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India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
10 Things About Sikkim That'll Make You Want To Pack Your Bags Right Now
Where snowcaps whisper, monasteries hum, and the land feels like a prayer. Somewhere between the sharp edges of the Eastern Himalayas and the soft heartbeat of ancient traditions lies Sikkim. It is not a state. It is a pause. A breath. A place that does not rush to impress but lingers in your soul long after the suitcase is zipped. You may arrive for the snow, the silence, or the stories—but you stay because everything here feels rooted. Still. Sacred. But how much do we really know about this land of prayer flags and peaks? Let's go deeper. Let's walk past the postcards and into the essence of Sikkim. 1. Sikkim Was Once a Kingdom, Not a State Yes, Sikkim had its own king. Until as recently as 1975, this was an independent Himalayan kingdom ruled by the Chogyal dynasty. The transition into the Indian Union wasn't just political—it was emotional. And traces of that regal past still whisper through Rumtek's corridors and Gangtok's quieter corners. 2. The Only Organic State in India This is not a marketing tagline. Sikkim banned chemical pesticides and fertilizers back in 2003. Today, every farm here is organic. Every vegetable, every spice—grown with respect, not shortcuts. It is a way of life, not just farming. When you bite into that local radish or spinach soup, you taste purity. And intention. 3. A Place Where Nature Leads, Not Follows There are more butterflies in Sikkim than in all of Europe. Over 5,000 species of flowering plants. Glaciers, lakes, and medicinal forests exist here not as backdrops, but as main characters. Visit Yumthang Valley or Tsomgo Lake, and you'll know—this is not décor. This is identity. 4. It Hosts India's First Skywalk At Bhaleydhunga near Namchi, Sikkim rises—literally. Perched at over 10,000 feet, India's first glass skywalk stares down into the void, framed by a massive statue of Guru Padmasambhava. If you dare to look down, the clouds part and the valley speaks. This is not a thrill. It's a surrender. 5. The Spiritual Pulse Here Is Unmistakable It's not about temples or rituals. It's energy. The hum of monks chanting in a monastery at dawn. The quiet glow of butter lamps. The way locals fold hands in respect to every mountain. Sikkim is spiritual not because it tries to be, but because it always has been. 6. The People Speak Many Tongues, But the Land Feels United Lepchas, Bhutias, Nepalis—they all call Sikkim home. Each has their own language, food, attire. Yet, somehow, there is no noise. Just harmony. Just a shared silence that says—we belong here, together. Listen closely in a market or monastery, and you'll hear this unity without words. 7. You Can See the World's Third-Highest Peak from Your Balcony Kanchenjunga is not a mountain here. It is family. Guardian. Pride. The golden glow it casts during sunrise over Pelling or Goechala Trek is not a view. It's a blessing. Locals never climb it. Out of respect. Because some heights are meant to be revered, not conquered. 8. Sikkim's Food is Humble but Deeply Healing Think beyond momo and thukpa. Imagine warm millet-based porridges. Fermented leafy greens. Soups that have stories in them. Each meal is simple, but thoughtfully prepared. No excess. No waste. Just nourishment the way elders once taught, and children still remember. 9. The Roads Are Winding, But the Journeys Are Straightforward Sikkim is not for the impatient traveler. Landslides happen. Roads turn to dust. But somehow, every delay becomes a discovery. A waterfall unplanned. A roadside stall with cardamom chai. A story from the driver's childhood. Here, the journey really is the destination. 10. Sikkim Doesn't Ask for Attention. It Deserves It Quietly. There are no aggressive souvenir shops. No neon signs asking you to 'explore now.' Instead, you'll find silence. Smiles. A cup of tea offered without a price. This is a place that doesn't scream its beauty. It lets you find it slowly, as all good things should be found. So why does Sikkim matter in 2025? -Because in a world that is speeding up, this place insists on slowing down. -Because where most destinations focus on what you can see, Sikkim is about what you can feel. -Because the future of travel is not just about discovery. It's about reverence. And Sikkim teaches you that in ways you didn't expect. -You leave not with photos, but with stillness in your bones. -You remember not the itineraries, but the inhale you took at Gurudongmar Lake. The one that reminded you—you are tiny, and that's beautiful. Practical Tips If You're Planning a Trip to Sikkim Go Slow Spend at least a week. Let your pace match the land. Pack for Layers Sun, wind, snow—all in a day. Sikkim doesn't follow forecasts. Respect Local Culture Ask before photographing. Take your shoes off at monasteries. Listen more than you talk. Try Local Homestays They're not just cheaper—they're stories waiting to be shared. Do Nothing Sometimes Sit by a lake. Sip local tea. Let the silence teach you something new. Final Thought Let Sikkim not just be a place you visit but an experience that moves you. Walk its trails with an open heart and quiet mind. Feel the purity of its air the clarity of its sounds and the quiet magic that makes you wish you never had to leave. Some truths about Sikkim are not meant to be learned but lived.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Found Foreigners In Bihar But Couldn't Identify Terrorists In Pahalgam': Owaisi Hits Out At BJP
