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

After the world's highest golf course in Sikkim, now it is the turn of the highest cyber cafe in the world at the height of 13,600ft at Sherathang near Nathula Border.

SHERATHANG, India (AFP) — Guo Ting stands patiently in the drizzling rain hoping to sell her wares, about half a dozen blankets wrapped in plastic, but only a few shoppers show up and nobody is buying. "Business is not good as the market is too small," says Guo as she waits for custom at the Sherathang mart, about five kilometres (three miles) from the ancient Nathu La border crossing between India and China. When the two Asian giants opened the 4,500-metre-high (15,000 feet) pass in 2006 to improve ties dogged by a bitter war in 1962 that saw the route closed for 44 years, many on both sides hoped it would boost trade. Two years on, optimism has given way to despair as the flow of traders has shrunk to a trickle because of red tape, poor facilities and sub-standard roads in India's remote northeastern mountainous state of Sikkim. Guo is among about 35 traders who cross the border daily from China's Tibetan region, while five or so Indians hawk their goods across Nath...

Highest Cyber Cafe in the World Sherathang Trade Mart has the highest permanent cyber café in the world. It has found a place in the Limca Book of World Records 2007 — situated at an altitude of 13,600 ft. This cyber cafe also doubles as a photo studio, provides scanning and faxing facilities. Internet charges are at a nominal Rs. 20 per hour. Free training courses are also given here. The cafe was set up by the Community Information Centre (CIC) of the Information Technology (IT) department and inaugurated by the Chief secretary of the hill state, N.D. Chingapa, on April 21, 2006. It is frequented by students, traders, tourists and army personnel too (since it is just 8km below the Nathula Pass) From Wikipedia

Nathula, Kupup, Baba Mandir, Sherathang, Nathang and Jaluk in Sikkim and Jalepla pass in Kalimpong area are completely cut-off from the rest of the country due to heavy snowfall of Monday night.Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (JNM) connecting these areas is the only road which is blocked totally. Amongst the above mention seven places except Nathang and Jaluk are the ...