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

We have all seen the eight lucky signs of Buddhism in various Buddhist-related customs. But to see something like "Sernya," also known as the pair of golden fishes, in the middle of the Coronation Bridge near Sevoke was not expected by me, at least. The sculpted picture features a pair of fish forming a circle with a conch shell at its center. According to Buddhism, " A Pair of Golden Fishes symbolizes the resurrection of eternal life, rebirth, etc. The pair signifies the ability to swim with ease without obstruction in the ocean of this world. They may also be taken to symbolize the eye of perception as fish can see through muddy water. The fish couple suggests mutual aid and indispensability between male and female material life."  But it still finds me in mystery, well, what was that pair of fish doing there.....could be a way of honouring the marine life that f...

from sikkimexpress.com This is in response to an Auction Notice issued by the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Roads & Bridges Department, Gyalshing, Government of Sikkim, regarding the auction of bridge parts of the old Rathong Suspension Bridge on the Rimbi-Yuksom Road, which belongs to the above mentioned Department. According to the Auction Notice, the salvage value of the bridge parts has been worked out at Rs. Four Lakhs Fifty Thousand, Nine Hundred Fifteen. I would like to request the Secretary of the Department if the suspension bridges in these places can be left the way it is. Suspension bridges all over the world have lots of charm and historical significance. They are a huge tourist attraction as well. Tourist visiting rural areas of Sikkim would expect the rustic charm and suspension bridges add to the allure of the place. It is indeed sad that suspension bridges in Sikkim are all dying out and very little or nothing is being done to restore and preserve ...

This bridge on the way between Lingee to Sokpe in Sikkim. Pic: Lalit Mintri

The Manpari bridge connects East Sikkim with the South districts. The river Tista flows below it. The village in the opposite side of Singtam is called Manpari Busty since the houses constructed there is done hay-wire.

Akkar Bridge at Jorethang , South Sikkim that flows over Rangit River is the India's first Cable-stayed concrete bridge. Designed by Bergermann and Partner, Stuttgart was completed in 1989.  Materials used are steel for cables and concrete in rest of the structure. Its length spans 2 x 77 m, deck width 11.10 m and its pylon height 54.60 m.