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)

  A group photo captures the installation of Tashi Namgyal, 11th Chogyal or King of Sikkim, on February 19, 1915. Tashi Namgyal (seated third from right) is joined by Kunzang Dechen (seated fifth from right) and Charles Bell, Political Officer for Sikkim (fourth from right). Behind them stand European, Sikkimese, and Tibetan officials. Notable figures include Achuk Tsering (far left), Dr. Graham of the Dr. Graham Homes, Kalimpong (behind Tsering's left shoulder), and Lobzang Choden (far left), a prominent Sikkimese landlord. Chonyi, the Maharaj Kumari of Sikkim, stands behind Charles Bell's right shoulder.

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

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

  [ It has been a wonderful response from different places in the state, including Darjeeling District, regarding my findings on the Postal History of Sikkim. I am happy that my readers found information that they have heard less. Continuing the previous article, I share the Postal System of the British Expedition of 1888, which played an important role in turning Sikkim into what it is today.] Geoffrey Flack, in “ Sikkim Field Force 1888-89; Precursor to the Younghusband Expedition,” published in Postal Himal (No.78, 2 nd Quarter 1994) writes ……. on March 20 th 1888, Brigadier General T Graham was sent with a force of 2000 men to retake the lands of Sikkim that were invaded by the Tibetans. The Tibetans offered little resistance, crossed the Jalepla, and attacked Gnatong; the British men forced the Tibetans to drive them to the frontiers. Brigadier General T Graham requested the extension of the telegraph line towards the Tibetan side of Jalepla, which was later sancti...

For the stamp-sized state of Sikkim, November 6, 2006, held a moment of glory and recognition in the world philately. In a group of five lakes from different parts of India, Indian Postage featured a postal stamp on Changu Lake. This Changu Lake stamp with an Rs. 5 denomination can be found among the five Himalayan Lakes of India, including Roop Kund, Sela, Tsomo Riri, and Chandra Tal. Bharati Mirchandani designed the stamp and First Day Cover, and Alka Sharma designed the cancellation.  The stamp is printed by India Security Press in Nasik using photogravure. It was the first time in the history of Indian postage stamps that a theme from Sikkim was introduced on an Indian postage stamp. For the last few years, efforts have been made to feature individual themes from Sikkim. Along these lines, various tourist destinations, including Rumtek Monastery, Changu (Tsangu) Lake, Guru Dongmor Lake, Nathula Pass, and the cultural diversity of Sikkim, were discussed, but it was ...

For a stamp sized state of Sikkim, 6 th  November 2006 hold a moment of glory and recognisation in terms of world philately. Indian Postage had featured a postal stamp on Changu Lake in a group of five lakes from different part of India. The Changu Lake stamp with Rs 5 denomination features among the five Himalayan Lakes of India that include Roop Kund, Sela, Tsomo Riri and Chandra Tal. The stamp and First Day Cover had been designed by Bharati Mirchandani and Cancellation designed by Alka Sharma. The stamp is printed in photogravure process and printed at India Security Press, Nasik. It was for the first time in the history of Indian Postage, an individual theme from Sikkim got introduced in Indian postage stamp. For the last few years efforts were made on to feature individual theme from Sikkim. Along the lines various tourist destinations including Rumtek Monastery, Changu (Tsangu) Lake, Guru Dongmor Lake, Nathula Pass and cultural diversity of Sikkim were discussed but it...

Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal was a popular painter and one such coloured works "Glacier", an oil painting is placed at  the entrance hall of Chumbi Residency at Gangtok.  Time magazine in 1963 in one of its article about Sikkim writes ...." Ever since, India has handled Sikkim’s foreign affairs and defense. Tashi retired into a private life that consisted largely of prayer and painting —he specialized in misty Sikkimese landscapes, and painted one “vision” of the Abominable Snowman, who is pictured as a skinny, jet-black animal with a red face scampering over a snowy summit carrying a nude, pink-skinned lady with an alarmed expression. Tashi conversed with spirits, who are prevalent in Sikkim, looked out at the world through green-tinted glasses, and seemed fashioned of gold, so stiff and heavy were his brocaded robes."

Charles Alfred Bell (Pic: Wikipedia) The Archives Section under the Culture and Heritage Department at Gangtok stores the rarest of documents related to Sikkim. I shall always remain grateful for an opportunity granted to me to flip over pages of that epoch which is more of a dream come true. Over the last few years I have spent most of my time learning and understanding Sikkim, and it gives me pleasure to share what I know or what I listen to. I am more of a storyteller, those stories that got lost along the helm of time. This time around let me take you back to the year 1917, and the date reads 10 th of March. An official letter arrives at his Palace to His Highness Maharaja Tashi Namgyal of Sikkim. The letter inquires about naming the new Civil Hospital at Gangtok, which was ready for public use very shortly. CA Bell, Superintendent of Sikkim State, the writer of the letter writes that it occurred to him and a Civil Surgeon whether the hospital could be named in memory...

