Development of Sacred Site Tourism of the Lepchas: A Case Study of the Damsang Fort, Kalimpong, Darjeeling Himalaya

Faith-based sacred site tourism has developed cultural and spiritual elements across the Himalayan region. Indigenous Lepchas of the Eastern Himalayas are referred to as Rongkup or Rumkup, meaning “children of God,” distributed mainly across Sikkim, the northern part of West Bengal, Nepal, and Bhutan. They have many holy or sacred places scattered over the Mayel Lyang, referred to as the vast land of the Lepchas. They consider themselves the ‘children of the snowy peaks’ of Mt. Khangchendzonga and also possess oral narratives of faith and belief systems. Some events made a place historically important and culturally significant. Such a sacred place to the Lepchas is Damsang Fort, often termed Damsang Gadi/Gree. In honour of the Lepcha King and Leader, Gaeboo Achyok, the Lepcha community of Kalimpong, Darjeeling Himalaya, has developed a faith-based sacred and historical site. Arguably, the classification of sacred site tourism needs an ontological understanding. However, the study explores the reasons for the potential development of Damsang Fort as a sacred tourism site. It also addresses the motivational and faith perspectives as drivers for the Lepchas behind celebrating the sacred site each year. This qualitative purposive study employed researchers’ field observation, oral traditions of the community, photo-taking, conducting interviews with local Lepchas, and consulting cultural expertise from the community. The findings suggest the need for contextualisation of the characteristics of the host destination (Damsang) and the tourist-generating region (global). The study also refers to the understanding of the place’s historical, cultural, and spiritual significance, which determines the potentiality of the development of this place as a sacred tourism site.