Last Updated: AIMIM president Owaisi criticised government over Bihar's voter revision, questioned the failure to prevent the Pahalgam attack, and demanded accountability. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi hit out Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters in Bihar, saying that he wondered how the Election Commission could identify the presence of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas and Nepalis in Bihar's voter list but the intelligence agencies failed to find out how the terrorists entered the Indian territory and carried out mass killings in Pahalgam. While addressing a gathering at Telangana's Bodhan town on Wednesday, Owaisi said, 'You manage to find Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, and Nepalis in Bihar, but why don't you investigate how terrorists entered Pahalgam?" बिहार में बांग्लादेशी, रोहिंग्या और नेपाली ढूंढ़ लेते हो, लेकिन पहलगाम में आतंकी कैसे आए इसका पता क्यों नहीं लगाते? — Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 17, 2025 The AIMIM leader alleged that the Pahalgam terror attack was an example of PM Modi government's security lapse. He further urged that the 'revenge" should be taken for the ghastly terror attack and that Operation Sindoor should be continued. He further warned that he would continue to ask tough questions of the government until all four terrorists are located. Owaisi, who was a member of the government's all-party global outreach delegation on Operation Sindoor, further took a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha over his reported comments that he takes responsibility for the 'security failure" of the attack. He said that since Sinha has taken responsibility of security failure in the Pahalgam terror attack, he should resign from the post. 'If he (J-K LG) has taken the responsibility, then he should resign. Twenty-six Indians were brutally killed in Pahalgam after they were asked their religion and because they were Hindus. If the LG is in so much pain, he should resign. Twenty-six people were killed after being asked their religion and you (J-K LG) merely say this when your tenure is about to end," he added. Owaisi further said that the opposition will ask the Modi government over their accountability over the terror attack. 'We will ask the Modi government who is responsible for the Pahalgam attack. Who is accountable for this attack? How did the terrorists go there and why was there no police security at the spot? We will ask these questions to the government in the upcoming Parliament session," Owaisi said. Pahalgam Terror Attack In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage. India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, bombing nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in pre-dawn strikes that killed at least 100 militants. The operation sparked four days of cross-border fighting involving fighter jets, missiles and artillery. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 18:32 IST News politics 'Found Foreigners In Bihar But Couldn't Identify Terrorists In Pahalgam': Owaisi Hits Out At BJP Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
You find foreigners in Bihar poll list but not killers in Pahalgam: Owaisi to PM
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi tore into the Narendra Modi government, wondering how the central poll body could manage to identify the presence of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas and Nepalis in Bihar's voter list ahead of the assembly elections, but failed to find out how the terrorists entered and killed 26 tourists in broad daylight in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam."You manage to find Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, and Nepalis in Bihar, but why don't you investigate how terrorists entered Pahalgam?," Owaisi asked while addressing a public meeting at Telangana's Bodhan town on Wednesday night. advertisementOwaisi said that Operation Sindoor should not be stopped until the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack are found. He further warned that he would continue to ask tough questions of the government until all four terrorists are located. "Were you sleeping? Was your administration sitting with their eyes shut while terrorists entered and killed our Hindu brothers?" Owaisi who was a member of the