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

I first heard about the philatelic book ‘Buddhism on Stamps in an article published on one of the pages of Sikkim Express newspaper, the leading daily newspaper of Sikkim last year (2021). Since its release, the book has garnered praise across the philatelic circles and won various prizes in international competitions. As a collector of philatelic materials on Buddhism, I was very interested in going through this book's pages. Suyog with the book All thanks to Shri Lokeswara Rao, the author of the book. Upon contacting him through Facebook and WhatsApp, I finally had the book. This is the second philatelic book on Buddhism to my little knowledge after ' A Story of Gautama Buddha: As told through postage stamps’ written by Binod Shrestha from Nepal, published in 2018. Rao has narrated the story of Buddhism through 22 chapters, touching every chronological timeline related to Buddha, his life, doctrines, and teachings ; Buddhism as a spiritual journey, its evolution, and its prac...

This MY STAMP was made on my son Suyog's stamp during Cooch Behar Exhibition 2017.

Bhutan introduced its first postage stamps in 1962 (10th October).  In its inaugural issue, it featured seven definitive stamps in different denominations. The first stamp series introduced the Bhutan lifestyle. One of the stamps released finds a special place among the stamp collectors of Sikkim . Sikkim , though once an independent country , is today a proud part of the Indian Union . Sikkim became part of India in 1975.  The 15ch postage stamp issued from the country of Bhutan is probably the only postage stamp in the world of philately that showed Sikkim as an Independent Country. You can closely see an Independent Sikkim, below it India while East Pakistan now Bangladesh just beneath it. Bhutan is right to Sikkim in white while Tibet is on its top. It must be noted that in 1962 when this definitive stamp was released Sikkim was still an independent country.

SINGTAM, NOVEMBER 1: It was a rare achievement for the philatelists of Sikkim Philatelic Society at DEPEX 2014 held at Capitol Hall, Darjeeling on October 31.  Five-member philatelists from Sikkim Philatelic Society had participated in the Senior Category Open Competition (Outside Darjeeling) that featured philatelists from Sikkim, Mallbazaar , Jalpaiguri , Cooch Bihar , Gangarampur , and others. The first three positions in the category were won by Sikkim. Shital Pradhan won the first prize for his theme “ Sikkim through Philately ”, Roshan Prasad stood second while Ganesh Pradhan , Deepen Pradhan , and Padam Parajuli , three philatelists from Sikkim shared the joint third position. The two-day event (October 30 and 31) saw the release of two Special Covers on the 150 th year of St. Paul School and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling . Another highlight of the event was the release of “ My Stamp ” which was highly appreciated by all.  A total of 70 f...

Indreni Bridge of Singtam When I first saw the Adomi Bridge of Ghana in one of my stamp albums I said to myself this looks like our Indreni Bridge. Indeed the picture in the stamp said so. The Indreni (rainbow as it resembles) Bridge joins the town of Singtam (East District) with the Aadarsh Gaon (South District) with the river Teesta flowing in between. The bridge that is still waiting for its official opening today is a centre of attraction for its beauty. A couple of video shoots had already been picturised on it and the late-night radium lightning makes the bridge more fascinating.  The bridge that was started on January 10th, 2007 was constructed by MP Agarwal from Namchi with funds from the Government of India, DONER, and NLCP. The total cost of the construction was Rs 1337 lakhs.  The Adomi Bridge stamp was issued in 1967 and it features the first suspension bridge in Ghana.  I am sorry to inform you that as of 04.10.23,  the Indreni Bridge of...

  [ 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 ...

Postal envelope showing the Rangpo cancellation of 1909 Last year I read in one of the daily newspapers from Gangtok mentioning the heritage status to be given to the Rangpo Post Office for being the second oldest post office in Sikkim. Truly, it is an appreciating gesture but how correct is it to give the year of establishment as 1927. I rushed through other newspapers that carried the story but I did not find any changes in the year of establishment. Surprisingly, being related to philately I felt I need to provide some input about Sikkim's Postal History. So how about this, I have a scan of postal envelopes with a clear postal cancellation of Rangpo that reads 9 October 1909. So it makes a clear picture that Rangpo Post Office was set up prior to 1909.   On a similar account, I read in the newspapers about Rhenock making a bid for the first post office in Sikkim. I am not so sure about the old post offices; here I am talking about the houses in which the post office was se...

An Inaugural Day Special Cover of Sikkimpex-82 An Award Day Special Cover of Sikkimpex-82 Despite being associated with its postal history since 1861, the state of Sikkim lack in promotion of philately. A significant chapter of Sikkim Rocket Mail Experiment 1935 had different pioneering achievements in the world philately today.   Till this date, only four philatelic exhibitions had been held in the state, and the last one was held in 2008. A little is known or read about the first philatelic competition that was held for three days at Gangtok during November 2-4, 1982. The exhibition was called “Sikkimpex-82” and inaugurated by Homi J.H. Taleyarkhan , then Governor of Sikkim. More than 30 stamps enthusiasts had taken part in the exhibition. Two Special Covers with the illustrations of an orchid and a yak and a souvenir book was also released on the occasion I here want to share a small anecdote that happened during the second Philatelic Exhibition that was held a...

Singtam: Deepen Pradhan from Rhenock has received a Bronze medal in the recently held Stamps of India National Exhibition 2011 that was held at New Delhi from November 3-6. Deepen Pradhan won the bronze for his theme on ‘Pre Independence Indian Stamps’. Ganesh Pradhan, President of Sikkim Philatelic Club in his message has congratulated Deepen Pradhan’s performance and had hoped that he will bring more laurels to the state in days to come too. Due to the 18/9 Sikkim Earthquake, Sikkim Philatelic Club had decided only to send 4 exhibits from Ganesh Pradhan, Shital Pradhan, Deepen Pradhan, and Sristikaa Pradhan.