American trekker last rites performed in Sikkim

Gangtok, Nov. 1: A 69-year-old American trekker, who had died from high altitude sickness, was cremated according to Buddhist rituals in the presence of a large number of people at Yuksom on Friday.

The body of John M. Campbell was brought to Yuksom from Tshoka, just below the base camp of the 13,780-feet Dzongri in West Sikkim on October 29, a day after the death.

A 10-member US group had embarked on a trek along the Dzongri route on October 22. Police sources said Campbell had fallen sick along the trek and was returning when his conditions worsened and he died at Phedang — 11,500-feet high and 20km from Yuksom — the nearest human habitat in the remote corner of West Sikkim.

The decision to cremate him at Yuksom was taken with the consent of his 48-year-old daughter, Tamara Campbell, who was also in the team. Yuksom, which is scenic and considered a holy land by Buddhists, is the first capital of erstwhile Sikkim kingdom ruled by the chogyals. Three saints had consecrated Phuntshog Namgyal as the first chogyal or king of Sikkim in 1640 at a place now called Norbugang in Yuksom.

Jamling Norgay, son of Everester Tenzing Norgay and organiser of the trek, was also present at the funeral. He thanked the people of Yuksom, stakeholders of the tourism industry in Sikkim and the monks who helped cremate the trekker’s body.

“I want to thank the monks from Dubdi, the oldest monastery of Sikkim, who performed the last rites and rituals,” said Jamling.

Campbell’s death had been attributed to old age, ill-health and breathing problems in the high altitude areas along the Dzongri trail. Sources said he was prepared for the worst when advised that he stay behind.

A post-mortem had to be carried out on the body at the district hospital at Gyalshing before the cremation since this was a formality, according to the police.

The body was brought to Yuksom from Tshoka on foot by porters. The other trekkers of the US group also returned, the police said.

American dies of high altitude sickness along Dzongri trek in Sikkim

Seventh tourist death in 8 days in Sikkim!

GANGTOK, October 28: A 69 year old American trekker today died due to high altitude sickness while trekking along the high altitude Dzongri trek route in West Sikkim.
District Collector (West) Santa Pradhan told SIKKIM EXPRESS that the deceased was identified was John M Cambell. He had gone trekking to Dzongri along with his daughter and nine other Americans, said Mr. Pradhan.
Cambell’s death has been attributed to ill-health and breathing problems in the high altitude areas along the Dzongri trail. The ten member US group had embarked on the trek along the famed Dzongri route from October 22.
Police sources informed that Cambell fell sick along the trek and was returning back when his conditions worsened and died at Phedang, 11500 feet, 20 kms away from Yuksom, the nearest habitat area in the remote corner of West Sikkim.
The body is expected to be brought back to Yuksam on foot by tomorrow morning after which the body will be taken to the district hospital in Geyzing, the West Sikkim headquarters, for post-mortem formalities.
The other trekkers of the US group are also returning back, it is informed. The group had been brought to the trek by a Darjeeling based travel agent run by Jamling Tenzing Sherpa, Everster and son of Tenzing Sherpa, the first Everster.
It is also informed that Jamling Tenzing Sherpa is also accompanying the US team as a guide for the Dzongri trek.
The latest tourist death comes close on the heels of the Yumasamdong, North Sikkim mishap yesterday when three tourists from West Bengal were killed in a vehicle accident.
Before this, a tourist from Surat had died of high altitude sickness on October 26 due to high altitude sickness and on October 19, two mountaineers from Mumbia had been killed by an avalanche while ascending down the 6010 m Mt. Thingchinkhang peak in West Sikkim.

NCC girl Cadets to participate in All India Sikkim Trekking Camp

Gangtok,October25:Five NCC girl Cadets of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a sister concern of KIIT, have been selected to participate in All India Sikkim Trekking (Girls) Camp- 2009-10 to be held at Sikkim.

Besides KISS, there are 40 senior and junior mountaineer from different schools and colleges of Orissa will also participated in this camp. From the sources, in joint collaboration between Rajastan, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh the All India Sikkim Trekking (Girls) Camp- 2009-10 has organized at Sikkim.

The five NCC girl Cadets provisionally selected for this camp are Rupali Tudu (Santal), Renuka Padiami (Koya), Babita Pradhan (Kandha), Gurubari Murmu (Santal), Chhanki Majhi (Bonda). Rupali and Gurubari belong to Mayurbhanj district where as Renuka and Chhanki belong to Malkangiri district and Babita from Kandhamal district.

Sikkim Village resort run by physically challenged & orphans

Gangtok: Physically handicapped and orphan children are generally the neglected lot in the society. But for Mrs. Swarnima Gurung, the physically handicapped and orphans are the reliable and talented employees for her village resort. With their help, she has become a successful hotelier in the state.
Mrs. Gurung, a retired school teacher, runs Mandarin Village Resort at Kaluk, West Sikkim, since 2003 with the help of ten orphans and deaf and dumb persons, 19 to 25 years in age, from the surrounding villages. They all can do the hospitality work of the resort like other trained hotel staff.
“My resort is always full of boarders and there are no complaint about my staff who serve the guests as trained staff serve in star hotels,” Mrs. Gurung proudly said. Having seen their reliability and skill of work, Mrs. Gurung has made them partners in her resort business, she informed. “They are not my workers but they are my partners and I have made them open bank accounts to deposit the dividend from my business.. Every thing is transparent here,” she said.
“We have trained the staff for cultural programme also. Now they perform cultural programmes excellently,” she said adding that they are given extra payment and tips for their performance. Mrs. Gurung is currently planning to open horticulture, floriculture and piggery farming adjacent to the resort by employing more orphans and physically handicapped peoples.
“I think this is also one way to help and assist the so-called marginalized people rather than just opening of orphanages and homes”, she remarked

