{"id":3346,"date":"2024-11-09T18:28:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-09T12:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3346"},"modified":"2024-11-09T18:28:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-09T12:58:33","slug":"restoring-dalim-lepcha-fort-to-boost-kalimpong-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3346","title":{"rendered":"“Restoring Dalim Lepcha Fort to Boost Kalimpong Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The West Bengal Heritage Commission (WBHC) has announced plans to restore and preserve the historic Dalim Lepcha Fort in Gorubathan<\/a>, Kalimpong<\/a>. The 18th-century fort, built by the last Lepcha King Pano Gaeboo Achyok<\/a>, holds significant cultural and historical importance for the Lepcha community. Located atop Dalim Hill, the fort is a symbol of the Lepchas<\/a>\u2019 resilience against invasions, especially from the Bhutanese<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fort, spanning 1.5 acres, features a 16-foot-high wall and four rooms with 8-foot-thick walls. Its strategic position allowed defenders to fend off invaders. Historically, King Achyok<\/a> used the fort to protect his people from Bhutanese invasions<\/a>, including a tragic episode where he was betrayed and beheaded by the Bhutanese forces during a peace meeting. Local folklore claims his severed head flew to the Chel River<\/a>, now known as Bhutaydaha, marking the event as a mystical tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fort was declared a heritage site by the WBHC<\/a> in 2018. Restoration efforts, supported by the West Bengal Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board, aim to preserve this piece of history and revitalize the region\u2019s cultural heritage. S.P. Sharma, a spokesperson for the Gorkhaland<\/a> Territorial Administration (GTA), emphasized that the restoration would boost tourism and draw attention to the Lepcha community\u2019s unique history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fort is expected to attract visitors, especially from the global Lepcha diaspora, and provide new economic opportunities<\/a>. The WBHC\u2019s decision is seen as a critical step in recognising and conserving Lepcha heritage, alongside other heritage sites in Kalimpong such as Chitra Bhanu<\/a> and the Catherine Graham Memorial Chapel<\/a>. The restoration process is anticipated to commence soon, marking a new chapter in preserving the legacy of the\u00a0Lepcha\u00a0people.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"