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

Nothing beats the energy of the Singtam Golitar Mela! From the sacred vibes of Maghey Sankranti to the vibrant stalls along the riverside, this is where the heart of Sikkim beats loudest in January. So glad I caught this moment. 

05.01.25, Singtam: Prajna Tamang, a talented seven-year-old from Challamthang, has won the Junior Category of Sikkim Dancing Star Season III. The event at Jorethang Community Hall showcased young dancers' outstanding skills, but Prajna stood out with her patriotic and energetic performances. She was mentored by Viki Tamang at VMatrix Dance Academy, Singtam. Gurash Baniya and Divya Rasaily were the instructors for her dance songs. In a related event, Gurash Baniya from Sirwani Ghatay Khola secured the 1st Runner-Up title in Stage Dream Season 2 at Sarumsa, Ranipool. With five years of dedicated training at VMatrix Dance Academy, Singtam, under mentor Viki Tamang, Gurash captivated the audience with her stunning performances. The event was held at Sarumsa, Ranipool.

02.01.25, Singtam: The Knight Chess Academy, Singtam, organized a New Year Blitz Chess Tournament on January 1, 2025, with 16 players competing across six intense rounds. Ayan Rai claimed the championship with 6 points from six games, followed by Parichay Subba and Anant Subba in second and third places, respectively. The tournament, conducted with technical support from the Sikkim Chess Association, showcased outstanding performances by players such as Shourya Agarwal and Kunzang Bhutia, who secured fourth and fifth positions. Earlier, Rohit Gurung, the coach of the chess academy, was offered khadas and congratulated for the remarkable success of the Singtam chess team at the recently concluded 22nd North East Chess Championship held at Udaipur, Tripura. Ayan Rai, Akshay Anand, and Arnav Rai, players who achieved classical norm ratings, were felicitated. Palak Agarwal and Manasvi Acharya, who won prizes in the girls' category, were also congratulated.  

I was part of a beautiful concept brought by Roshan Prasad, our popular philatelist from Singtam, to re-install a neglected Post Box near the old post office building in the heart of the bazaar. In one of its kind event, we, the members of the Sikkim Philatelic and Numismatic Society , added a page to the map of the world's postal history when we removed the neglected post-box given new colours and had its permanent installation near the Water Fountain as a Heritage Post Box. An earlier Sikkim postal cancellation mark, along with the establishment of a Post Office in Singtam in 1903, was written on the stone slab below the base of the postbox. First of its kind in Sikkim and a proud place of being few in India and the world. KN Rai, then Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly , inaugurated the Heritage Box on Inspire 2017 – A Hobby Fest. The event coincided with the 12 th anniversary of the formation of the Sikkim Philatelic and Numismatic Society. A hobby exhibition was he...

30.06.24: Jubilee Football Club (JVC), Singtam unveiled their new jersey, officially released by Shri NB Dahal , Hon'ble Minister of Road and Bridges and Area MLA of 17 Khamdong Singtam. The event was attended by club members led by President Sangay Chhuzong Bhutia. JVC's advancement to the B Division in the Sikkim Premier League marks a proud moment for Khamdong Singtam. Members present at the occasion included Sangay C Bhutia, President, and Members; Khim Bdr. Bardewa, Nim Dorjee Bhutia, Ajay Manger, Vivek Bardewa, Niraj Tiwari, Amit Subba, Arun Chettri, Chetan Bardewa, Norbu Tamang, Andrew Lepcha, Anil Darjee, Abishek Gazmer, Roden Bhutia, and Mahesh Rai.

  29.06.24 : The first coordination meeting for the 210th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration held at Singtam was conducted at Community Hall, Nagar Panchayat, Singtam. The meeting saw active participation from the public of the Khamdong Singtam Constituency. During the meeting, a celebration committee was formed in the presence of the Chief Guest, Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, and other distinguished guests. The committee has decided to celebrate the 210th Bhanu Jayanti grandly. Shri NB Dahal, Hon'ble Minister, Road and Bridges Department and Area MLA, 17 Khamdong Singtam will be the Chief Patron, while Shri Suresh Tamang, President, Singtam Nagar Panchayat will be the Patron. Shri Narendra Chettri was nominated as the President of the 210th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee and Smt. Bindhya Subba, Counsellor, Singtam Nagar Panchayat as the Vice President. Other members include : Chief Patron : Shri Nar Bahadur Dahal (Chettri) Hon'ble Minister, Roads and Bridges Patron : Shri Suresh Tamang...

