HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday March 27-April 2, 2013   Buddha Park will become centre of pilgrimage tourism: Dalai Lama, CM

Buddhist monks gather during the inauguration of a Lord Buddha statue by the Dalai Lama at Buddha Park in Rabong, South Sikkim, on Monday. (pix: AFP)

Rabong, March 26: With the opening of the Buddha Park here yesterday by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sikkim has been placed in the pilgrimage map of the world, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said.

The Dalai Lama performed the consecration ceremony of the 137-feet tall Buddha statue at the park here yesterday. Governor BP Singh, Speaker KT Gyaltsen, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary R. Ongmu witnessed the function amidst thousands of Buddhist devotees from all over the State and neighbouring areas.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that the people of Sikkim who are peace loving and religious should continue to follow the path shown by Lord Buddha. He said the newly-opened park, known as Tathagata Tsal, should be a place of worship and pilgrimage.

The Chief Minister said the Buddha Park will become a centre for pilgrimage tourism in the State.

Process of ‘Sikkimizaiton’ of Nepal has already begun: Gurung

“The only way to save the country is through fierce uprising”

Gurung

Kathmandu, March 26: The four-party agreement made under pressure of the ‘foreigners’ to put in place a non-political government headed by Nepal Chief Justice is a conspiracy to bring an end to the identity of the political parties.

 “The game-plan is to disintegrate Nepal. Thus foreign agents supported the formation of a government under the CJ and election is being held under his leadership,” Dev Gurung, Secretary of Nepal Communist Party-Maoist told the media in Pokhara.

Gurung also threatened to foil the election until the 11 point agreement made between the major parties including Madhesi alliance reached March 14, 2012 is scrapped, PTI reported.

 “The four parties readily accepted submitting power to the Chief Justice because they knew that they have been a miserable failure. We will not take part in such an election held by a government that has been formed by the foreigners who want to see Nepal divided into pieces,” he said.

What is the guarantee that the ruling four-party syndicate will not sell the country to India, asked Gurung said while addressing an interaction program in Pokhara recently.

 “The process of Sikkimizaiton has already begun,” he said in the program organized by Tamuwan State Committee.

“They have totally surrendered themselves to the foreigners. Those who prefer to follow the foreign diktats could easily submit the sanctity of their motherland to the foreigners,” he explained.

“The four party syndicate is trying to eliminate the country from the world map. The only way to save the country is through a fierce uprising,” he also said.

Editorial

WAIT & WATCH

Wanted: Credible Candidates

Most Golay-watchers are playing a safe game at the moment. The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) rebel leader PS Golay hasn’t formally joined his new political outfit – Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). Legally, he is still the MLA of the ruling party. And yet Golay was present during the opening of his party at his native village in West Sikkim recently. He has even attended subsequent party meetings during opening of SKM’s district offices. At present the Congress party seems to have become the first main victim as many of its supporters and leaders have joined the SKM. Apart from others there are a few within the ruling party big-wigs who are keenly observing the functioning of the new party. They will also observe public mood towards the SKM when Golay comes out openly shortly.

And yet there are those who have already taken the plunge and joined the new party – come what may. One of the notable and publicly-acceptable persons to join the SKM is Dzongu’s well-known social activist Dawa Lepcha. These kind of persons will surely boost the image of the new party. Old faces may be taken in the party but they need to be placed among the backbenchers. Giving them prominent position/places in the new party would certainly not be welcomed as there are very few among the has-beens who are worthy of being taken note of. What is needed is credible people who are competent, committed  and capable of bringing real change in Sikkim. Less than this is totally unacceptable. That, indeed, is a tall order for any party.

CHOMOLHARI: Bride of Khangchendzonga

Jomolhari оr Chomolhari sometimes known аs "the bride оf Khangchendzonga”, іs а mountain іn the Himalayas, straddling the border between Yadong County оf Tibet аnd the Thimphu district оf Bhutan. The north face rises оver 2700 m above the barren plains. The mountain іs the source оf the Paro Chu (Paro river) whіch flows frоm the south side аnd the Amo Chu whіch flows frоm the north side.

 The Chomolhari Basecamp trek offers you a wonderful variety of Bhutanese landscapes and is without doubt one of the most beautiful and unspoiled trekking areas in the entire Himalayas. The Chomolhari trek begins at Drugyel Dzong in Paro passing through beautiful Bhutanese villages, scattered hamlets and farmland. Bhutan's most serene vegetation zones differ from richly forested valleys to high alpine pastureland where Yak herders graze their animals.

Delicious and a rare trout fishing in the vicinity of the sky blue lake with magnificent views of three majestic peaks are some activities which can be done on a rest day. On this trek you will also encounter some of the rare species like the blue sheep, and if lucky, possibly even the Snow Leopard.

Chomolhari trek is a superb seven day trek for strong walkers. It goes into Northern Bhutan to the land of yak-hearders, to the base of Mount Chomolhari (Jhomolhari) at 7,316m/24,000ft and on to remote Lingshi Dong. One could savour upon the fabulous views of the mountains and exceptional flora along the trekking trails. There are few villages but you will encounter with many yak-herders on the way.