Map of Lingsey Eco Tourism

 

 

Trekking Expedition to Rachela Neora valley  

Jhusing Tribal Village (Limboo Community)

Jhusing Tribal Village

Jhusing, A ethnic Tribal village is situated in extreme east in the Lingsey Gram Panchayat, Kalimpong II North Bengal and its border extends to the forest and Wild Life Jungle of upper Neora valley National Park with the household of 30 houses. It is almost ethnic and total Limboo tribal Village. The village is very isolated by the means of transport, Education, Health and sanitary by the concern Govt. and the Region extremely backward and very deprived. Traditionally, the inhabitants of this area have been the indigenous Limboo and Rai Ethnic group.

The Limboo and Rai jointly known as Kirants and now a days especially Limboo are the follower of Yuma, Limboo Goddess and literally the religion as Yumaism or Youmasam.

Culture:

Being a tribal community the culture is also very ethnic. The cultural identity of this community starts with hunting and gathering the fruit from the jungle and use to shelter in the caves. Slowly they leave their jungle life and settle in the society. But the method worshiping their god, marriage practices, funeral and death culture are very different. Most of them are non vegetarian. Worshiping Programmes are perform by the guidance of tribal Priest called ‘yaaba’ or ‘Fedangba’. Different auspicious occasion or even in Death Occasion they use to take ‘janr’ a locally made Millet Wine with Flesh (Meat). More over the Tribal of Jhusing Village still follow their typical tradition and Culture and that is their original Identity.

Alternative Livelihood:

Some of the aware people from the village and adjoining area start the rural tourism. I this context, village itself situated in the beautiful location beneath the Neora Valley National park having longest waterfalls,   jungle camping site, Herbal garden and rich in flora and fauna. Interesting place for the nature lover covering the Bird watching, Butterfly Watching and Trekking Trails. I would be great fortune for the Tribal people of the Jhusing, that community based tourism getting more important in the Tourism market. Some of the agency is vary much interested to promote this community as well as the natural resources in the greatest height of tourism Industry. Aware youth from this community also paying attention in the rural tourism. If the tourism flourish in these places, village life will be more comfortable, worth living and more generation of employment with strong economic background.

           

   

Neora valley National Park

 

Neora valley National Park Neora Valley National Park lies in the civil district of Darjeeling, West Bengal, which is situated between the 26º 52' 3" and 27º 7' 35" North latitude and 80º 45' to 80º 55 East longitude. It is contiguous with Sikkim and Bhutan at its northern and north-eastern boundaries respectively. The southern boundaries of the park are adjoining to Jalpaiguri district. The altitude varies from 183 m to 3200 m, the highest point being near Sikkim border in the North. 
                           Neora Valley Nature Reserve is one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalaya with its amazing bio-diversity, and is home to many rare and endangered, plants, animals and birds. Trek in an area rich in natural history and beautiful views this is just the trek for you. For birdwatchers this trek is attractive during the spring months of March to June.

Neora Valley National Park is also the home of Red Panda. A cute little animal with reddish brown body and a bushy ringed tail is one of the most endangered species in the world. The recent discovery of Royal Bengal Tiger in Neora Valley has prompted the administration to include the park in the list of sensitive wildlife zones in the country. According to the 2002 tiger census the park holds 19 majestic big cats. Among the other important mammals Indian Gaur, Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard Common Leopard, Lesser Cats, Himalayan Thar, Sparrow, Gorals, Deer and Squirrels are worth mentioning.

Due to its altitudinal variation ranging from 600ft to 10600 ft, various species of birds make the park a paradise for the bird watchers. Pheasants, Cuckoos,  Flycatchers, Maynas, Orioles, Owls, Parakeets, Partridges, Sunbirds, Swallows, Swifts and Woodpeckers would captivate one with their chirpy calls and enchanting colorful plumage display.