 

The photograph from the early 80s captures a nostalgic scene featuring various modes of transportation that were prevalent at the time. The luxury Fiat Premiere in the picture belonged to the late Sagarmul Agarwal, the father of our Nagar Panchayat Councillor, Mukesh Agarwal. Dipak Bhutra, one of our seniors at Singtam Bazaar, fondly recalls, "I was fortunate enough to get a few free rides in that car. Riding in the Fiat Premiere during those days felt like being royalty." Also visible in the photograph is a Mahindra jeep, parked at the extreme left, which belonged to Shri Tarachand Agarwal. This jeep was a common sight on the route between Singtam and Ravongla during those times. Bullock carts were the primary means of transporting goods from Bengal to Sikkim. Goods would first be transported from Siliguri to Rangpo (Bengal side), and then carried by bullock carts to Singtam. This image vividly captures a bygone era and the evolution of transportation in the region.

10.03.24: The Sikkim Government Retired Employees Welfare Association (SGREWA), Singtam Branch, expressed joy in honouring Shri Kunjilal Mintri of Om Himalayan Medical Hall, Singtam Bazaar.  Shri Mintri had been providing the SGREWA members 12% discount on medicines and a 10% discount on diagnostics.  Recognizing his commendable contribution to society as a thriving entrepreneur, SGREWA extends best wishes for sound health, continued success, and a flourishing career. Smt. Hansa Rai read the commendation, while Shri CP Pradhan presented the memento.  Further, in his speech, Shri Mintri thanked the members for the honour and shared his best practices in helping society, he further announced that he had increased the discounts of 15% on medicines.  The felicitation ceremony took place on March 8, 2024, with warm regards from the association's members at their office. SGREWA applauds individuals like Shri Kunjilal Mintri for their positive impact on the community.

Dr. Nisha Tamang Lama, a resident of Singtam , Gangtok District and the daughter of Shri Arun Tamang Lama and the late Smt. Ratna Kumari Pradhan , has achieved a significant milestone by successfully defending her doctoral thesis titled " State NGOs and Eco Tourism – A Select Ecotourism Project of Sikkim . She conducted her research under the guidance of Prof. Ranjita Chakraborty at North Bengal University. Currently, Dr. Lama holds the position of a Political Science PGT at Government Senior Secondary School, Rangpo Mining, and is married to Bikash Sundas . She has authored various papers in both national and international journals. Dr. Lama extends her heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Ranjita Chakraborty for her unwavering support throughout her academic journey. She also expresses her sincere thanks to her husband, Shri Bikash Sundas, for his constant encouragement and motivation, as well as her family members for their unwavering support. Dr. Lama's remarkable achieve...

17.09.23: Singtam Fountain Point witnessed a momentous event as the Indian Swachhata League 2.0 commenced with great enthusiasm on its inaugural day. The event, organized as part of the Swaccha Bharat Mission program, was graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Smt. Radha Pradhan , ADC, RDD Department ; Shri Himmat Rai , Joint Secretary, Swaccha Bharat Mission, State Coordinator; Shri Sawan Dhakal SD, BDO, Khamdong BAC ; Shri Suresh Tamang, President, Singtam Nagar Panchayat; Shri Ujjwal Pandey, MEO; Shri SB Manger, SHO; Shri Krishna Chettri, President of Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti, among others. The event commenced with an inspiring address from the key dignitaries, emphasizing the critical importance of cleanliness and environmental sustainability. Smt. Radha Pradhan, Shri Himmat Rai, and Shri Suresh Tamang urged the community to unite in the noble cause of cleanliness. Shri SR Dhakal, BDO, administered the solemn pledge. This event also saw the active partic...

