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 Legship
- West Sikkim
Legship is the gateway to west Sikkim. It
is located on the main road connecting Gezing and Pelling with
the rest of the state, on the banks of river Rangit. From Legship
the road moves up towards Pelling.
There is a small market at Legship from where regular taxis
are available to most other destinations in south and west Sikkim.
Legship is also the spot for a large hydro-electric
dam. The large lake formed by the dam is also the spot where
locals visit for day outing or picnicking. The place is known
as Rangit Water World and rafting facility is available here.
The local people of Legship played an important role in developing
and promoting this spot as a tourist destination.
There is also a large temple complex on the
bank of the Rangit river. Locals from Legship as well as villagers
from neighbouring places visit this temple. The main temple
is known as Kirateshwar Mahadev Mandir.
According to local mythology of Legship, the
spot where the temple is constructed is actually the location
where Arjuna of Mahabharata meditated. Satisfied with the devotion
of his follower, Lord Shiva appeared in front of Arjuna disguised
as a hunter (Kirat). The name of the Kirateswar temple is thus
derived.
There are other temples in the complex of
other gods and goddesses such as Rama and Durga. Throughout
the year several festivals are held in the temple complex. The
most important among them is the Bala Chaturdesi festival held
in the month of November or December.
Other places of tourist interest around Legship
include a hot spring nearby and a herbal and medicinal plants
park created by NHPC near the dam site. Legship is mostly visited by tourists on their
way to Pelling. There is no decent accommodation at Legship.
Legship can also be visited from Tashiding or Rinchenpong /
Kaluk area. |