Fauna: - A wide varieties of birds of this region can be seen during different seasons. Endanger species of birds know as Bhenguma regarded as king of all birds is found in the forest nearby area.  The birds are migratory and one has to plan out to get glimpses of these birds. The Rajpakshi another endanger animals also found in the forest

Hareswar Shivalaya Mandir , Lingsey

SRI HARESWOR SHIVALAYA MANDIR

Vedic religious Institution and learning of Pre Independence Era

The ethnic communities have distinct language, culture, customs and architecture, largest ethnic community provide  vibrant cultural presence and warm cordiality of the rural people never fails the mesmerize one. Early Lingsey was place of Purohits and Priest but the only place of worships was the Mulkharka Lake ( Manokamana Pokhari). Saligram (Stone) and Shivalinga were placed inside the Lake with the faith by the priest and Purohits enchanting the Veds Mantra. All the Villager use to go there in any occasion for the worship of God.

History of Hareswar Shivalaya Mandir began with the Quote of Saint Hari Prashad Subedi “Yatra  Shivalaya Nasti tatra samasanmewa”( where there is no Shiva Temple, the place is like Graveyard).  Gandhiyan Ideologist, the then Vedic saint Hariranga, from Luing Sikkim (Kingship) advice to build a Shiva temple to spread spiritual learning and conservation of Vedic literature and Hindu culture. On the mean time Pandit Shiva Shankar Niroula come here from his higher learning on Vedic culture and Hindu Rituals, took the soul responsibility to build the temple in Lingsey in the year 1944.

 On this context Meeting was conducted on 4^th December 1944   the all the representative from Lingsey Lingseykha,  Kagey, Pabak, Pedong, Khamdong Aritar, Rhenock where present. Meeting conclude that Hariranga  Mahayagya  had to be held  in the Funeral Yard ( Ghat) of the  of the surrounded area called Ravang Dovan to destroy the evil spirit of the human being.  Outstanding amount from the Hariranga Mahayagya, amounting Rs. 11 and 5 Ana to be being invest in the Construction of Shivalaya Temple at Lingsey. The construction began with this amount.

In 15 January 1934 devastating earthquake destroys the man and material in the region and villager felt that the construction of the Shiva temple is only safeguard of the village from natural calamity.  So, a Yagya (religious Ceremony) was organized to overcome but now it is a story only no evidence found. The evidence tells us that the faith on religion was the main concept to build the religious institution. Construction had begun with the donation of cash and kind from the entire region in 1944.

Narvadeshwar Shivalinga was brought from Narvada River (Now in Maharastra) is still worshiping by faith. Some of people donated land for the temple and some gold also donated for the Gajur (pinnacle) of the temple. 

Along with the Inauguration of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple, the Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya also started in same year on 14 August 1946. Shiva Aaradhana (Prayer) could not complete by any means so the establishment of the Sanskrit School and reading and performing the Vedic rituals and Shiva Stotras (Rudri Path) is bid more for the completion of Shiva Aaradhana. So the Institution begun with the Headmastership of Devicharan Sapkota and then Vedic Teaching came in the existence in Lingsey. He was the First Pujari (priest) of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple as well as First Sanskrit Teacher of Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in the Year 1946. Several Sanskrit intellectual in the different post of Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and entire North Bengal were the Product of this Institution. The Institution has affiliation with Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) New Delhi and grants aid to run the Sanskrit college.

List of principal of Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Lingsey (1946-Till Date)

1.    Devi Prasad Sapkota (1946)

2.    Bishnu Bhakta Gautam

3.    Devi Prasad Pokhrel

4.    Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal

5.    H.P Bhandari

6.    U.C basistha

7.    Krishna Prasad Dahal

8.    Thakur Prasad Adhikari

9.    Gayatri Prasad Niroula

10.                       Smt.Bindhya Niroula

11.                       Khilanath Adhikari

12.                       R.P. Upadhaya

13.                       Trilochan Subedi

14.                       Giridhari Poudyal

The architectural framework of the Entire Building is based simple wooden and Cement, based on Hindu art and Sculpture. Statue of different animals and birds character of different Purans are the main attraction the Temple. Ghesela (Mangolian)   was the main sculptor of the entire sculpture and statue. Depiction of the Ashok Chakra (National Emblem) in the wall of Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya was the perfect example of Nationalist Sentiment of the then people of Lingsey before Independence.

