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

A new record was set on the rail tracks at Siliguri Junction on June 5, 2006, when for the first time in India and across the globe, a running philatelic exhibition was conducted. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway , UNESCO recognized world heritage, ran for 31 kilometres in 10 hours from Siliguri Junction to Agony Point, with a halt at Sukuna to mark its 125th year.  The program jointly conducted by the Siliguri Philatelic Society (SPS) and Sikkim Philatelic Club (SPC) had added a new page in the history of Indian Philately . Noted Railway Philatelist Vikas Singh of Ghaziabad, the man behind the concept, had booked the train for the day for this purpose. The event named “ Heritage 06 ” was held on June 5 and 6, 2006. On the first day, the exhibition was held at Siliguri Junction Railway Station where the well-decorated Train 788-B was flagged off at Agony Point, Tindharia at around 7.30 am. Stamps, Special Covers and First Day Covers on Indian Rai...

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...

AUGUST 10, RONGLI: NK Pradhan, HRDD Minister inaugurated the new six-room two-story school building at Phadamchen Secondary School on August 9.   A few  hours-long program that was held at the farthest Secondary School in East District had a colorful cultural program along with a Stamp cum Photo Exhibition that was enjoyed by the gathered audiences. Present on the occasion were Puran Gurung   (MLA   Chujachen), Tshering Wangdi Lepcha (MLA Lachen-Mangan), Prakash Pradhan (Joint Director HRDD, East), Normit Lepcha   (SDM, Rongli), Chador Bhutia (AD, Regu BAC), Dhiraj Pradhan (BDO, Regu BAC), Assistant Commandment SSB, 46 Battalion,    2 nd In Command 5 Mahar Regiment, Arun Thatal (PI Rongli), Panchayat Presidents of Lingtam-Phadamchen GPU & Subney-Sisney GPU, Head of Schools under Regu BAC, Praveen Pradhan and Sunita Gurung (Badhaichha Creation), locals and others. The students of Phadamchen SS rendered a greeting song followed by the speech from ...

with SK Biswas, my philately mentor  2006 Ever heard of a rare occasion in philatelic history; a man from one country requesting the highest official of another country to issue a stamp on a particular individual and his appeal being made into practice. Meet Surya Kanta Biswas a professional philatelist from Berhampore, District Murshidabad, West Bengal has earned a special place in the philatelic world. It was in response to his appeal to then-President HM Ershad of Bangladesh that a postage stamp on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore came to be depicted in Bangladesh postage for the first time. It was on May 12, 1990, he wrote a letter to the then President Ershad requesting to bring out a stamp on Gurudev to commemorate the occasion of the 150 th  anniversary of Gurudev's Birth Anniversary. He wrote Gurudev should be honoured since one of his poems “ Amar Sonar Bangla ” is Bangladesh’s national anthem. It is a rare coincidence that Rabindranath Tagore’s two poems are the nation...

It was an innovative idea of popularising Postal Department of North Bengal and Sikkim by Mr. John Samuel,  the then Chief PMG. Though this Sikkim Helicopter Post did not last long but it can be credited as an pioneering effort at the small state of Sikkim. The launch of the Sikkim Helicopter Post was carried at Helipad, near High Court, Gangtok.  The Press Release then said : " SIKKIM HELICOPTER POST" India Post in association with Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation launched a facility to post letters on board the daily Helicopter flight connecting the nearest Airport in North Bengal, Bagdogra to Sikkim ’s capital, Gangtok, on December 2, 2003. The mail posted on the board receives a special hand-stamped cachet. This privilege costs Rs50 per piece. The flight lasting 20 minutes, gives a view of the third highest mountain Kanchenjonga, Rumtek Monastery, and Gangtok Ridge and costs – Rs 600. The mail posted on board on December 2, 2003, received an additional lau...

“I am happy I made my state “Sikkim” proud- -- Roshan Prasad” Roshan Prasad, a 24-year-old local guy from Singtam is pursuing his study at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Kolkata. He came into the limelight when he became the first person from North East India to design the Special Cover for India Post. His design was released in a mega event on July 29, 2010. He is also the winner of a National Award at the National Philately Exhibition at Vadodra last December. Roshan Prasad is also the Team Manager of Hills Boy’s United FC, a football team for the boys of the Hills-based in Kolkata. 1. How do you feel about your achievement of becoming the first from the North-East to design a Special Cover for India Post? Roshan Prasad : It’s an honor for me to become the first from the North East to design a Special Cover for India Post and that too of The National Club of India “Mohun Bagan AC”. I am happy I made my state “Sikkim” proud. For this, I especially would like to t...

I had been planning to set up a personal museum at Singtam for some time and for that I had been collecting stuff. My dream museum shall hold a library, photo gallery, stamps and bank notes exhibits, antiques, old records, different newspapers, autographs and others. It might just take some time to hold my dream come to reality but for people who appreciate my work, I shall share some of that stuff. 1938 London printed Reader Digest