Royal Enfield Announces Third Edition Of The Great Himalayan Exploration

Royal Enfield is back with the third edition of The Great Himalayan Exploration, in collaboration with UNESCO. This year, the curated group of ride-researchers will be traversing the diverse terrains of Sikkim, interacting closely with the local communities and documenting their living heritage. The exploration ride has already commenced from Gangtok on March 3, and will continue for the next one month and commence on April 3. The ride will be divided into two groups — north and south, each will involve the participants indulging in Intangible Cultural Heritage practices of the region. 

The northern route begins with the sacred Bhumchu Festival at Tashiding Monastery, where monks perform the ancient ritual of opening a sealed pot of holy water to predict Sikkim's fortunes for the coming year. Visitors will observe as devotees gather from across the Himalayan region for blessings during this centuries-old ceremony.

Travelers then meet with Lepcha Bhumthings and Muns, traditional healers who demonstrate their holistic medical practices combining medicinal plants with spiritual rituals. These practitioners explain how their healing system addresses both physical ailments and spiritual imbalances through carefully preserved knowledge.

The southern route features demonstrations of churpi cheese production, where travelers taste both soft varieties and the famously hard version known as one of the world's toughest cheeses. In local monasteries, skilled artisans reveal the meticulous process of mask making, carving and painting wooden faces depicting deities for ceremonial Cham dances.

A highlight of the program will be witnessing Bhumthing prayers for Mount Kanchenjunga, where Lepcha shamans perform rituals honoring the mountain as their sacred guardian. These ceremonies, featuring offerings and traditional dances, illustrate the deep spiritual connection between Sikkimese people and their natural environment.

In North Sikkim, visitors observe the unique Dzumsa self-governance system in action as village elders led by a Pipon demonstrate their traditional decision-making process. The expedition also includes time with Dokpa nomadic herders who maintain the ancient practice of seasonal migration with their yak herds across alpine meadows.

The journey concludes with a demonstration of butter sculpture creation by Buddhist monks, who craft intricate, temporary artworks symbolizing impermanence for monastery rituals.