What Sikkim means for Brits

April 8 - Sir Francis Younghusband had led a colonial troop up to Tibet through the freezing slopes of north Sikkim more than a hundred years back. Now retracing the famous journey could become a reality for tourists visiting Sikkim.

According to Dr Andrew Hall, the British deputy high commissioner to India, most British tourists would immensely relish a trip that would offer a glimpse of the times of the famous explorer. While themes like these would attract a limited few, presumably those who are aware of the life and times of Francis Younghusband, the “Great Gamer of Central Asia”, he is however not the last thing on the tourist itinerary that Sikkim proposes for British tourists.

On his maiden visit to the state of Sikkim, Dr. Hall said that he feels British tourists would be interested in the Sikkimese way of life. Dr. Hall feels that the state has a lot to offer to the visiting Britons apart from the legacy of Younghusband.
The deputy high commissioner also met the chief minister, Mr. Pawan Kumar Chamling and the state tourism minister. He felt that direct flights connecting the state of Sikkim with Britain would go a long way in promoting tourism in the area. He also felt the volatility in the nearby country Nepal may in fact bode well for tourism in the state of Sikkim. `It is difficult to ascertain how the current situation in Nepal would affect tourists, considering the fact that the British are a hardy lot` Mr. Hall said but added `indications are that a significant section could opt for the mountains of India instead.`
Tourism being the focus of Sikkim-Britain relations now, a few other sectors of
cooperation are also being considered. Hydro-power and agro-industries are some of the sectors where Britain is likely to assist Sikkim in the near future, he added.

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