Sikkim promotes concert tourism, Nepathya to perform at Gangtok’s Paljor Stadium

Sikkim is adding live music to its tourism pitch, pushing for concerts to draw visitors who will stay, explore and spend in the state.

One of Nepal’s most popular folk-rock bands, Nepathya, will perform at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on October 31 in what organisers describe as their first appearance in the Himalayan state’s capital.

The event, titled “Nepathya Live in Sikkim — Let’s Get Loud: Celebrate Sikkim”, is being positioned as an opportunity to develop concert tourism in the state.

“We want people to come for the music, stay longer and explore Sikkim,” said MLA Sanjeet Kharel, the chief patron of the initiative.

“Concert visitors would also spend on accommodation, food, transport, shopping and sightseeing, benefiting businesses of different sizes,” the MLA added.

The initiative reflects chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay)’s emphasis on developing concerts and the creative economy as avenues for growth, said an organiser.

Positive Vibes Entertainment Network (PVE Network), the organiser, cited its Sajjan Raj Vaidya concert in Gangtok on November 15 last year.

“More than 2,000 visitors came from outside Sikkim for that concert, and we estimate their spending generated over ₹3 crore in business for the local market,” said Bikesh Kayastha, founding director and head of events, at PVE Network.

The figure is a tentative estimate by the organisers, rather than an independently verified assessment.

Formed in 1990, Nepathya is known for contemporary songs rooted in indigenous music, with lyrics drawing on dialects from rural Nepal.

Led by vocalist Amrit Gurung, the band’s early folk-pop sound became increasingly rock-inspired over time.

Its lyrics have explored peace and spirituality as well as Nepal’s political realities. The album Ghatana, released during the country’s civil war, carried a cry for peace.

Music aficionados cite Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival as an example of how culture and live entertainment can draw tourists.

“Rock concerts broaden its appeal among younger audiences, while the cultural programme encourages visitors to discover more about Nagaland,” said Ashish Pradhan from Siliguri, a regular at the Hornbill Festival.