Pink Twins

Pink Twins
Gangtok

Yellow Villa

Yellow Villa
Gangtok

Sparkling Rai Saag

Sparkling Rai Saag
Gangtok

Lovely Poppy Flowers

Lovely Poppy Flowers
Gangtok

A Different type of Seasonal Flower

A Different type of Seasonal Flower
Gangtok

Blue Flavour

Blue Flavour
Gangtok

Pink & White Combination

Pink & White Combination

Dark Pink Flavour

Dark Pink Flavour
Gangtok 6th March 16

Purple Charm

Purple Charm
CS Quarter Gangtok

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip
Conservatory Near Selep Tank

Charm of Red Tulips

Charm of Red Tulips
Conservatory near Selep Tank

Lord Buddha

Lord Buddha
1-D Terminal New Delhi

Attraction of Red Panda

Attraction of Red Panda
Saramsa Garden

Lord Ganesh made of oranges

Lord Ganesh made of oranges
Saramsa Garden

Charm of Seasonal Flower

Charm of Seasonal Flower
Gaurds Ground Gangtok

Unmatched beauty

Unmatched beauty
Sikkim Organic Festival

Green is always soothing

Green is always soothing
Sikkim Organic Festival 2016

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Somewhere in Gangtok

White Orchid

White Orchid
Manan Kendra

Purple Orchid

Purple Orchid
Manan Kendra, 31-10-2015

Gift of Nature

Gift of Nature
Near Cherry Building

Majestic View of Sea

Majestic View of Sea
Marina, Chennai, 19-10-15

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting
Hotel Nork Hill

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle
Nork Hill, 24-11-2015

Mirror Trick

Mirror Trick
Hotel Nork Hill, Gtok, 24-11-2015

Yes we have the power

Yes we have the power
Qtr at Devt Area, 25-11-2015

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA
Gangtok dt 20-11-2015

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK
NEW DELHI 22-10-15

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE
MRS MALI SMU 13-10-2015

SAROD RECITAL

SAROD RECITAL
SMU CONVOCATION 13-10-15

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE
ITM GANGTOK 14-10-15

RED BEAUTY

RED BEAUTY
GANGTOK

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
MAYFAIR GANGTOK

OM NAMAH SHIVAY

OM NAMAH SHIVAY
MAYFAIR GANGTOK 02-11-15

Smile and Joy

Smile and Joy
24th September Delhi

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed
Gangtok

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok on 7-10-15

Morning Glow

Morning Glow
Denzong Regency- Gangtok on 7-10-15

Pink Orchid

Pink Orchid
Pakyong Area

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
Bojeytar Pakyong 26 Feb 15

Tabla or Log Piece

Tabla or Log Piece
HMI Darjeeling Nov 2014

Hand can do anything

Hand can do anything
Birla Science Museum Kolkata

Legacy and Heritage

Legacy and Heritage
Indian Museum Kolkata

Queen Nephretus of Egypt

Queen Nephretus of Egypt
India Museum Kolkata 4th Mar 15

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece
Tashi Delek June 2014

Foot Print of Bason

Foot Print of Bason
Satpura Forest

Foot Print of Tiger

Foot Print of Tiger
Satpura Forest (MP) March 14

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Lovely Twins

Lovely Twins

Pink,Pink,Pink

Pink,Pink,Pink
Orchid,not only Spl ,It lasts longer Also

Clean Water has a Different Impact

Clean Water has a Different Impact
Rangeet at Jorethang ,24-11-14

What a Ravishing Beauty ?

What a Ravishing Beauty ?
Teesta near Kalijhora, 19-12-14

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty
K.JUNGA, 6:20 AM 18 -12-14

Another Dawn View -Different Angle

Another Dawn View -Different Angle
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

View at Dawn in Biting Cold

View at Dawn in Biting Cold
K.JUNGA 18-12

Dawn Scene-2

Dawn Scene-2
V Awas 18 -12-14

Dawn Scenario

Dawn Scenario
K.JUNGA

Morning Means End of Night

Morning Means End of Night
K. JUNGA,

View at Dawn

View at Dawn
K.JUNGA 2 ,18-12-14

Early Morning Freshness

Early Morning Freshness
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

What an eye opener early in the day?

