A mass rally being taken out by pro-democratic forces in Sikkim. 1973.

Old Gangtok bazar filled with pro and anti merger group of Sikkim.

Kewal Singh (Indian foreign Secterary), Chogyal Palden Thundup Namgyal, K.S Bajpai (Indian Political Officer), Karma Tobden (Deputy Secretary of Chogyal).

Governor B.B. Lal and the Chief Minister Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsharpa with the members of the First Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa being sworn in as first Chief minister of Sikkim, by Governor B.B.Lal

The Angel of Mercy Mother Teresa blessed Sikkim with her visit to Gangtok on 17 February 1976.

Indira Gandhi being received warmly on her arrival at Gangtok.

Mr. N.B.Bhandari being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim by the Governor Mr. S.K. Bhatnagar.

Members of Sikkim Legislative Assembly under Bhandari Government.

B.B. Goorong being sworn in as the third Chief Minister of Sikkim by the Governor Homi J.H. Talyarkhan. 11th May 1984.

Mr. Sanchaman Limboo being sworn in as the fourth Chief Minister of Sikkim by the governor R.H.Tahiliani, 18th may 1994.

Sikkim Legislative Council in mid 50s

I think it will be painful to load all the images with a slow net connection. Please visit image gallery to see all the images.

Gurudongmar Lake (© saran)  - Sent 1221 times.

White water rafting - Teesta (© sam_sikkim) - Sent 805 times.

Panaromic View Of Pelling (West Sikkim) (© sam_sikkim) - Sent 723 times.

Monks (© amir_sereng) - Sent 622 times.

Mt. Kanchandzonga (© saran) - Sent 612 times.

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Dazzling lights excitement and joy everywhere. Local musical groups performaing door to door, Deusai bhais singing “Aahai, bhana bhana bhai ho”,  drinkers going way too outrageous. This Tihar fianlly comes to an end, leaving us all filled with emptyness.

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For me, this year’s Dashain was completely different, filled with excitement and joy. We went to visit different places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and in Sikkim. People rushing around with their kids to meet elders, loud music playing in every shop, drunkers hitting the jackpot on the road sides, it was entirely quite a sight.

Darjeeling and Kalimpong had a different sight, people wearing “Daura Sural”, and ladies wearing “Chaubandi and fariya”. In these hills, people are obliged to wear traditional gurkhali dress for some political reasons. But backin Gangtok, it was quiet, unlike usual days few people roaming around, this hustle center seemed to embarace rathar unusual stillness.  I wonder where do people go in Dasain?

“Teesta (female) and Rangit (male) were born at the sacred lap of the Himalayan Mountains. They grew up together happily and as they became adults, secretly they began to love each other. But their secret story didn’t last forever, people got to know about this and started talking things about them.  So they decided to leave the place, to go some somewhere they could be together forever. This place was no where but the valley where hill meets the plains, Lepchas called it “Pazook” which means place covered with dense forest (Now near Teesta bazaar).

Both didn’t know the path to “Pazook”, so the Rongnu (Teesta) took Parli-Bu the snake as her guide, and Rungit went with Tut-Fu (Danfey) the bird. It was like a little race, who will reach first.  Snake with agile body reached Pazaok in time, but Tut-fo (Danphey) had taken a longer road thought the rocky and difficult terrain. Being hungry he stopped on the way to collect insects for his food. On the other hand Teesta was waiting for her love to arrive.  When Rungit finally arrived, he was so ashamed to be defeated by a female even though fault was not his. So he decided to go back to his usual home back in Himalayas. As he started returning the water of the river began to rise up, swallowing the valley and the hill. All the people living in the valley gathered up to the Meanom and Tendong hill to save themselves from the deluge,  the water was still out of reach in these hills.

They began to pray to the god to save them from this evil deluge, they offered “Chi” to “Itbu-debu-rum-doar” the creator and destroyer. Suddenly a bird appeared called “Kohom Fo” and drank the “chi”, and water then began to subside slowly and that was the end of deluge. Peace and happiness once again prevailed at the land of the Rongs, and people started celebreting Tendong Lho Rum Faat festival after that.