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

Indra Jatra's celebration over the years had brought every newar family of Sikkim under one roof. It was that one-day entire newar population within the state anxiously waits. But this year the Covid-19 pandemic had a different plan for everyone. This August 31, we have the Indra Jatra but it will be silently observed without the red-black-white coloured masses of devotees.   Sikkim Newar Guthi completed the 25 th year of its formation last year and on this big occasion; I wish to share the history of my home town Singtam’s Newa Sakha, its origin, and stories so far. The term 'Singtam Sakha' started in the early 90s and over the years it has its own narrative. Blessed by Goddess Kumari and God Indra, the newars of Singtam are among the emerging Sakhas who hold promises to make the Newars of Sikkim, a proud family.   The establishments of the Singtam bazaar date back to the late 1880s and with each decade passing by the people of Singtam had collectively come toge...

DALAPCHAND, JUNE 14: Generous Students of Dalapchand Secondary School yesterday visited the landslide affected areas of Rolep. The six boy’s students accompanied by three teachers CD Rai, SD Bhutia and Shital Pradhan met the affected families and offered deep condolence and sorrow towards the untimely death of their families. The Generous Students also handed over a sum of Rs 3220 towards the Rolep Relief Fund to the Area MLA who had also came to Rolep with relief resources for the affected families. Generous Students of Dalapchand Secondary School is a student forum of Dalapchand SS that had been actively participating at social help since its formation last year. Last year, this forum had played an active role in the distribution of blankets during 18/9 Sikkim Earthquake at different areas of Rongli.

Wet walls of Toppakhani Tunnel I first wrote about the water droplets dripping from the ceilings of the Toppakhani Tunnel few years back in my newspaper Himalayan Review. But i had seen no progress over the years from any where regarding the mishap that could happen if the ceilings of the Toppakhani Tunnel gets collapsed. With the recent landslides that affected the neighbouring regions of Singtam i fear the 80 year old motarable tunnel might not have a pretty sights in near future.   Broken Statue of a leopard at the tip of the Toppakhani Tunnel This time the water channel that runs over the head of the  8 decades old Toppakhani Tunnel had exploded letting huge rocks to fall on the road at the rip of the Tunnel damaging the statues of the  small park build on the other side of the road. Few of the stones that were used on the wall of the Tunnel has fallen off while the home of bats that has been living inside the dark tunnel that does not even have a lights...

Road blocked at Sirwani Ill-fated vehicles at Manpari Busty At Manpari Busty   landslide at Shantinagar, Singtam Affected house at Juice Factory area Affected house at Juice Factory area  People walking at the landslides Vehicle problem that hit Singtam bazaar The local coolies of Singtam have all gathered at the landslide area and they charge upto Rs 200 to cross the landslides.

NAMCHI, June 13: The heavy downpour of last night caused wide-spread damages in several parts of South District. In Namchi, a two-storied wooden house of BK Pradhan, at Mandir Daragoan, above Namchi Bazaar suffered extensive damages due to a mudslide. The incident took place at around 4.30 am in the morning when one of the family members was woken up by a loud rumbling sound. Before the family could react, the side of the house was covered in mud. The mudslide, which brought with it garbage and debris, damaged the store room situated behind the house. The mud and debris damaged the walls and entered the house burying four LPG cylinders, two gas stoves and all other kitchen items, including sacks of rice. Three rooms on the ground floor of the house were damaged by the slide. However, no one was injured. Incidentally, this is the fourth time that a similar incident has taken place in the same house. This latest incident is the second major incident that has taken pla...

GANGTOK, June 13: The entire lower belt of the Capital was shaken today when a huge portion of the hill caved in at Amdo Golai this afternoon. The landslide occurred when a huge boulder broke loose following heavy rains in the pass few days in the Capital. The falling boulders and soil covered the entire portion of the Amdo Golai-Indira By-pass-National Highway 31A tri-junction, completely blocking the by-pass road. Peak hour traffic on this stretch was disrupted for many hours following the incident. Police personnel Chabilal Chettri, who was manning the traffic at the tri-junction when the incident occurred, sustained minor injuries when a falling rock hit him in his leg. He was immediately rushed to the STNM hospital. Following the incident, Police personnel and members of Civil Defence immediately evacuated the entire area. “I was on my duty when I heard a loud sound when I looked up I saw the entire hill coming down. I ran as fast as I could,” Mohamed Islam, NBC...