What an eye opener early in the day?
View of 17-12-2014 from Terrace of V. Awas

Another view of full snow around Mt Kanchendzonga

Another view of full snow around  Mt Kanchendzonga
17-12-2014

Magnificent view after bone chilling night

Magnificent view after bone chilling night
17-12-2014

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night
Vidhayak Awas Gangtok

Amazing charm of Green Orchid

Amazing charm of Green Orchid
HMI Darjeeling

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
HMI DARJEELING (13-11-14)

Bell Flower in full bloom

Bell Flower in full bloom

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Dec 14 Circuit House

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires
Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom
November 14 Ganesh Tok Gangtok

What a view after getting up ?

What a view after getting up ?
B-1 Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga
11-11-2014 VIP COLONY

Red Rose

Red Rose
Gangtok

Cranes having Gala Time

Cranes having Gala Time
Tigaon, Faridabad (2nd Oct 14)

Yes I am from Faridabad

Yes I am from Faridabad
Tiny, Beautiful Bird at NTPC, Ballabgarh (29.9.14)

Water Vital for Life

Water Vital for Life
Awesome view of Teesta near Kalijhora

Yes I had a Bath

Yes I had a Bath
Gladiola at 6200 ft.

Soothing Morning View

Soothing Morning View
Mt. Khangchendzonga from C.House (April, 14)

Natural Yellow Fascinates

Natural Yellow Fascinates
Gangtok (April, 2014)

Flowery Bell ?

Flowery Bell ?
Circuit House (May 14)

Riot of Colour in Monsoon

Riot of Colour in Monsoon
Circuit House, Gangtok(May 14)

Blushing orange

Blushing orange
Circuit House Gangtok (May 14)

Magnificent Taj

Magnificent Taj
Sept 2013

I can lift Taj Mahal

I can lift Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal,Sept end 2013

Natural fan to beat the heat

Natural fan to beat the heat
India Gate (24.08.14)

Engineering Marvel

Engineering Marvel
Coronation Bridge (22.08.2014)

Cascading water, soothing to eyes

Cascading water, soothing to eyes
Scene near Teesta Baazar (22.8.14)

Teesta attracts at every bend

Teesta attracts at every bend
16.7.2014

Monkey jump

Monkey jump
Teesta River, Birik(22.8.14)

Onset of Night

Onset of Night
Qutub,Sept.13

Qutub,Dusk Scene

Qutub,Dusk Scene
Sept.13

Together we take a Plunge

Together we take a Plunge
Clean Calicut Beach, Feb-2013

Setting Sun, always soothing

Setting Sun, always soothing
Dusk at a Gaya village(15.5.13)

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle
Lake surrounding Purana Quila(20.10.13)

Monday, June 22, 2015

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) New Route through Sikkim Commences



18th June 2015 is going to be a memorable and momentous day in the contemporary history of Sikkim which joined the main stream of nation as 22nd State on 16th May 1975. The Ridge Garden, famous landmark on top of state capital which saw the previous event as also spate of activities during the famed Silk Route days, witnessed the joint flagging off of two buses (carrying 20 pilgrims each to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar) by Sri Shriniwas Patil, Governor of Sikkim and Sri Pawan Chamling, the CM of peaceful & happening state of Sikkim. A Commemorative Special Postal Cover by the Dept. of Posts was released to mark the occasion. Prior to flag off, release of colourful balloons by the chief guests and soothing blowing of conch (Sankh) by young Hindu priests and similar action by the Buddhist Lamas with butter lamps & prayer flags of five shades in tow, added the needed colour and flavour to the long awaited ceremony. Both the priests and performing artists with ethnic musical instruments belonging to 3 main communities impressed a disciplined gathering of 5000 persons, representing the Government and the Non-Govt.sectors, alike.