All thanks to Tenzing Jigdal Khangsharpa for reminding me today was Sir Tashi Namgyal's birth anniversary.  from royalark.net 1914 -1963  H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Tashi Namgyal [bKra-shis rNam-gyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, KCSI (8.6.1939), KCIE (1.1.1923, CIE 1.1.1918). b . at Kurseong, Darjeeling, 26 th October 1893, fourth son of H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Thutob Namgyal [mThu-stobs rNam-rgyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, KCIE, by his third wife, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Yeshay Dolma, educ . St Paul's Sch., Darjeeling, and Mayo Coll., Ajmer. Succeeded on the death of his half brother, 5 th December 1914. Installed at the Royal Palace, Park Ridge, Gangtok, 19 th February 1915. Consecrated at the Royal Chapel, Tsuk-La-Khang Monastery, Gangtok, 15 th May 1916. Invested with full ruling powers on 5 th April 1918. Signed a treaty with India 1950 after a long period of negotiations lasting three years, in which, India assumed responsibility for ...

Photo shared by Karma Bhutia Chogyal Tashi Namgyal standing behind his wife Maharani Kunzang Dechhen. Children in front from photo's L-R: Crown Prince Paljor Namgyal, Chogyal P.T.Namgyal, Princess Pema Tsedeun Information shared by Tina Tashi

Here i am sharing few photographs related to Royal family of Sikkim from the collection of a gentleman from Australia named Harold. He was kind enough to let me share his collection that also includes letters send by Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal. He writes for his blog Radical Royalist, that speaks of the volumes of his love for Royal Monarchies across the globe. To speak off he does have a nice collection of write ups and photographs of monarchies that have lost to the wheel of clock. To start with, below is the photograph of Crown Prince Tenzing of Sikkim, son of the 12th Chogyal and Sangey Deki, daughter of Yapshi Samdu Phodrang of Tibet. The Crown Prince died in a car accident on 11th March 1978.

Gangtok, 1st October, 1968 Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Princess Sangay Dekila, Sir Tashi Namgyal, Shrimati Indira Gandhi [in kho (Bhutia Dress)], Princess Pema Tsedeun and Ashi Tashi Dorji of Bhutan. Information provided: Tenzin Chukie Tashi

Maharani with her children Photo shared by Tenpa I am thankful towards Tina Tashi for providing information about the persons in the photographs. Maharani Kunzang Dechhen in the centre to her left is Prince Paljor, to her right is Prince Palden Thondup Namgyal who later became the Chogya of Sikkiml, in front is Princess Pema Tsedeun. The baby is Princess Pema Choki. 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. They had three sons and three daughters: Paljor Namgyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, Jigdal Tsewing Namgyal, Pema Tsedong Namgyal, Pema Choki Namgyal and Sonam Palden Namgyal. Maharani Kunzang Dechen died at the Royal Palace, Park Ridge, Gangtok, March 1987. NB: Information taken from Royalark

I had a wonderful experience two days back at the Archives Department at Gangtok. I came across a personal file of Stephen Smith about how he proposed his 1935 Sikkim Rocketmail Experiment. The files contain letters and the process of his permission to the small kingdom of Sikkim. Right now, I am going through them, and those letters are really interesting to read. Myself with the Stephen Smith's personal file in the Archives Department In one instance, after the Sikkim Rocketmail Experiment 1935, Stephen Smith had sent three photographs of the event to Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, the King of Sikkim, but for some unknown reason, those three photographs were returned back to Stephen Smith. There is a letter in the file from an American stamp collector asking the Chogyal about the items of Sikkim Rocketmail, to which the Chogyal had directed to talk straightly to Stephen Smith. A Letter from the file According to the letters in the file, two separate events were held at Sikkim...

I have been writing about Sikkim, but I am sorry I never talked about its physical features. Once a Himalayan kingdom until 1975 and now part of a mighty Indian Union, the small state of Sikkim has seen many changes over the last 50 years. Jawaharlal Nehru and Chogyal Tashi Namgyal, the king of Sikkim, had a very warm relationship.  It was even said that Nehru wanted to spend his retired life in Sikkim, but that could not happen due to his sudden death in 1964. After Nehru's death, some of his ashes were brought to Sikkim and thrown over the sky of Gangtok, Kanchenjunga Range, and other places.  Even Chogyal Tashi Namgyal presented his paintings to Nehru, which is said to be at Anand Bhawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru family at Allahabad. But it was under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, that Sikkim was merged with India just 10 years after Nehru died.     Sikkim shares an interesting geographical boundary. Three countries...

" The first animals intentionally sent into space were fruit flies , accompanied by corn seeds aboard a U.S.-launched V2 rocket in 1947. The experiment aimed to explore the effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes. Some further V2 missions carried biological samples, including moss . Albert II, a Rhesus Monkey , became the first monkey in space on June 14, 1949, in a U.S.-launched V2, (after the failure of the original Albert's mission). Albert II died on impact after a parachute failure. Numerous monkeys of several species were flown by the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. Monkeys were implanted with sensors to measure vital signs, and many were under anesthesia during launch." But it was September 28, 1935, a rocketmail experiment was conducted in Gangtok in which a cock was lifted in the rocket. A cock with 155 Sikkim Rocketgrams was also launched along with it. The experiment was conducted by Stephen Smith, father of Indian Rocketmail, with the ...