Singalila trek in Sikkim reopened with changes

Gangtok, Nov. 13: Closed for over two-and-a-half years, Sikkim’s most famous trekking trail is back in business but with changes in the route.
A 14-member Italian team was the first to follow the Singalila trail in West Sikkim on November 5 after a government notification announced its reopening in October.
The route was closed in January 2005 after the Union home ministry objected to the trail passing through Nepal in several places, including a camp at Nepal Megu. The Centre had then told the Sikkim government to make alterations in the trail so that it did not enter the neighbouring country. The state tourism department closed the route for two years to make necessary modifications.
Considered one of the most breathtaking treks in the world, the Singalila trail is at an elevation of more than 3,000m with a view of the Himalayan range, including Mt Everest and Kanchenjunga.
In June this year, in a bid to find a new and alternative route, a recce was organised. It was led by joint secretary (adventure) B.R. Subba and officials from the state tourism and forest departments, members of the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim (Taas) and representatives of Sikkim Association of Adventure Tour Operators.
They identified a new route, which in fact was a very old trail used during the time of the Chogyals, without touching Nepalese territory and recommended it to the government.
The amended trek trail also starts at Uttarey with three exit points in Yuksom, Hillay and Nambu-Darap. But the new route takes only 12 days against the earlier 16 days.
“We are very happy that the route has reopened. The people of Uttarey and surrounding areas will benefit since it is always a sold-out trail,” said Lukendra Rasaily, Taas treasurer and managing director of Sikkim Tours and Travels.
The best time for a Singalila trek is from September to November and between April and June.

Girl cadets on hill trek in Sikkim

Gangtok Oct. 20: A 1,000-strong contingent of National Cadet Corps (NCC) today set out for a trek to Sikkim. Lt Gen. Deepak Raj, the general officer commanding, 33 Corps, flagged off the All India Sikkim Trek (Girls) from here.
Lt Gen Raj said the initiative was aimed at overall development of the girls. “It takes them through a number of experiences and helps them develop their outlook to life and strengthens personality.”
Hosted by the NCC group headquarters in Darjeeling, the trek will have its first stop in Singtam where they will go by bus. From there the cadets will trek to Ranipul, Gangtok and Enchey. The girls will return in buses from there.
Cadets from different states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerela, Lakshwadeep, Madhya Pradesh, the Northeast, Orissa, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal are participating in the trek. They will also be taken to Darjeeling and Mirik.
“The expedition will provide an opportunity to the cadets to visit the border state and familiarise themselves with its people, customs, and their living condition. It will also help them imbibe a spirit of mutual understanding towards national integration,” a press release said.

Okhrey : A popular trekking trail in Sikkim

Many a times it so happens that on the way to a popular tourist destination, one gets captivated by an almost deserted place with maybe just a few rhododendrons or a cluster of huts tucked away in a mountain fold. One generally passes such places by but if we can allow ourselves a detour, these sleepy places often turn out to be fascinating.
Okhrey is such a place on the route to Varsey, one of the most popular trekking trails in Sikkim. A couple of days in this small but amazingly beautiful village in West Sikkim is sure to leave with wonderful memories of the tranquil mountains and the way of life it nurtures.
About 130 km from New Jalpaiguri station, Okhrey is connected with Jorethang by a regular jeep service and is just an hour’s drive away. Within moments of reaching the hamlet, a mood of complete relaxation sets in.
The mountains that tower on the north keep beckoning the traveller for long rambling walks through winding paths. If you venture out, you might come across a missionary school or a small hamlet or a solitary cottage with the owner gardening outside.
If you are interested in a bit of trekking, you can climb up the slope to a small village called Latitar. On a clear day, you will get a grand view of the entire Kanchenjungha range.
Ugen Thon Meon Ling monastery is a must-visit. It is run by Tibetan missionaries and has a small school attached to it.
An interesting journey from Okhrey is a walk up to Ribdi, on the West Bengal border, and further down through the jungles of Rumbum and Coorkey to Rimbik. For the seasoned trekkers there is also the popular route from Okhrey that leads all the way to Phalut via Gurdung. Not to mention Hilley, which is 10 km from Okhrey. The rhododendron zone begins from here.
The inhabitants of Okhrey are mostly sherpas. They are trying to build a cultural academy, where one can study their tradition and culture, which form such an integral part of mountain travel.
Since Okhrey is not very well frequented by visitors, the only place where one can find accommodation is the sherpa lodge run by a local family.
Despite the wonderful landscapes, Okhrey would never be charming enough with the extremely caring family that runs the lodge. All one has to do is reach Okhrey and the rest will be taken care of by them, including how best to spend your time.
Trip tips
There are several trains to New Jalpaiguri station. Okhrey is 130 km from there. There is regular jeep service from Jorethang. The journey takes about an hour. Since the village is not a regular stop for tourists, the only place to stay is a sherpa lodge run by a local family