Rhenock to host three-day paragliding festival

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : Rhenock, in Pakyong district, is set to host the first Rhenock Sikkim Paragliding Festival from January 16 to 18, marking a new chapter in adventure and community based tourism for the region.

The three-day festival is being jointly organised by the Rhenock Tourism Development Society and the Tourism & Civil Aviation department, with the aim of promoting Rhenock as an emerging adventure and community based tourism destination.

The concluding day will be graced by Chief Minister and area MLA Prem Singh Tamang-Golay, while the event will be inaugurated by Tourism minister T T Bhutia.

Tourism departmentchairman Sonam Norgay Lachungpa, at a press meet held at the Tourism department on Tuesday, stated that the RTDS has taken a strong initiative, following the vision of CM Golay, to develop Rhenock as a community based tourism destination.

“Work has already started, and a proper roadmap is in place to make this vision a reality. The upcoming Maghey Mela is a major step in promoting Rhenock tourism. The festival is not just a celebration but also a platform to showcase Rhenock’s potential, and the target is clear. Within the next one to two years, Rhenock is being prepared to emerge as a full-fledged community based tourism hub in Sikkim.”

“Earlier, we conducted a recce including two international pilots, including one from Ladakh. We surveyed nearly 500 acres in Sikkim to identify suitable paragliding locations and found almost five promising sites. One of the best among these locations is in Rhenock. Aaba and Thumki Daras have been identified as take-off points, with Rorathang ground as the landing area. The Tourism department has visited the site and confirmed that it is an excellent location for paragliding. Thus, during the Maghey Mela, a flying festival is being conducted,” expressed Lachungpa.

RTDC president Binod Subba said the paragliding festival is being organised in connection with the traditional Maghe Mela. He explained that while Maghe Mela has always been a cultural celebration rooted in food and tradition, the introduction of paragliding adds a modern adventure tourism dimension to it, helping connect heritage with new opportunities.

“Rhenock holds historic importance as part of the ancient Silk Route that once connected Rhenock to Lhasa. Preserving and promoting this heritage while building adventure tourism is a core objective of the society. Paragliding, river rafting, ATV activities and mountain biking are all being explored as future attractions. A trial run for river rafting at Rorethang has already shown encouraging results, and further developments are planned,” said the RTDS president.

Subba also highlighted the Chief Minister’s vision of “One Family, One Entrepreneur” and said Rhenock is working towards a strong community based tourism model. Homestays, local cuisine, cultural preservation and grassroots entrepreneurship are being prioritised so that tourism directly benefits local families and youth.

Along with this, wellness tourism is already being promoted through Menchu hot stone baths. Bird watching is another strong attraction, with more than 30 to 40 species found in small areas. Trekking is suitable here, and with diverse communities, homestays, local culture and traditional cuisine can be beautifully showcased, added Lachungpa.

“That is why our department is fully supporting this initiative. The Chief Minister is personally active in encouraging such development, and we are moving forward together with the Rhenock Tourism Development Society. Just as Sadam has grown into a new tourism hub through paragliding, Rhenock also has the same, if not greater, potential. Another very important aspect is public awareness. Before starting tourism activities, community involvement is essential. When we visited Rhenock, the response from locals, panchayats and entrepreneurs was extremely positive. Everyone is eager to make Rhenock a successful example of community based tourism, and that gives us great confidence,” said the chairman.

Technical Head of the Adventure Cell and general secretary of the Paragliding Association, Arjun Rai, said that with 80 allocations, 76 participants have already registered from eight States, including Sikkim, and also from Nepal. The organisers have assured that safety is their first priority. Ambulances and a medical team will be available at both the take-off points and the landing ground.

The press conference was also attended by Sikkim Housing Development Board chairman Karma Tashi, CA to the Chief Minister, Urgen Lepcha, and Adventure Cell deputy director Manoj Chettri.

The representatives have urged the public to come and be part of the paragliding festival in Rhenock and experience adventure sports, local cuisine, cultural heritage and wellness tourism all in one place.