A Journey in Sikkim

In April and May 2009 I was travelling in Sikkim. Sikkim has been a sovereign kingdom until 1975 and then became the 22nd state of India.
I was staying with families in their villages. By travelling from homestay to homestay I got insight into people's everyday life, into their traditions and into the challenges that they face in today's world. There are different distinct ethnic groups in Sikkim like the Lepcha, Bhutia, Rai and many different ethnic groups originating from Nepal. Since Sikkim has become a state of India modernisation and the influences of the outside world are rushing in, reaching all corners of the country. The homestay tourism concept -aware of many negative effects of this process- tries to encourage the villagers to preserve their cultural heritage.