri, he is a multi-talented individual that Singtam expects more in near future. He knows nothing except acting, dancing, and music. In his early 30s, he was just making a mark in the Nepali cinema world when COVID-19 came out and all his dreams got shattered. His debut film Saino (2019) got released last year in Kathmandu with mixed reviews but his actions as the lead actor’s childhood friend were praised by both media and audiences.   He had signed his next Nepali film unnamed with Rajesh Hamal just before the Corona scenario break off.   Keen to music since an early age he released his Nepali musical album ‘Regan’ was in 2016.  His links with personalities of the Nepali Film Industry made him give music and lyrics to Nepali films like Man Magan and Chi Musi Chi both released in 2019. His song – Hasda Hasdai from the film Chi Musi Chi won the Sagarmatha Music Award as the Best Lyricist 2019. A complete musical packa...

It was on the 20 th of May, 2009, I first published the news of the mysterious death of pigeons all over Singtambazaar on my blog . The pigeons were found dead on roads, house stairs drains, house roofs, and everywhere it was found. People denied any sort of Bird Flu but talked about some sort of disease in their head and die within a day. The death of pigeons did not stop for the next one and half months and on average 30 to 40 deaths were reported. The strange death of this avian creature was published in the newspapers and one of the national newspapers went on to say more than 10,000 deaths had occurred. It was false news but to my research, the death case had been around 2000.   I was too curious to know about its death and I closely held one dead bird from the nearby bazaar food go-down premises and found a small fly-like insect with a pointed antenna. These pigeons are being preyed to these small blood-sucking flies. Those flies carry infectious diseases that r...

Picnic photograph of members of Singtam Driver Association-(most probably 1980s) LtoR: Lakpa Daju, Basant Agarwal, Hira Pradhan, Aatup Lepcha, Gandhey (गन्दे), Somaney Aaseng . (Identified by Mohan Pradhan Neeraj)

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 ...

I had heard from old folks that a portion of the film 'Jewel Thief' was shot at Singtam on the road stretch opposite Thakurbari Mandir, where Dev Anand was running at the road chased by Police, but sadly, that shot never made it to the silver screen. Two major Hindi films were shot in Sikkim - 'Romeo in Sikkim' and 'Road to Sikkim' but I have no knowledge whether the film had any scene at Singtam.   Then, in the mid-90s came the Hindi film 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat', the debut film of Rani Mukherjee, where I was part of a crowd watching the shooting done near the old STNM Hospital flyover. One of the songs Palkon Mein Sapne Chamke Ahista beautifully sang by our own Nepali singer Poornima (Sushma Shrestha) is shot in different locales of Sikkim including Changu Lake and of course Singtam. The video of the song is given below, and just watching her jumping from one stone to another, she had a sudden slip at the riverside near Golitar.