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

BY PRIYA India – while one of the fastest developing countries of the world, is still famous for its 22% population below the poverty line. Statistics from UNICEF claim that as many as 10 million children in India end up working as child labourers. According to the Right to Education Act (RTE), children between the ages of 6-14 years have the right to free and compulsory education. Most kids in this age group don’t get to see the inside of a school and the ones who do go to school, end up having to work long hours even after school and during holidays. Even if a child manages to last in school for the first fourteen years of his/her life, they’re bound to be taken out, in order to help their family make ends meet. They either work in the family business or as labourers at construction sites, in small-scale and/or harmful industries (such as firecrackers, alcohol, etc.) or sometimes even beg on the streets. Children from poorer families (mostly from the Scheduled Caste...

Guest Column by Manya Singh Sikkim, a northeast Indian state, revels in its seclusion and salubrious climate. Located in a very serene and slightly isolated corner of India, the state offers a tranquil gateway to holiday lovers. Encircled by the daunting Himalayas and dissected by perpetually evergreen rivers, Sikkim is soul-stirring, quiet, and extremely panoramic.  Its photogenic mountainside beauty is further heightened by the soothing presence of myriad Tibetan monasteries. The culture of this locale is also refreshing and has a haunting quality about it. Here are a few great things tourists love to see in Sikkim: 1. Monasteries: Sikkim tourism is famous for its Buddhist monasteries which adorn the length and breadth of the state. Standing atop the verdant hills, these monasteries are both spiritual and scenic. The Rumtek monastery is the most famous of them all and one of the most visited monasteries. Tourists also make it a point to visit Pemayangtse and Tashid...

New Zealand is a lush, verdant country with so much to offer the holidaymaker in terms of culture, history, art and nature. It's an often overlooked country that really deserves to be visited. Its chief destination and major city is Wellington and it has so much to entice the casual holidaymaker that it's easy to spend time there exploring the sights and sounds. Visiting Wellington One of New Zealand's most vibrant places, this city offers a lot in terms of culture and exciting things to do. For anyone interested in food and drink, it has a wealth of tempting and interesting food tours that take in local markets, cafes and restaurants and are a perfect way to sample local delicacies, coffees and wines. Visitors to Wellington should really leave the diet book and calorie sheet at home. Nature and Culture For those interested in museums, history or art there are many places to whet the appetite. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongewara is not o...