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

 ALSO READ :  Mandir bell depict Rongli story Source: January 1, 1970; Kanchenjunga Magazine

Tendong Hill is a legendary name in Sikkimese culture, steeped in history and spirituality. Rising 8,350 feet in the Himalayas, it is located about 20 kilometers from the town of Namchi. This sacred mountain holds a special place in the hearts of the Lepcha people, who share a powerful story of survival—the tale of the great flood, a legacy echoed in cultures worldwide. Today, Tendong is celebrated during the Tenmdong Alho Rum Faat Festival , a beautiful occasion of gratitude for the mountain’s protection during that devastating deluge. I had been searching for the oldest published reference to this story when I discovered an account from Among the Himalayas by Major L.A. Waddell, published in 1900. This tale highlights the connection between the Sikkimese people and their natural surroundings. Long ago, when only the Rong (or Lepchas) inhabited this land, a terrible flood struck. The waters rose swiftly, drowning everyone in the valleys and covering all the mountains except for two: ...

 My articles on Sikkim Heritage 1.  Revisiting Dalapchand 2.  Revisiting Dalapchand - Second Part 3.  A dream that made the Rhenock Shivalaya 4.  Mystery beyond the ladder story of Daramdin-2 5.  Singtam’s Heritage 6.  Mandir bell depict Rongli story 7.  Legacy of a 91 year old Iron Bridge of Singtam 8.  The early years of SNT……. 9.  Search for the Singtam’s earliest settlers 10.  Century old British War Memorial at Gnathang in Sikkim 11.  Know Singtam!! my hometown 12.  Pandam Garhi and its surmise 13.  A photo inside a Gnathang monastery 13.  The coinage system of Sikkim 14.  Sikkim Mahinda Thero: A national hero of Sri Lanka 15.  Gardhaney Bhir, Motay Mangar and his Jhyampal 16.  The Legend of Tendong Hill 17.  The King Edward Memorial at Gangtok, Sikkim

Rangpo has an emotional attachment to me; my mother was a government school teacher, and I spent the first two years of my life there. Rangpo Government School (1980) This photo presentation is from a series of photographs dating to 1910 attributed to Absolute Vintage Photos. Rangpo, a business hub and a historic town, is today a vital border town of Sikkim, the gateway to eastern Sikkim. Since the monarchy days, the vehicles have stopped being checked, and foreigners need the required documents even to this day.

 First Published on Friday, February 20, 2009 I was at Zaluk on the day most couples across the globe were busy celebrating Valentine's Day. More or less an exciting adventure was awaiting us when we came to know that there was a Yeti sighting at this remote place in 2004 in the month of April. Zaluk is a small place with a population below 300, and the world-famous Changu Lake is an hour and a half drive from here.  Shital Pradhan,   L.T Bhutia, Nar Bhadhur Sunar (eye witness), Pranay Pradhan, Biren Gurung, and Praveen Pradhan (the spot where the yeti was sighted is behind the photograph ) On my trip, I was assisted by the members of Sangharsh, an upcoming local NGO from Rongli Bazaar. We were a five-member team, Praveen Pradhan (President of Sangharsh), Pranay Pradhan, Swarup Ra, I, and Biren Gurung. There are talks that Sangharsh would like to place a signboard of Yeti sightings. We also had great support from L.T Bhutia, Head Master of Zaluk Gover...