Sarada Vedic Sanskrit Library

Along With the Establishment of the Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva and the Vedic Learning Center, Sanskrit Library also came to an existence in the same year 1946. Library has full books of 18 Purans, 108 Upanishads, 4 Vedas, different books of Hindu Rituals and Sanskrit Literature and Grammar.

Books were donated by the different institution from the whole country as well as some personal donated books can be found the library. Evidence show us District collector of Darjeeling sanction the grant of Amount Rs. 1000/- for the purpose of Book in the year of 1962.

The establishment of Library was inevitable because the Sanskrit learning was impossible without the handful of books. So the then intellectual felt the necessary of the Library which can fulfill the reader’s and learner’s wants.

Now it is the center of Sanskrit learning of Hindu Rituals and Sarada Vedic Library Fulfill the Demand of the Entire Region of Sikkim and North Bengal. Providing Books from Library only for the Vedic Hindu rituals, Purans and other Yagya since its establishment.

Enrollment of Pupil of the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya increasing in every session because of the study material provided by the Institution and the library. Hostel Facility is one the cause of drifting students towards the Lingsey for higher Sanskrit Learning from the abroad i.e. country like Nepal and Bhutan.  Hostel was run with the donation since the establishment and it is still continues. In the special occasion the Students perform stage Play bases the Ram Leela and Krisna Janma Utsav.

Lingsey, a place of diverse community and their different religious faith but no discrimination in the religious ground and other. Evidence shows, the ideological co-operation in among different community and religions prevails now also. Donation for the establishment of temple and the Mahavidyalaya donated by everyone in the name of god. It is found in the evidence that the Hindu supports Buddhist and vice-versa.    

Road way connectivity to the village was rough foot path. Construction of the temple completed through the footpath by head loads. No vehicle were use to carry construction material. 1962 Chogyal (Kings of Sikkim) Donated the sum of Amount Rs. 5000 (Five Thousand Receipt present in the Library) for the construction of the road now it is Rhenock to Lingsey Road. Several villagers have volunteer for the construction of the road. Eye witness said that more then 30 vehicles reach Lingsey along with Kings Chogyal in the Inauguration of the Road in 1962.

In 1995 Yogi Narahari Nath (Raj Guru of Nepal Kingdom)come Lingsey on the occasion of 11 days long Mahavharata Mahapuran. Sankaracharya  also visited Lingsey in the same occasion.

Committee of the Hareswar Shivalaya Temple conducts different Maha Yagya annually or alternatively. Throughout the year several Hindu festivals are held in the temple complex. The most important among them are the Sawan Bool Bum, Shivaratri, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, and Bala Chaturdasi. Hareswar Shiva Linga is the main attraction of pilgrimage at the time of Sawan as Bol Bom.

List of Hindu Mahayagya, Puran and Anusthan perform in the Hareswar Shivalaya Temple Since 1946.

1.    Hariranga Mahayagya 1944

2.     Shiva Pran Pratishan. 1946

3.    Bishwa Shanti Mahayagya and Sri Puran 1981

4.    Shiva Puran 1984

5.    Sri Skanda Mahapuran 1986

6.    Mahabharat Puran- 1994

7.    Brahma Baivarta puran-1997

8.    Balmiki Ramayana-2010

9.    Shiva Maha Puran- 2011

10.         Ati Rudra Mahayagya-2011.

11.        Srimad Bhagawat Mahayagya- 2013 ( Tribeni, Teesta)

12.        Tulsikrit Ramayan-2014

Now it is heritage of the Entire region for the religious worship and Learning. Management of the entire institution is in the hand of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple and its different wing like Hareswar Sanskrit Pathshala Committee, Nari Samaj. But the Entire supervision in the hand of main committee.