UGEN CHOPEL ON THE CHUMBI MOUNTAIN RESORT AND SPA IN PELLING “Not just another resort”

REBYNA RANA
GANGTOK, 13 Nov: The Chumbi Mountain Resort & Spa in West Sikkim, a five star resort which was inaugurated on 12 November boasts of a design that is a marriagebetween the best in modern facilities and amenities combined with traditional trappings.
While interacting with the media on the eve of the inauguration, the Managing Director, filmmaker Ugen Chopel, said that the retreat is designed and built to offer visitors an experience and is not just another resort.
“Sikkimese architecture is largely influenced by monastic design and motifs which appear very abundantly and prominently in our entire retreat,” he said.
The resort also houses a rare vintage collection of books and films on Sikkim in the mini museum.
“We have managed to restore and digitize almost 70,000 feet of film given by the Palace. We also have around 2,000 books of Sikkim given by the Palace. Film footage which is 18 hours long records 100 years of the history of Sikkim,” Mr. Chopel informed. The only existing 35mm print of Satyajit Ray’s “Sikkim” is also on display here in the museum.
The resort is already attracting celebrities like Bollywood actress, Tabu who visited the resort a month ago as well as Hollywood actor, Richard Gere. “We are expecting more celebrities to visit the resort from the next season”, he added.
The resort also has a coffee shop and bar with a thematic rustic mountaineering base camp feel which is open for 24 hours. Guests can soak in the spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga with the warm aroma of freshly ground coffee of the Himalayas from Nepal or over a cup of exotic tea from Sikkim’s own Temi gardens or neighboring Darjeeling.
There is also an Amphitheatre which is inspired by the monastic courtyard where the traditional mask dances are performed. Guests can also enjoy the rare collection of films at the in-house LIDO Movie Theatre.
The Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema’s father, Mr. Dhondup, accompanied by the MD for Wai-Wai Chaudhary Group [Nepal], Arun Chaudhary, who had been invited as guests also expressed their appreciation, especially of the hospitality offered.
Speaking on the bond between Sikkim and Bhutan, Mr. Dhondup said, “The bond we share is immortal because our cultures are very similar”.
Mr. Chaudhary said that Sikkim has been able to define its uniqueness and every Sikkimese is conscious about their heritage, nature and culture.
Similarly, all the way from Nepal, singers Adrian Pradhan accompanied by Nima Rumba said “We feel really fortunate to have visited such a beautiful place like Sikkim”.