Gangtok: The Sikkim government is partnering with UNESCO for the conservation of Lepcha heritage “Ru-Soam” in the state.
This is a traditional foot-bridge built by the Lepcha community for generations with cane and bamboo across the state of Sikkim.
This is carried out primarily in the Dzongu Tribal Reserve area within the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in the northern part of Sikkim.
This initiative will formally document, digitally archive and showcase Sikkim’s indigenous knowledge across the globe while simultaneously safeguarding this intangible heritage of the state.
The Intellectual Property Rights section of the State Science & Technology Department, along with experts, artisans and cultural leaders, discussed the different dynamics of the bridge-making tradition with the UNESCO officials.
These included local artisans from Dzongu, cultural representatives and scholars from the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.
UNESCO will offer support for technical documentation and recognition of the bridge as a heritage in line with global standards. Benno Boer, chief of the natural science unit at UNESCO, New Delhi, will visit Sikkim in May.
Su-Roam’s value was further highlighted in recent times as a symbol of sustainable and disaster-resilient Infrastructure, particularly after the flash floods of October 2023 that devastated large parts of Sikkim.
