Melli

Melli is a well-known border town in the southern gateway belt of Sikkim, shaped more by routes and rivers than by royal capitals or old forts. Its story begins with geography: Melli lies close to the Teesta River, right on the Sikkim–West Bengal border, and it functions as one of the key entry points for people travelling from the plains toward South and West Sikkim.

One of the most distinctive things about Melli is that the town is effectively split into two market zones—one on the West Bengal side (often called Melli Bazaar) and the other on the Sikkim side (in Namchi district). This made Melli a natural “meeting town” where transport, small trade, and daily supplies flowed across the state line.

The name itself carries a traditional local meaning in Nepali: “Melli” is described as a place where the dead are cremated, reflecting how riverbanks in Himalayan foothill settlements were historically used for cremation grounds. Over time, as roads improved and markets expanded, the town’s identity shifted from a river-edge settlement to a busy commercial stop.

Connectivity has always been Melli’s biggest historical driver. The West Bengal portion sits on National Highway 10 (NH10)—the lifeline road connecting Siliguri to Gangtok—so Melli grew as a roadside hub with shops, repair points, eateries, and transport services supporting movement into Sikkim.

A major landmark in Melli’s modern history is the Jawaharlal Nehru Bridge, which connects the two sides of the town across the river. The bridge strengthened Melli’s role as a gateway market and improved the everyday movement of people, goods, and buses between the two states.

As Sikkim’s economy modernized after it became an Indian state in 1975, towns like Melli benefited from greater infrastructure, administration, and industry. On the Sikkim side, one of the notable industrial names associated with Melli is Yuksom Breweries, often mentioned as a significant regional producer, along with other local manufacturing such as a biscuit factory. This industry added a more modern economic layer to a town that was once primarily a transit marketplace.

In recent years, the town’s “river-and-road” character has also meant vulnerability. The Teesta system is known for sudden high flows and flood risks, and road travel around this belt can be disrupted during extreme weather. While Melli continues to grow as a service town, its history remains closely tied to the Teesta valley—where trade, travel, and the river’s power have always shaped life.