Sikkim – More Than a Destination, It’s a Responsibility

I have lived the mountains, not just visited them. Born and raised in Sikkim, and having spent 8 years in Delhi, I’ve seen the contrast between a land in harmony with nature and a city constantly struggling to reclaim it. That contrast gave me my purpose: to protect, promote, and present Sikkim’s beauty in a way that benefits both the land and its people.

Eco-tourism here isn’t a buzzword. It’s a lifeline. It’s the reason our rivers still run clear, our skies still blush blue, and our culture still greets strangers like family. But beauty this rare is fragile. One careless action  a plastic bottle tossed into a stream, a loud voice in a monastery, a judgemental remark about local food or dress can chip away at what makes Sikkim extraordinary.

This is why I believe tourism in Sikkim must be more than sightseeing  it must be an exchange:

• Travellers take memories and inspiration.
• Sikkim receives respect and preservation.

I have witnessed the magic this land holds. In 2024, a couple from Chandigarh came here, exhausted by city life. They stayed a month in a small village, drinking from mountain springs, walking through fields, and living slowly. Weeks after returning home, they discovered they were expecting their first child after 10 years of trying. The wife said, “I think Sikkim’s water is blessed.”
That’s the kind of power Sikkim holds a power worth protecting.

My interest is simple: educate, engage, and empower every visitor to become a guardian of Sikkim, even if just for the duration of their stay. Through stories, guides, and real connections, I want to make travellers fall in love not just with the view, but with the responsibility that comes with it.

Because in Sikkim, when you travel with respect, the mountains, rivers, and winds have a way of blessing you back. And that is the kind of tourism worth building.

-Sumita Pradhan~Writer, Educator, Certified Mental Health Professional

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