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

This 1928 letter from Maharaja Tashi Namgyal of Sikkim is printed on the official royal letterhead , featuring the crest of the Kingdom of Sikkim at the top center. The crest includes traditional Sikkimese symbols , mythical creatures , and a crown, reflecting the monarchy’s authority and Buddhist heritage. This version of the crest was used during Sikkim’s status as a princely state under British paramountcy . In later years, the royal crest was redesigned and replaced. (PIC: from internet)

Chogyal Thutob Namgyal in UPU 1 Anna Postcard  

 Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal press photograph (1980)

  This photograph from a 1965 National Geographic page captures the coronation of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal in Gangtok . The image beautifully depicts the traditional offering of a white scarf , symbolizing blessings and benediction on this grand occasion. During those times in the West, happy events were often marked by the unique custom of tying tins and shoes , symbolizing good fortune and protection for the couple or occasion being celebrated. The clattering cans were believed to scare away bad luck and protect the newlyweds or occasion, while shoes symbolized good luck and a blessing for their new life together. Interestingly, the royal family's license plate proudly bears the name " Sikkim " but no numbers.

MAHARANI KUSHANG DECHEN RAGASHAR was married to Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, the King of Sikkim on 8th October 1918 at the Royal Chapel, Tsuklakhang Monastery. The recolouring was done in cutout.pro.

  22.05.22: Sikkim started off the centennial birth anniversary celebrations of Late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal starting today. A year-long celebration had been decided in the state of Sikkim till May 22nd 2023.    A major celebration was held today at Chogyal Palden Thondup Memorial Park, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Deorali. More than 34 different organisations along with the Chogyal Centennial Celebrations Committee had come together to celebrate the occasion.    Prince Palden Gyurmed Namgyal, the son of the Late Chogyal gave his gracious presence to make the event a memorable one. Prayers and a cultural program from different communities were held on the occasion.   Earlier in the morning, a day-long, Sowa Rigpa Free Medical Camp at MG Marg was inaugurated by Ganga Prasad, the Governor of Sikkim. The camp was conducted by The medical camp was conducted by Soga Rigpa Medical College of NIT, Deoarli. The Governor of Sikkim then visited Chogyal Pal...

 

 ALSO READ - Raj Kumari Pema Chuden school celebrating Chogyal Birthday (1961)

On June 23 rd , 2020, I received an email from Ellis Gordon, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, who wished to share an interesting story for my blog {Proud to be a Sikkimese (sikhim.blogspot.com)} about the royal silver-end caps she had in her family possession gifted by late Princes Pema Tsedeun Yapshi Pheunkhang way back around 1969. We shared a couple of emails as I wanted to know about her family and her family’s connection to the late princess. Ellis, the senior-level cyber-security engineer, said she has a pair of silver-end caps crafted for a hanging scroll that was made for her parents by the Sikkim Palace silver-smith under the order of Princess Pema Tsedeun Yapshi Pheunkhang during the late 60s. Tsedeun, as she liked to be addressed, told Ellis was a frequent dinner guest at their house in Washington D.C., USA. Tseduen, would visit his father on Capitol Hill where she was introduced to members of the US government such as Sen. Edward Kennedy.  ALSO READ - Royal...

Major W. L. Campbell and Tashi Namgyal,  Chogyal of Sikkim, C.1918 Source : allposters.com

सरकारी निम्न माध्यमिक पाठशाला, रंगेलीमा 27 दिसम्बरमा विभिन्न कार्यक्रमको आयोजना साथमा वार्षिक पुरस्कार उत्सव एवं विदाई कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न गरियो। दीप प्रज्जवलनबाट शुरू गरिएको कार्यक्रममा विद्यार्थीद्वारा स्वागत गान पश्च्यात स्कूलका प्रधानअध्यापिका सुश्री श्रिया प्रधानले स्वागत संबोधन सहित स्कूलको वार्षिक प्रतिवेदन राखिन।  महाराजा कुमारी पेमा छिडेनको छोटो परिचय राख्दै शिक्षिका श्रीमती अरूणा राईले उनी तत्कालीन छोग्याल टाशी नामग्याल अनि रानी कुञ्जाङ डिटछो की पुत्री थिइन् अनि उनले सन् 1954 मा रंगेली स्कूललाई नाम दिएकी थिइन्। यस अवसरमा स्कूलको एक ब्लकलाई सिक्किमकी महाराजा कुमारी पेमा छिडेनको नाममा यस कार्यक्रममाझ समर्पित गरिन्दै मुख्य अतिथि क्षेत्र विधायक श्री विक्रम प्रधान अनि राजघरानाका राजकुमार जिग्मी वाङचुक याप्सी फूनखाङ र रामकुमारी सोनाम डोमा याप्सीको बाहुलीबाट विधिवत् रूपमा उदघाटन गरियो। एसएमसीका सबै सदस्यगणको पूर्ण सहयोग रहेर स्कूल द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा पदोन्नति भई हाल ओख्रे माo स्कूल गएका पूर्व एचएम श्री गणेश कुमार छेत्री, स्थानान्तर भएका शिक्षकद्वय श्री सुशन प्...