government's all-party global outreach delegation on Operation Sindoor, took a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, saying, "Now in July, you're admitting your mistake."He was referring to Manoj Sinha's admission to an Indian news outlet that it was a "security failure," for which he took "full responsibility".'What happened in Pahalgam was very unfortunate; innocent people were brutally killed. I take full responsibility for the incident, which was undoubtedly a security failure. The common belief here has been that terrorists do not target tourists. The location where the attack took place is an open meadow,' Sinha told Times of India in an Hyderabad MP further asked PM Modi to focus on what is happening in the neighbourhood, claiming that India has been surrounded by China on all ended his speech, saying that Pahalgam is a "prime example of PM Modi government's security lapse."- EndsMust Watch
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
One Year On, Indians Pay Freely in Nepal While Nepalese Are Still Denied QR Access in India
New Delhi– Despite India and Nepal signing a memorandum of understanding over a year ago to enable cross-border digital payments, a one-sided implementation has persisted. Indian visitors in Nepal have been using UPI-enabled apps to pay via QR codes since mid-2023, but Nepali citizens are still unable to use the same facility while in India. Nepali officials attribute the delay to reluctance on the Indian side, despite Nepal's technical readiness and successful test runs. Nepal Rastra Bank has already approved the initiative, and trials like the one conducted by Nabil Bank in Mumbai last year have proven functional. Yet, the official rollout for Nepalis in India—initially scheduled for early 2025—remains stalled with no clear timeline. According to Nepali officials privacy to the matter, the official launch of QR-code-based payments in India has been delayed due to reluctance on the Indian side. One key challenge lies in the difference in transaction models between the two countries. In India, QR-based payments are typically free for users, whereas in Nepal, Indian users are charged a minimal 1.95% merchant fee per transaction. To make the system viable in India for Nepalis, commissions would need to be paid to Nepali banks, which currently lacks a sustainable framework. In March 2025, officials announced that a pilot phase allowing Nepalis to scan and pay in India would begin within two months. However, there has been no visible progress, raising concerns about commitment to cross-border digital inclusivity. The original agreement, signed on June 1, 2023, between Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) and India's NPCI International Payments Limited, was intended to ease transactions for tourists, businesses, and students. But while the vision was bilateral, the execution so far remains largely one-directional. As bilateral tourism and trade grow, the inability of Nepalis to make seamless payments in India—while Indians enjoy full access in Nepal—raises questions about parity and reciprocity in digital finance cooperation between the two neighbours. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nationwide SIR aims to snatch voting rights of those who won't vote BJP: Opposition
NEW DELHI: With the Election Commission activating its poll machinery across states for a possible roll out of pan-India special intensive revision (SIR), Opposition parties have vehemently condemned the move, calling it a strategic attempt to disenfranchise 'sections' of people in a targeted manner. They said that the poll body should be transparent and address the concern of people and political parties as it is going to have a 'serious repercussions'. Congress spokesperson PL Punia said that with the revision exercise, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to sanitise the voters list to retain power. 'All this is an excuse as the BJP wants to remove its opponents from the voter list by declaring them Bangladeshis, Nepalis, or something. The problem is that the BJP has always wanted political power, thus it is moving ahead strategically. They know that the Election Commissioner is their (BJP) man. They can do it without difficulties,' Punia told TNIE. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, what the EC had done Maharashtra assembly elections behind closed doors— arbitrary removal of name from electoral rolls--it is being done openly in Bihar and that the EC further wants to carry out similar exercises across states. 'They (EC) will have to ensure that the transparency and the questions and doubts that are in the citizens' minds, as well as the minds of political parties, are addressed convincingly, which till now we have noticed the Election Commission has avoided to do. So while this exercise could be a mandated exercise, it seems to be an attempt to get voter deletions happen on the basis of who they choose to vote for,' she said.
