Mountains Archives - The Darjeeling Chronicle

Articles June 23, 2020

Mountain Farmers of Sikkim-Darjeeling Dealing with COVID & Nature

Although Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal and the state of Sikkim have been projected predominantly as tourist sites, the mainstay of the rural population continues to be agriculture. According to Census 2011, the majority of the population here are rural (60.58% in Darjeeling-Kalimpong & 75.03% in Sikkim) and agriculture is the main occupation. Here farming communities depend on wage labour, small businesses and tourism (homestays) to augment their income from agriculture and all these were also closed during the lockdown period.

Articles November 25, 2019

Growing up in the Mountains and the Stories of Jogi’s, Jhakri and Rakey-Bhoot

What thoughts sent chills down the spine when you were a growing up in the mountains? Was it this unknown person blowing his ‘feri’(horn) in a certain pattern?, was it the hooting of laat-kosera(owl), or was it the sight of flying lights?

Sikkim August 27, 2019

Kanchendzonga is like a Battle Gear and Armour for Sikkim

I am a mountain girl. Unapologetically so. I need to see my mountains to feel alive and to be alive. Which is why I could never work or grow roots in any place elsewhere. I need to wake up to the sight of the Kanchendzonga massif every day; on the days the skies veil her over, I know she is just there.

Stories July 7, 2019

Kamala

Kamala, from Okhal Dunga Teen Number, had been working for her since last six months. Kamala too was in her mid twenties and used to stay with her brother Shyam, who worked as a porter in Daragoan, in a shanty hutment meant for porters like him. Kamala was a typical Arian beauty with beautiful emerald eyes.

Articles June 3, 2019

Legendary Everester Nawang Gombu’s Daughter Ongmu Laments Lack of Respect for the Mountains

When Darjeeling mountaineering great Nawang Gombu climbed Mt. Everest twice in 1965, becoming the first man in the world to do so, and he acquired the status of a Legend. It took a lifetime of training, grit, determination, courage and sheer love for the mountains to achieve the level of fitness and expertise to be able to climb Mt. Everest. Now a days, very few make a pilgrimage to Everest. Anyone with money, who have the ability to hire experts guides are scaling Mt. Everest. It’s not more the love of the mountain that attracts the people to Everest, but the lure of fame and bragging rights that most seek.