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Sikkim promotes adventure tourism
by Tashi Pradhan

     Gangtok: Sikkim is becoming a destination for adventure tourism. The government's support to promote it in a big way has ensured employment to many people here. Nesting in the foothills of Himalaya's Sikkim presents a huge potential for adventure tourism, as the River Teesta provides one of the best rafting experiences to the rafters here. And, realizing river rafting's latent potential in the State, Sikkim government with the help of Central government's tourism department has organized a 15 days river-rafting training programme, to generate new source of employment in the state. Miking A. Lepcha, Trainer, said: "Because our surrounding is filled with flowers and birds, one of our main aims is to include biodiversity eco tourism in our profession." Pem Tshering Lepcha, a river-rafting trainee, said: "I want to do take it up as a profession, which would solve our unemployment problem. This rafting training is very good." Sikkim doesn't only have one of the best river rafting tracks, it is also the land of third highest peak in the world Mt. Kanchenjunga. The untapped hills are best for promotion of trekking and mountaineering. The State government has carried out a week-long mountaineering training program, giving priorities to the weaker sections of the society. Kazi Sherpa, an instructor with the Sikkim Mountaineering Association, said: "This is the first such course organized by the department of tourism with the technical help of Sikkim mountaineering association. During this course they will learn about how to climb the mountains, fixing the ropes, the variety of food required in mountaineering and other basic techniques." Amit Taamang, a trainee, said: "We are getting lots of things to learn. This camp is of 15 days. In 15 days, we are going to be taught rock climbing and mountaineering." When, the nature is itself giving so much to one, there is no need of looking for other's help. Sikkim, realizing this fact has started to train its young ones both in the field of river rafting and rock-cum-mountaineering.
-Feb 15,  2008