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

Her claim to fame are popular songs like Phulda Jore Pari , O Mero Priyatam , Masakka Maskera , Chiso Batas , Badal Pariko Desh Ma , and Relimai . A household name in the Nepali listening audiences, Sukmit Gurung has a legacy to speak for. Born in a Lepcha family in Gangtok as Sukmit Ongmu Lepcha to father Bi Ongmu Lepcha and mother Pasang Chiring Lepcha , she started singing for the church in her teens. She quickly entered the Nepali music industry, winning the singing contest in Radio Nepal at a young age. Because of her contribution to Nepali music, she was appointed as the assistant music director in Nepal Pragya Prathisthan , a government organisation to promote Nepali literature, music, art and culture

Sonam Gyatso is the second Indian and the first Sikkimese to climb Mount Everest. He was part of the first successful Indian Everest Expeditions that climbed Mount Everest in May 1965. He then held the record for the oldest person (aged 42) to reach the Summit and also for the longest time (50 min) spent at the peak without an oxygen supply. In the same year, the Indian government honoured his achievement with the Padma Bhushan. He was also honoured with Padma Shri and Arjuna Award. Gyatso is the only Sikkimese to feature in an Indian stamp. He established Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute (SGMI), a mountaineering school in Gangtok.

Born to Sanket Agarwal and Sonia Agarwal at Singtam, she is 14 years old and studying at Ecole Globale International Girl’s School, Dehradun. Unlike her father and her grandfather Raghubir Agarwal, both accomplished businessmen; she took up Air Rifle shooting sport at her school at Dehradun. Meet Devanshi Agarwal who made history last August in the 17th Uttrakhand Open State Shooting Championship 2018 held at Poudha. She went on to win five gold medals and a bronze medal, most by any individual. Believe me, it was Devanshi’s second tournament she had participated. Despite being a sensation at her game, shooting event is rarely heard in Sikkim. The success story of Devanshi should inspire the youngsters of our state into this sporting event. She is a winner in her teens, who knows she could be the next big thing to watch at a national level or even at an international circle. The last one and half years had been a wonderful spell for Devanshi. She had bagged 17 medals that include...

How easy is it to live in the shadow of another person? Yet Dev Narayan Pradhan finds himself blessed when people around him refer to him as ‘second Narayan Gopal ’. Lord Ganesha is always worshiped before any occasion and in Nepali music , it is said Narayan Gopal, the greatest and the biggest exponent of Nepali music is remembered.  To be associated with such a legendary voice is the biggest gift I have ever received, says Dev Narayan Pradhan. His evergreen song ‘ Kati kura nabhanera nai metha metha huncha ’ from his only solo album released some 15-16 years back was a big hit among school-goers like me. To meet this man of golden voice was no more than an unexpected opportunity. The occasion was the Maghey Mela opening at Rongli and he was among the few invited singer guests on the occasion. It was good of Bhanu Daju ( Bhanu Gurung ), a musical talent from Sikkim who happened to be my wife’s family member, and Sunil daju , my wife’s twin brother who brought Dev N...