Sikkim: The last Shangrila

Although it is generally believed that the quality of life of mankind keeps improving with progressive urbanisation, this is only in materialistic terms; "back to nature" is the need of the hour. The purity of mind and soul has been totally sacrificed for materialism. Question comes to mind; what do we live for? What is it that we are trying to achieve in a mad rat race of our urban setting? The mouthful of food is of primary importance but side by side upliftment of mind and soul, and close association with nature is equally important for every one to be a "whole person." Is it possible to merge our urban need with our environmental need? Yes, the answer is Sikkim. The dream mountain state ensconced in the Himalaya mountain with dramatic terrain ranging from 290m high above sea level to 8600m; thick forest, lush green rising slowly through winding roads to the base of snow capped mountains inhabited by people who have a firm belief in their closeness to God. It is surprising but true that Westerners have brought the story of legends like Sikkim into limelight. Western tourists are spellbound by the breath-taking botany odyssey. A young couple, a French girl and a British boy, travelled through Sikkim, drawn like a magnet on an endless trail. They met this writer by chance in a cafe in Gangtok. It was a meeting of introspection. When asked what were the moments they would remember of their Sikkim adventure, both of them said that they have never felt more at home.