Sikkim to host first international paragliding championship Jan 22-24

Sikkim will host its first international paragliding championship at Reshithang from January 22 to 24, 2027, the state government announced as the Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest came to a close, Sikkim Express reported, citing the state's Information and Public Relations department.

Tourism and Civil Aviation minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia released the poster for the inaugural Sikkim Paragliding Championship at the festival's closing event at Linkhim Tar in Namchi district.

Building an adventure circuit

Speaking to reporters, Bhutia said the government wants to make Sikkim a leading destination for adventure tourism by drawing on its landscape, culture and heritage. He said a strong tourism ecosystem needs all stakeholders to work together, and credited Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang with backing tourism and local entrepreneurship.

The championship is expected to put the state's paragliding sites on the map for pilots from outside India. Sikkim has been training local youths as paragliding pilots and has said it plans a paragliding hub at Rhenock.

How the fest ended

The week-long festival, which opened at the start of November, held events in different parts of the state. A 14-member adventure relay team was welcomed at the venue on the final day, and the motocross competition wrapped up in beginner and expert categories.

In the Tourism department's intra-departmental obstacle course, TSA Sikkim INSPIRES came first, ahead of the Information and Publicity Section and the North East Engineering Section. The inter-departmental obstacle course was won by the Sports and Youth Affairs department, with the Power department second and the Law and Parliamentary Affairs department third.

Roads and Bridges minister N.B. Dahal attended as guest of honour, along with area MLA Sanjit Kharel and Sudesh Kumar Subba, MLA and adviser to the Tourism department.

Registration details for the championship have not yet been announced.