The opening of the sBas Yul ‘Bras mo'i gshongs according to the Chronicle of the Rulers of Sikkim

After vainly searching British libraries for a copy of the History of Sikkim, written in 1908 by their Highnesses the Maharaja of Sikkim, Sir Thutob Namgyal, 9th Chogyal of Sikkim (1860–1914) and Maharani Yeshe Dolma, ¹ I finally obtained a manuscript from the family of Captain Yongda. ² The text comprises 175 pages, typewritten in the English language on 35cm. lengthwise pages. ³ The most interesting feature of this work is that it provides us with an example of a historiographic and hagiographic work, which illustrates how a dynasty of twelve rulers created and propagated the sanctity of their cult through the creation of pilgrimage places. The manuscript covers events up to 1908.