Sir Tashi Namgyal succeeded his brother to become Sikkim’s 11th rule in 1914. His reign was characterized by socio-economic reforms, including the separation of executive and judicial powers, and the abolition of unpaid labor. Here, people sit for his coronation luncheon in 1914. Source: I love Siliguri facebook

The Tibetan wedding party of Princess Sangey Deki Samdo Phodrang arrives in Sikkim’s capital of Gangtok, ahead of her wedding to Crown Prince Palden Thondup Namgyal in August 1950.  Leading the procession- Rai Bahabur Sonam Tobden Source: I love Siliguri facebook

It has been after few months, i found the photograph of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal and Gyalmo Hope Cooke in the the web. So sharing for my readers...indeed a perfect match altogether.

Wow!! Was the first word that came from my heart. Watching Hope Cooke speak was nothing more than a dream come true. As a student of Sikkim History, my passion for learning more about my state grows with me with each passing day.  Today, I am more than happy to see our former Gyalmo speak in Sikkim. I might be among the first few to have seen this video; so far, 14 views have been recorded. I hope my readers, too, like this video from YouTube.  The video was produced by Yale University and released on YouTube on June 14, 2013.

Ebay as i always say is a wonderful find for me for some rare materials. I had always been passionate about Sikkim and whenever i get an opportunity to watch anything of my Sikkim's past, i just want to share with everyone.  If ever i had any regrets in life, i am sure i have this in my small heart that i could not see "my Independent Sikkim" and my Chogyal. So whenever i come across materials associated with my old Sikkim, my happiness knows no boundary. Here i am presenting a greeting card of Chogyal and Gyalmo and more sweeter is the name written in it ....." Hope and Thondup"

Pic: Internet I have always tried my best to be among the first few lines while visiting a doctor in a hospital. But on many occasions, I don’t have any option but to be in a long-standing queue.   It is an exciting finding that I read in the old Kanchenjunga magazine, dated 1966, of Gangtok Government Hospital about the wait in lines.  Some six decades back, hospitals had no wait lines as we see today.   People from far places in Sikkim used to drop by Gangtok Government Hospital at any hour of the day and make haywire for the doctors and the hospital staff. In July and August of 1966, a new rule was brought into practice by the Royal Durbar to set up proper wait-in lines for the visiting patients at the hospital for medical check-ups.   It was also established that personal records of patients' illness should be kept in the hospital.   It was also directed to the Hospital authorities that Prince Tenzing and his brother would regularly inspect the ne...

  Press Photo of the King of Sikkim,  Palden Thondup Namgyal, with his Queen Hope Cooke arriving in London.  Dated July 1, 1971.---EBAY The Royal Family of Sikkim always fascinates me, it is these photographs that make me feel closer to my Sikkim. I usually surf around ebay.com an auction site that sometimes gives me a glimpse of my place. my king and my people.  The above photograph was taken in 1971 when Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal and his Gyalmo arrived in London.   The peculiar rarity of this photograph is the way the late Chogyal has grown his beard. Very less photographs are available with the Chogyal having a beard which was prominent in the later years of his life.

Internet as always had been my biggest friend and whenever i find something that’s exciting in context to Sikkim my joys knows no limit. This time I have found an invitational letter to the Coronation Ceremony of Last Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal that dates back to 1965. This letter was on sale on ebay.com. The letter reads everything about the receiving of the guests at Bagdogra Airport and Siliguri Railway Station. It is also said that the acceptance of invitational card should be replied in advance on March 15, 1965.  A very interesting thing I really loved reading this letter was about the dress code used for the function and I am sure this was the very first time such thing was ever done in this part of the world.

I have always loved old stuff and to be part of it is what I love the most. I have been to Baba Harbhajan Singh's mandir a little over a dozen kilometres from the famed Changu Lake a few times but each time I have tried to visit a cafe nearby before I enter the mandir.  Never take a sip of coffee at a height of 13,000 feet above sea level.   The Cafe 13,000 as its name are painted on its wall welcomes every visitor. Here in this cafeteria lies a piece of history. As far as I know, this is the only place where I have seen and touched the royal flag of independent Sikkim. Each touch has given me pride and a bond that belongs to me. Three flags are kept side by side, of the two an Indian tricolour is kept slightly a step taller than the other two, obviously, that always hurts me. On the right side is the flag of the army and to its left is the royal flag of the Namgyal Dynasty which ruled Sikkim for more than three centuries.  "The national flag of Sikkim cons...