From The Indian Express:
Eastern Himalayas
Normal gastronomical wisdom suggests that the more slender the chilli, the hotter it is. So, its appearance as a thick pod suggests that Sikkim’s popular chili – Dalay – would be mild on the tongue. But a small bite suffices to concur with its reputation as one of the hottest chillis in the world. The host adds some local trivia: the chilli has been bottled at a factory owned by Bhaichung Bhutia’s family. And the beer that is served comes from a brewery owned by Danny Denzongpa.
The host is a farmer, one of those selected to act as “rural homestay operators” under a proposal funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and promoted by the Sikkim government. While the concept may not be new, the project has been received very well in the state. Ever since its launch in Ray Mindu village in East Sikkim on November 29 last year, the project has been adopted by many other villages like Lingee Payong in South Sikkim, Kewzing, Yuksom and Patsanga.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Sikkim,+India&ie=UTF8&s=AARTsJpKj_kx7vNT5KZz3CreOV07l4LStA&ll=26.765231,88.59375&spn=3.923126,9.338379&z=6&output=embed&w=425&h=200]
More:
In a remote corner of India, a new tourism project leads trekkers from village to village to stay with locals . Teresa Levonian Cole of The Guardian has a memorable time:
It was dark when we arrived. We had driven six hours from Bagdogra, climbing steadily through the foothills of the Himalayas, the steamy air of the plains becoming fresher as we made our ascent. We twisted through thickly forested mountain roads, crossing bridges that were regularly washed away by monsoons, skirting cliffs that in the past had sometimes fallen away into the Teesta River that burbled below, and gazed out on to the moonlit slopes in the hope of catching a glimpse of a brown bear or elusive leopard. Eventually, the bumpy track came to an end, signalling our arrival at Yangsum Farm, where a large bonfire burned in welcome.
This was the first stop on my village walk itinerary, in the western mountains of Sikkim, India’s greenest and least populated state, close to the Nepalese border and far from well-trodden trails. The plan was to visit places in the Lesser Himalayas so remote that they don’t appear on any maps. Indeed, in three days, I didn’t see a single tourist or souvenir shop. You could call it soft adventure, this concept dreamed up by eco-adventure company Shakti Himalaya which introduces people to the history, culture and lifestyle of remote areas through supported walks and overnight stops in simple village houses. Comfort, however, is ensured, as Shakti helps local owners to convert their houses, by adding bathroom facilities, for example, and introducing homely touches: a Buddha statue here, framed thangkas there, or a comfortable sofa to flop on.
More:
