Talk on reopening of Kalimpong route for trade, tourism with Tibet

YOWAN MOTHAY | EOI | KALIMPONG,  MARCH 16, 2022: Reopening the old Silk Route  passing from Kalimpong to destinations in the Tibet region of China can once again make  the economy of Kalimpong flourish, as well as the prospects of tourism; and open up prospects of self-employment. 

Chairman of Kalimpong- based India China Border Trade and Tourism Demand Committee Sebastian Pradhan on Wednesday argued in favour of opening the Silk Route and said the Committee was trying to revive the route for trade and tourism. 

Pradhan said that in the olden days the route emanating from Kalimpong to Algara, Pedong, Jelep La,Nathu La, Phari and Yatung used to be the main axis along which trade was conducted between India and China. After the borderwar between India and China in 962, trade with Tibet stopped and the Silk Route lost its significance. 

One may add that border trade between India and China through NathuLa in 2006, after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China in 2003. Since then, Gangtok has emerged as the main centre of border trade with Tibet. 

The route through JelepLa, which is closer to Kalimpong, continues to be closed. Kalimpong, once acentre of a thriving wool trade with Tibet, has stagnated since the closure of  the border. A revival of the Tibet  trade  through Kalimpong can turn round the once thriving town. 

Pradhan  thought  the Kalimpong route had not been opened to trade and tourism between India and the Tibet region of China because of the lack of proper initiative. With the revival of this route to trade the places along the road would be known nationally and this would attract tourists to this region also. 

As of now, the Silk Route was already famous  for rural tourism. The scenic view of Khangchenjunga, the turning road to Zuluk, attracted  tourists to this area. River Reshi Khola, known as Uttar Vahini, was sacred like the Ganga in this region. Kalimpong could thus flourish as a centre for religious tourism as well. "People don't know much of the Uttar Vahini tradition of Reshi Khola," Pradhan said. 

Many years ago, educationist and former vice chancellor of Sikkim University Mahendra P. Lama had taken the initiative to reopen trade between India and China. 

By reviving the Silk Road, he said. Manifestos of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council had mention of the need to open trade between India and China through the  Silk Route. The initiative didnot, however, meet with much success. In the past the Committee, too, had approached leaders of political parties, M. P.s and also West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the need to revive the Silk Route through Kalimpong.

Pradhan said a foreigners' check post had been set up at Reshi. The Silk Route Pilgrimage Welfare Society was working towards sending religious tourists to Manasarovar through this route, too, following the SilkRoute.Source & courtesy