sikhpride

The Gurdwara at Chungthang, a town in north Sikkim is situated at the confluence of two rivers: River Lachen and Lachung Chu, both tributaries of the “most scenic” River Teesta. The thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, the Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and east, Bhutan in the south-east and the Indian state of West Bengal to its south. It is stated that Guru Nanak Dev ji had Dug his walking stick at this place which eventually grew into a tree. This tree has trunk in stick shape and leaves are below the rounded trunk, which looks like handle of stick. It is at this spot that a Gurdwara known as Gurdwara Nanak Lama is located some 95 kilometres from Gangtok at an elevation of almost 18,000 feet above sea level. This Gurdwara was built by the members of Assam rifles battalion. The management of the Gurdwara is also run by the Indian Army. Some time back, the two Gurdwaras in Sikkim were in news when an incident of displacement of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from the Gurdwara Gurudongmar lake was made by local Buddhists. They had left belongings of the Gurdwara, including the ‘saroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib, other scriptures, a photograph of Guru Nanak Dev and a few belongings in front of Gurdwara Nanak Lama. It was said the Gurdwara administration informed the local police before shifting all articles, as well as Guru Granth Sahib, inside Gurdwara Nanak Lama. A team was sent by SGPC to sort out the matter, but it still remains unresolved. Let us hope that dispute, if any with the local people will be amicably settled and the Sikhs will be able to visit these two religious places.