EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 29, 2024 : To mark the birth anniversary of
legendary mountaineer Tenzing
Norgay Sherpa, the Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration on
Wednesday introduced a day long
hiking trail for outdoor adventure
enthusiasts.
May 29 marks the 110th birth
anniversary of Tenzing Norgay
and 71st year of summit of
Everest. On this day in 1953
Tenzing and Sir Edmund Hillary
scaled the highest peak on earth
for the first time.
The hiking trail will start
from Chowrasta, the most popular
square of Darjeeling and end at
Sidrapong which is considered as
the first hydroelectric project of
Asia. The 10 km trail will take
tourists through picturesque
landscapes and lush green tea
gardens. There will be stops at the
Tibetan Museum, Tenzing’s
house, Ava Art Gallery, the
historic Burdwan Palace and the
Arya tea garden,
all of which are
located in low
altitude and
tourist hiking
friendly.
“In the past too
the GTA
introduced short
hiking trails for
tourists and
adventure
enthusiasts. This
year we have
launched a 10 km
trail from
Chowrasta to
Sidrabong. We
have already conducted a trial run
and have found that is will be
convenient and easy for the
tourists,” said the GTA’s
department of adventure
tourism, coordinator, Dawa
Gyalpo Sherpa. The return
journey will be by vehicles via
the Orange Valley tea estate.
Last year, the GTA introduced
a 12 km hiking trail from
Chowrasta to Tiger Hill. “With
these long hiking trails, we intend
to promote eco-friendly tourism
and encourage tourists to take up
healthier travel activities,” the
GTA adventure
tourism
department
coordinator saikd.
The
Himalayan
Mountaineering
Institute organized
a programme
during the day to
commemorate
Tenzing’s birth
anniversary. Floral
tribute was offered
at the Samadhi of
Tenzing located
within the HMI
premise.
“It is a matter of great pride
that he (Tenzing Norgay) was the
first field director of our institute.
We continue to follow in his
footstep. The tourists got to know
about the birth anniversary of the
first person to summit Everest and
his connection with the HMI,”
said the HMI principal, Group
Captain Jai Kishan. Tenzing died
on May 9, 1986 in Darjeeling and
was cremated inside the HMI and
his Samadhi has now become a
popular must visit spot.
Tenzing’s son Jamling
Tenzing Norgay reiterated the
demand for conferring the
legendary figure with the Bharat
Ratna. “It is the demand of the
Sherpa community and people of
Darjeeling Hills. My father was
the first Indian to summit Everest
and bring the country to limelight
just a few years after the British
left. My father was also the first
non-political recognized icon who
inspired people all over the
world. We will continue to
request the Government to
respect the wish of the people,”
he said.