Phodang "Karma Thubten Tashi ChoKhorling" Monastery

Opposite of Monastery Monks of Phodong Monastery Phodang Monastery(Karma Thubten Tashi Chokhorling) is a majorKagyupa Sect Monastery. The gonpa is located about38 kilometers from Gangtok on the way This Monastery was actually founded by the fourthKing Gyurmed Namgyalbut unfortunately, he passed away in 1734 i.e. two years after the demise of the 12th Karmapa Lama. However, the Lamas with a support oflaities completed the Monastery in 1740 A.D.

In the course of time, an earthquake damaged the old structure and had to be dismantled. The Lamas rebuilt a new Monastery it in 1977 which was bigger in size than the previous Monastery with financial assistance from the Government in addition to their own contribution. During the course of reconstruction, the experts of Delhi National Museum Institute extracted the old fresco paintings before  the old structure was dismantled . North Sikkim. These painting are now being preserved by the department for restoration in the new Monastery building. This gonpa came into international limelight through the writings of the famous French explorer Alexander David Neel who spent some years here learning Buddhism in the begining of 1912 under the guidance of the third Lachen Gomchen whom she accepted as her Root Teacher. She practiced meditation in a cave near the vicinity of this gonpa. She was patronized by Chogyal Sidkyong Tulku who also gifted her a Buddha Statue which was returned to this Gonpa after her death in 1969. Some of her photos can be seen in the first floor of the Gonpa. Since the Phodangmonastery is one of the important places of tourist‘s interest in North Sikkim, department of Tourism had further taken up the funding of the remaining works of the monastery which includes the restoration of old fresco paintings. The main festival is an annual mask dance fair in winter corresponding to the month of December to January. Source: http://sikkimeccl.gov.in/History/Monasteries/North/PhodangMonastery.aspx

Kagyad Dance

Kagyad Dance is a dance performed by Buddhist Monk  in many monasteries of sikkim as a part of Lossong Festival.This dance is performed in the 28th and 29th of 10 month tibetan calender which usually falls in the last week of december. This dance symbolize the destruction of evil spirit of previous year and welcome the good spirit for the coming year.

Costume of lamas is full of colour with gaily painted maskes, they dance to the rythem of resounding drums  jumping and swing the ceremonial swords in their hand.They dance in formation and there is geometrical  figure  drawn in the ground to help them dance in formation.This kagyad dance enacts various theme from the Buddhist Mythology and culminates with the burning of effigy made of flour,wood and paper.Before burning this effigy it is kept in the centre of ground where monks performed dance,there devotees pray and put coin in there.They believe that  by putting coin or currency  in the effigy they are throwing all the bed luck for the coming new year.

In  some of the rural areas of Sikkim,Kagyad dance(They called Gumpa Cham) is the only annual  festival  of that area ,so businessman from nearby town bring their item in the Cham. They sells jackets,Household item,pearls,toys, and many other  items which villagers love to do shopping. Local  people also put their food stal  outside the Gumpa Complex,so you can always try new local menu  at reasonable price.In day time devotees who come from far of place to see dance   just sit outside Gumpa in the ground   for whole day and at the night time they just enjoy the night life with  chang(local beverage)  in the nearby deera(Food Stall) .In some of the place  especially in the rural areas ,they even play cards in the food stal in  the night time but i am afraid they won't allow stranger to play with them.

On the 30th day of 10th month tibetan calender,Rinpochee give blessing to all the devotees and monks.They even distribute sung di(Sacred thread),chiri (prasad ) and thi (holy water) and devotees offer their offering to Monastery as a token of thanks.

Glimpse of Zuluk,East Sikkim,India.

Name of Place:Zuluk,East Sikkim,India.

altitude:9700ft.

Nearest airport:Bogdogra,west Bengal

Nearest Railway station:N.J.P,Weast Sikkim

How far is from Gangtok:3hrs drive.

where can we get permit:Rongli/Gangtok check post.

Things to see in Zuluk:Sun rise view,old silk road,view of Kanchendzonga,lakes,birds wildlife(Red Panda),64 bend turning road and rare birds.

Thing to take:warm clothes.

 

Photo credit:Guest of Gopal Pradhan's homestay.

