Area MLA, Barfung Constituency, Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia, has set his mind to improve tourism in Rabong.

In the Chodzo Fest 2025 – Discover Rabong, he has shared that this year, the Fest incorporated nature, culture and sports tourism.

Chodzo Fest 2025 – Discover Rabong, is organized as per the directives of Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, MLA Bhutia shared.

Nature:

MLA Rikshal Dorjee shares that the common fruits of holboellia latifolia (local name, gulfa) is disappearing from jungles of Rabong. He have offered cash prize of rupees fifty thousand to anyone who presents him with it’s saplings. He also said that rubus ellipticus (local name, aishelu), is found very less in the region. He announces cash prize of rupees fifty thousand to anyone who finds the fruit.

On a practical note on water restoration of Chodzo lake from Selele source, MLA Rikshal Dorjee aims for water preservation in Rabong. He explains that the water from the lake – through ground water recharge – will benefit agriculture in villages in the lower belt.

Culture:

With almost thirty numbers of cultural presentations in this week long Fest, Chodzo Fest 2025 is also aiming to preserve Sikkim’s culture and tradition. The performance by an international Nepali singer, Purna Rai, on the opening day brings fans from all over Sikkim. Whereas, famous playback singer from Bollywood, Kanika Kapoor, attracts fans from nearby hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri too.

Sports:

The tourists for sports covered spots in all the premises of Chodzo Lake, during ‘1st Chief Minister Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament’. This intra-Sikkim Volleyball Tournament has national and international players from all over India.

The collective effort of MLAs from Soreng, Namthang-Rateypani, Rinchenpong and others, as well as the government Contractors in Volleyball Tournament, SKM Party Culture Wing in bringing cultural fest, and physical and financial efforts put by youths from Rabong, shows that the committee really wants ‘Rabong to be discovered’.

In the opening day of Chodzo Fest 2025, MLA Barfung Constituency Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia requests Minister, Tourism and Civil Aviation, TT Bhutia, for infrastructural development in the area.

Furthermore, on the closing ceremony of the Chodzo Fest, MLA Rikshal Dorjee requests the chief minister of Sikkim to build Barfung Constituency as a tourist destination. He requests the CM for 4 Nathula Pass through TIC, and hotels and homestay registration in Rabong. He also requested for the construction of sports complex in Barfung Constituency. He mentioned that an 89 acres government land is available in Barfung Constituency). And informed the chief minister that a map has been readied for the same.

Later, while addressing the event, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang announces a sports complex in old veterinary area of Rabong for Barfung Constituency.