Gangtok, May 19: With its unusually rich flora and fauna, Sikkim has the potential to reach the top of the country's tourist map, state governor V Rama Rao has said.
Citing instances when a couple of his close friends visiting him here recently on way to Darjeeling extended their stay in Gangtok and were even ready to drop Darjeeling from their itinerary, the governor said there was a growing tendency among tourists nowadays to prefer Sikkim to Darjeeling as their destination.
"Though I am aware this comparison is not healthy as both the places are part of our country, no one can deny the fact that one who visits Sikkim for the first time is bound to be enarmoured of its breathtaking beauty," Rao said at a simple function at the Raj Bhawan lawns here yesterday to give away the prizes for this year's Governor's Challenge trophy for cleanliness and beautification of Gangtok.
In this open competition, people who aesthetically grow the most beautiful and rare flowers on their terraces and lawns in the state capital and its immediate neighbourhood are selected by an expert committee of floriculturists and honoured annually by the governor.
The first prize of the competition this year went to Gomp Tshering Bhutia, the second to Nita Sharma and the third to Anjali Gurung.


Bureau Report