  06.09.23, Singtam : The students of Mount Zion School, Kidzee, Singtam, representing Team Sikkim, have emerged as true champions at the Open National Tae-Kwon-Do Championship held in Mathura on August 26 and 27, 2023. Their exceptional performances yielded an astounding tally of 11 Gold, 3 Silver, and Bronze medals. This prestigious event, featuring three intense categories: Poomsae, Kyorugi, and Freshers, witnessed our young athletes exhibit unparalleled skill, determination, and sportsmanship. Here are the shining stars and their impressive achievements: PRAYAG DHAMALA (Under 23 kg) : Kyorugi: Silver Medal, Poomsae: Bronze Medal EDENLA BHUTIA (Under 24 kg) : Kyorugi: Gold Medal, Poomsae: Silver Medal SANGAY CHOPHEL SHERPA (Under 21 kg): Kyorugi: Gold Medal, Poomsae: Gold Medal ANCH BISWAKARMA (Under 29 kg): Kyorugi: Gold Medal, Poomsae: Gold Medal SNEHA CHETTRI (Under 32 kg): Kyorugi: Gold Medal, Poomsae: Gold Medal ANMOL RAI (Under 49 Kg): Kyorugi: Gold Medal, P...

09.08.23: Members of Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti gathered to extend warm congratulations to Miss Pragati Gurung, a resident of Lower Chisopani, Singtam. Miss Gurung, a third-year student pursuing Geography (Honours) at NB Bhandari Degree College , Tadong, Gangtok, has been selected to represent India at the esteemed Asia Youth International Model United Nations - 12th Edition Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from August 12th to 15th, 2023.  . The Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti is immensely proud of Miss Pragati Gurung's accomplishments and wishes her the very best as she embarks on this remarkable journey to Kuala Lumpur. Miss Gurung's participation is particularly noteworthy as she will be representing India under the Council of the World Health Organization (WHO), with her assigned country being Ghana. The focal point of her presentation will be "Resilience and Sustainability in Establishing the Health System."  ...

Singtam, Sikkim - June 9, 2023 - Members of the Sikkim Government Retired Employee Welfare Association (SGREWA), Singtam Branch, gathered together to honor and felicitate four outstanding students from Government Secondary School, Singtam, for their exceptional performance in the recently concluded Board Examinations 2023. The event took place at the premises of Singtam SSS. In a heart-warming gesture, two school toppers from Class X and two from Class XII were presented with khadas, and bestowed with mementoes as a token of appreciation for their exemplary dedication and commitment to academic excellence. Master Aditya Chettri (Humanities, 91.6%) and Miss Anjali Kumari (Commerce, 90.6%) emerged as the top two school toppers in Class XII. Meanwhile, Miss Sonia Kumari (94.4%) and Master Emmanuel Waiba (87.6%) secured the highest percentage scores in Class X. Pic: Dharmu Singh Darnal Recognizing the collective efforts of Government Secondary School, Singtam, in nurturing and guiding...

Shantinagar, May 7, 2023 - Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti (SGSS) held a meeting with local shopkeepers in the area to discuss issues related to licensing compliance. The meeting was chaired by Krishna Chettri, President of SGSS, and was attended by Panchayat Sumita Pradhan of Panchayat Ward No. 4, Deepa Chhetri of Panchayat Ward No. 5, and the shopkeepers of the area. During the meeting, it was communicated that those shopkeepers who were unable to attend today's meeting should be informed about the minutes and decisions made. The meeting began with a two-minute silence to pay tribute to 25-year-old Shaheed Siddhant Chhetri, a Darjeeling resident serving in the Indian Army, who recently lost his life. Krishna Chettri then briefed attendees on the purpose of the meeting, which was to ensure compliance with licensing regulations for local shops. Nishant Chettri, a member of SGSS was the host of the day, the program was conducted very smoothly.  During the meeting, it was noted t...

Singtam, Sikkim, May 4, 2023 — Today marked a significant milestone for the residents of Singtam and the surrounding areas as the survey for the extension of the Ranikhola Walkway was successfully completed. The 1.6-kilometer extension will connect the Sumin Lingzey Bridge, near Singtam Fruit Preservatory Factory to the new hospital site near Toppakhani, providing improved access to essential services and creating a more connected community. Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti (SGSS) and Urban Development Department (UDD) officials collaborated in conducting the survey, with invaluable assistance from SGSS President Krishna Chettri. UDD officials Sukhang Limboo, Junior Engineer, and Bhawani Kumar Regmi, Supervisor, worked closely with the SGSS team to measure and assess the proposed walkway extension. The initiative to extend the Ranikhola Walkway, which previously spanned from Singtam Lal Bazaar to Sumin Lingzey Bridge, was led by Krishna Chettri. A request letter prepared on the lett...