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

Regarding Sikkim's perspective, the first three  Everest Expeditions hold special significance for a person named Gyalzen Kazi, who was a landlord but played an important role during the expeditions. Gyalzen Kazi was the interpreter for the 1921 Everest and 1922 and 1924 Expeditions.  It is well said that Gyalzen Kazi and Karma Paul, another interpreter from Darjeeling, had a significant role in the Everest Expeditions. Gyalzen Kazi was known more for his role as an interpreter but to my findings, he was the first mountain explorer of Sikkim. Another interesting finding that came to me was the page of the Aritar Dak Bungalow Visitor Book with the names of five 1922 Mt Everest Expedition mountaineers. Charles G. Bruce, Edward "Teddy" F. Norton, Dr Arthur Wakefield, C. John Morris, and C. Geoffrey Bruce had signed the visitor book during their stay at the Dak Bungalow on July 29 and 30, 1922.  Though I felt a little sad not to find Mallory’s name in the book, nevertheless...

Very little is known about the four unknown burial that were found at Aritar. According to the oral documentation from the elderly local people of this region, the burials of four dead bodies are believed to be of soldiers of the British contingent representing the “1904 British expedition to Tibet” led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Francis Edward Younghusband that entered Tibet via Aritar (Old Silk Route). It is believed that the four soldiers were injured during the massacre and brought to the Health Camp at Aritar Dak Bungalow, where they latter died. A century later, the present burial site was re-constructed into cemetery by the Aritar Panchayat in due honour to those four unknown Britishers. 

"Aritar is located in East Sikkim, Under Rongli subdivision. Aritar is a 3 to 4-hour drive from Gangtok and 2 hours drive from Rongpo. Aritar Lake (a.k.a Lampokhari) is a newly developed tourist destination, where boating facilities have been introduced for the first time in Sikkim. There are newly constructed viewpoints, a cafeteria, lodges etc for the tourists. Tourists can also choose to trek from Aritar to Rachela, a 6-hour route, from where tourists can see rhododendrons bloom everywhere in season. There are many other places of Interest other than just Aritar Lake, such as old British-built Banglow, Aritar Gumpa, Mankhim, Nirmal Dham etc."-- sikkimonline.info At Aritar Lake Lampokhari : Initially one of the oldest natural lakes in Sikkim and recently artificially constructed to facilitate boating for tourists. At an altitude of 4600 ft, it is the only lake with a boating facility in Sikkim. At Mankim Mangkhim , a Temple of the Rai sect of Hindu origin is located at...