Gangtok Times Report
Gangtok, 15 Dec
An upcoming huge Shiva Panchayan Mandir near Chewa Bhanjyang on Indo-Nepal border is in verge of its completion to attract devotees from both India and Nepal. It has been believe that the completion of this mandir would further boost the pilgrimage tourism of Sikkim by becoming an important centre for devotees. The construction of this temple at Sopakha under Maneybong-Dentam in West Sikkim has been going on in war-footing basis and is in the verge of its completion. This temple is situated at the height of 8,500 feet at Sopakha just below Chewa Bhanjyang on Sikkim-Nepal border.
Sopakha is already blessed with the natural beauty and now this upcoming temple is all set to become another attraction of the area. The upcoming road connecting Sikkim and Nepal from Chewa Bhanjyang has been believed to make this temple an important attraction for devotees from Sikkim and Nepal. This road will help devotees from Taplejung, Pheedim, Ilam and Bhojpur in Nepal side to reach this upcoming temple.
The construction of this Shiva PanchayanMandir was started in the active initiative of Sikkim Government and Maneybong-Dentam Area MLA and UDHD Minister NK Subba and concerned departmental officials have been actively involved for the early completion of the temple.
It has been known that installation of all statues in this temple is being carrying out by descendents of renowned Mohapatra family of Odisha. The temple will be having statues of Shiva, Surya Narayan, Ganpati, Durga and Shani.
Architect of the temple, Kiran Rasaily the construction of Shiva Panchayan Mandir was being done for Sanatan devotees of India and Nepal. He added that the temple on the international border of Indo-Nepal would boost the pilgrimage tourism. The temple will be another attraction for trekkers on this world famous trekking trail of Chewa Bhanjyang, Phoktey and Kalpokhari, he expressed.
The temple is situated at around 35 KMs from Dentam Bazaar in West Sikkim.
A tourism stakeholder Lodey Bhutia from Uttarey in West Sikkim expressed that earlier Sopakha was reached on yaks but with the road project under Border Road Development Project Sopakha and Bhanjyang can be reached easily. Mr Bhutia has been working to promote Sopakha, Chewa Bhanjyang and Uttarey as a tourism destination.