Rather, the experience of half an hour simply mesmerized the tourists & pilgrims, many of whom were visiting this beautiful part of country for the first time. The Singhi Chaam (Snow Lion Dance) and Yak Dance not only stole the show but also set the ball rolling.  Bonhomie prevailed all over. The weather, which was inclement for a month, including early morning downpour (leading to blockage of NH10 highway to Gangtok), cleared up when it was time “to fire the shots”. Though Sun did not come out or went up clearly, yet the whole planned process had a smooth sailing. Sri Motilal Lakhotia (88 yrs) and one or two others of pre 1962 Nathula trade days together with traders connected to the post 6th July 2006 trade route were conspicuous by their presence. After all, the small and beautiful state of Sikkim was celebrating its “ethnic & trade connection with China” event after 9 years. A fresh round of international trade had been resumed w.e.f. 6/7/2006 at an altitude of 14,400 ft., following several rounds of talks, after a gap of 42 years. Though temperature on last occasion was in the range of minus 5 to minus 3, in Gangtok, it was a pleasant 14 degree.



The absence of the PM or the External Affairs Minister or for that matter, even a J.S. level officer of MEA, MHA or DoNER on this historic day was very much felt. The Chief Minister did not forget to mention it in his speech in a chaste, sanskritized Hindi. Nonetheless, he expressed his gratitude to the PM for acceding to this long pending demand within a year of his taking over. He hinted that with the dynamism and speed of the PM, more optimistic days will be ahead for brightening the prospects of an organic, crime free and poverty Free State of Sikkim. He went on to add that the state was a peaceful one with communal harmony and having been adjudged as a “Nirmal” state and received accolades for its rural development, tourism initiatives and environment conservation efforts.



In view of significance of the occasion, he indicated that Hindus, Buddhists and all others were living in unison, as there was no discrimination according to the traditional Varna system. The statues of Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse, Lord Buddha at Ravangla and creation of Chaar Dham (having replicas of 4 Dhams and 14 Jyotirlingams) at Solophok, exemplifly the level of religious tolerance. Therefore, he asked the first batch of pilgrims to visit some of them on their return through Sherathang after 19 days. He also promised them a few “organic gifts” on return. Reference or expected respect to Jai Bhole Nath (Lord Shiva), the presiding deity of Mt. Kailash, was the common chord in the delibrations of both the CM and the Governor. This was also heard loudly when actual flag off materlised. Earlier the day began with offering of prayers and butter lamps together with plantation of saplings by the dignitaries and presentation of mementoes & scarves to the yatris, who not only felt elated & cheerful but expressed the same as well, in a candid way. 

   
Talking of facts and figures, the per capita expenditure on the new route will be in the range of Rs. 1.7 Lakhs for a journey of 2800 kms with stretches between Delhi & Bagdogra having 1200 kms and the stretch- Bagdogra – Gangtok – Nathula – Kangma – Laji – Jongba - Mansarovar involving a distance of 1585 kms with one halt each at Gangtok, 15th Mile, and Sherathang on India side. The yatra, may also require a trekking of 26 kms in addition to 19 kms of parikrama of Mt. Kailash.  




All said and done, the new route is likely to be a very attractive and relieving proposition, especially for the senior citizens or those belonging to relatively young age group but not in a position to take the rigours of trekking through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. A question will always linger on, whether the KMY will succeed in view of passage involved through a very high altitude region ( nearly 19,000 ft) and not very certain or shall we say, fluctuating attitude of China. It also remains to be seen as to when the number of pilgrims ultimately would be scaled to 1000 to 1400 every year, so that a number of people from Sikkim could also take advantage. The recent experience of re-opening of International trade route in this sector has shown that it is not easy to up-grade the infrastructure vis-a- vis the speed of China and that the gains and losses also will have to be assessed carefully, more so, in view of increasing involvement of India and China in BRICKS affairs.




Will the Government of China attach KMY the same importance as being attached to it, in future as well? Or will it meet the same fate as Nathula International Trade Route which has just seen Rs 15 Crore worth of export and Rs 1 Crore worth of import upto the year 2014 in a period of 8 years, of which one year was a zero trade year. The attitude of China of not revising the permitted items of trade, considering an increase in value of daily trade by an individual trader or of not sticking to the agreed conditions in an agreement also, may have to be under close watch, review & scrutiny. Let us hope, nevertheless, for bright & optimistic days, if not only for bolstering the prospects of tourism in Sikkim but definitely for further improvement in Sino- Indian relations through the trade and tourism route. The red letter day that 18th June 2015 was, is expected to further boost the current “Act East Policy”, based on earlier advocated “Look East Policy”.



1 comment:

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