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours Offers Sikkim as Alternative to Tibet

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours Offers Sikkim as Alternative to Tibet SpiceRoads Cycle Tours launches Cycling Sikkim's Tea Trails tour that visits cultural and natural highlights of this land-locked north Indian province. Bangkok, Thailand, June 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Chinese authorities are no longer issuing entry permits to Tibet to foreigners, effectively closing Tibet for 2012, and for those interested in Tibetan culture SpiceRoads Cycle Tours now offers a 10-day cycle tour to rugged and remote Sikkim in northeast India. SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has had to cancel two Lhasa to Kathmandu tours due to this sudden and unexpected change in permit rules to Tibet. Sikkim is bordered by Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, and the influence is seen in the people, the majority of whom are ethnically Nepali, and the two predominant religions of Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Stops on this cycle tour include the 200-year-old Tibetan Enchey monastery in Gangtok and the Rumtek Monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is lead by the 16th Karmapa who fled Tibet in 1959 and took over Rumtek as his main seat in exile. Throughout the ride the Kanchenjunga mountain range of five peaks and includes Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world with an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft), is ever present, another reminder of the snow-capped peaks of Tibet. The Cycling Sikkim's Tea Trails route is 330 kilometres over six days of cycling and also takes breaks to make a wish at Sikkim's holiest lake, sample tea from local plantations, and ride a toy train in the colonial hill station of Darjeeling. The riding will be strenuous as it will consist of exhilarating descents down into valleys and then climbs up over passes (none higher than 2,100 m). The tour costs US$1,950 with an additional $175 for bike rental. and starts and ends at Bagdgora airport in Sikkim. Included is accommodation, most meals, drinks and snacks while riding. SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has three fall departures and are offering a 10% introductory discount for 28 Oct–6 Nov, 25 Nov–4 Dec, 23 Dec–1 Jan tours. Contact Information SpiceRoads Co., Ltd Patricia Weismantel +66 (0) 2712 5305 Contact www.spiceroads.com

Awesome Kangchendzonga

Our next stop is Pelling in West Sikkim. It is easy to get around Sikkim in "Share Jeeps". They run often & are inexpensive, but crowded. This time we hire a jeep to take us to Pelling. The road is narrow and rough in places & includes very steep climbs and decents. We travel thru beautiful country & what I can only describe as "cloud forest", very lush vegitation, with lots of ferns and moss. 

Arriving in Pelling we walk to Pemyangtse Monestary, one of the oldest & most important in Sikkim. There, we are blown away by the wooden sculpture on the third floor, "Mandala of Padmasambhava's Heavenly Abode". It is a 3D wooden mandalla that took to monk who built it 5 years to complete. 

Next day at dawn, the clouds clear for a while & we get our clearest & clostest view of the Khangchendzonga Massiff, 3rd higest peak in the world. It is considered a diety in Sikkim & it is easy to see why. It takes our breath away just to look at it. 

Next day we rent a Jeep, along with James from Britian, & visit the Holy Lake of Khecheopalri. 

View of Kangchendzonga

It is considered a footprint of the Goddess Tara & is said to be so holy that birds pick out any leaf that falls in the water. 

That evening, back in Pelling, we see a buffett set up in a nearby hotel. We wander in and are not sure if they are serving the public or if this is for a special group. The workers hustle us in & start filling our plates with delicous south Indian cuisene. Turns out that this was a buffett for a tour group, but they have all finished eating. Now the staff is eating and cleaning up & they want to share with us. They are very friendly and generous hosts and seem to enjoy feeding us almost as much as we enjoy their wonderfull cooking! there is no charge for the meal, but we leave a generous tip and are thankfull for the beautiful day we have had in this beautiful place.


source:http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Sikkim/Pelling/blog-722340.html 

Birding to Highland of Sikkim.

SOS(sikkim Ornithological Society)member toured  Highland land (Gurudogmar lake ,Thangu and Lachen)of Sikkim,India in search of Highland Bird species from 12/05/2012 to 14/05/2012.Detail of trip report  will be publish later.

Niraj Thapa,Karma Tempo and Pempa Tshering(me)

Thangu,North-Sikkim

Gurudogmar Lake-Sikkim

As one of my friend said Gurudogmar is the last place God has made.

SATELLITE IMAGE OF SIKKIM

satellite image of INDIA.




satellite image of SIKKIM

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SIKKIM

AREA:       7096sq.km
POPULATION:   600000 appro.
LANGUAGE:    English,Nepali,Hindi,Bhutia,Lepcha and Limbu
DISTRICT:         4
TEMPERATURE:       summer-max.21'c,min.13'c
                                   winter-max.13'c,min.5'c
ANNUAL RAINFALL:    3894mm
NEAREST AIRPORT:    Bagdogra(120km from gangtok)
NEAREST RAILWAY STATION:    New Jalpaiguri station(113km from gangtok)
MAMELS:         150
BIRDS:           552
BUTTERFLIES:     690
STATE FLOWER:     Nobile Orchid(denrobium nobile)
STATE TREE:           Rhododendron
FERNS AND FERNS ALLIES:   362
FLOWERING PLANTS:     4500
RHODODENDRON:   39
MEDICINAL PLANTS:    424
PRIMULAS:         60
LAKES AND WETLAD:     227
ORCHID:       515
HERBAL GARDEN:  13
GLACIERS:   21
OAKS:   11
FORESTRY COVER:   46%(2003)
RIVERS AND STREAMS:  104
MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS:   28
TREE FERNS:   8
FISH:   48
CONIFERS:  16