Sikkim Amusement Park Still Closed

The ‘Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa’, an amusement park situated at Ranka, 35 kms away from Gangtok is still lying unutilized since being dedicated to the people by President Partibha Patil on April 15 last year.

Stray dogs idly wander the grounds and sprawl out in the shade as a lone gardener removes weeds in the hot sun;  a couple of guards are minding the empty ticket office as usual as a dozen of their colleagues patrol the enormous grounds, with not much to do.

The amusement park, bogged down with controversies  and funded at vast expense by public money through the government of Sikkim, is yet to be opened to the public as it waits for a tender from the private sector that meets with their approval. Even though four tenders have been floated since April last year, some seventeen months ago, the government has yet to finalize a private firm to operate it on a lease basis.

Gangtok, Sikkim © Barbara Agnew, Edinburgh, Scotland

“Tourists do come here enquiring about the amusement park and they turn back when we tell them that it has not been opened for the public as yet. They must have heard about this park and want to spend some time here”, say the security guards outside the locked park.

With fourteen private security personnel manning the amusement park during day time and a further fourteen by night, the guards went on to say: . “Everything seems to be complete inside and all machines are fine. Sometimes, officials from the government and the construction company come for maintenance and to check the machines. Rest of the time, it is all quiet here.”

Touted as a major tourist attraction, the park is spread out over 17.5 acres fusing both the rich cultural heritage of Sikkim with modern amusement amenities.  The park has facilities like: a musical fountain with laser shows, a multilevel plaza, open air theater, ride stimulators, swimming pool, bar and bowling alleys. It also has twelve shopping arcades meant for selling handicrafts and other souvenirs of Sikkim.

The ‘Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa’  has been promoted as a unique tourism attraction and a much needed recreational Centre for people in and around Gangtok; however, barring the inauguration day, seventeen months ago, no tourist or local has yet managed to enjoy these facilities.

The story takes on almost Bollywood proportions when you consider that the rural development department, the agency responsible for the park’s construction, only managed to float two tenders – both being mired in controversy and one in particular involving a master conman which had to be dropped at the very last moment.

Because of this the park was entrusted to the tourism department, and has since floated a further two tenders with a private company being selected recently. However, senior tourism officials are remaining tightlipped on the whole issue, including when the amusement park would be declared open for the public.

Locals from Ranka are naturally keen for a quick opening. “It would greatly help the locals and local economy here if the park is opened up for the public as soon as possible. Local youths can get employment in the park and also do business, like operating taxis and food stalls outside the park”, said local youths Asish Rai and TB Chettri.

“The park is lying idle and we feel quite frustrated to see this. The whole Ranka area would have come to life if the park was operational”, they said. Local restaurant owners were also disappointed on the much-delayed operation of the amusement park. “Tourists do come along this way to visit the monastery here but we feel that the numbers would have been much more if the park was open. The food stalls here will greatly benefit”, they said.

As most of the attractions are tourist centric in Gangtok and being generally far away from the Capitol, the park would also provide a much needed recreational center for locals and their families.

By Jane Poretsis

Source: Sikkim Times www.sikkimtimes.com