Sikkim

Sikkim (/ˈsɪkɪm/; Nepali pronunciation: [ˈsikːim]) is

a state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China in the north and
northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of
Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the south.
Sikkim is also close to the Siliguri Corridor, which
borders Bangladesh. Sikkim is the least populous
and second smallest among the Indian states.
Situated in the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is notable
for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical
climates, as well as being a host to
Kangchenjunga, the highest peak in India and third
highest on Earth.[10] Sikkim's capital and largest
city is Gangtok. Almost 35% of the state is covered
by Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.[11]

The Kingdom of Sikkim was founded by the

Namgyal dynasty in the 17th century. It was ruled
by Buddhist priest-kings known as the
Sikkim
Chogyal. It became a princely state of
India in 1890. Following Indian State

independence, Sikkim continued its

protectorate status with the Union of
India after 1947 and the Republic of
India after 1950. It enjoyed the highest
(clockwise from top)
literacy rate and per capita income Kangchenjunga;
among Himalayan states. In 1973, anti- Gurudongmar Lake;
Rumtek Monastery;
royalist riots took place in front of the Temi Tea Garden
Chogyal's palace. In 1975, after the
Indian Army took over the city of
Gangtok, a referendum was held that
led to the dissolution of the monarchy Emblem of Sikkim
and Sikkim joining India as its 22nd Etymology: New
state.[12] Palace
Nickname: "Valley
of Rice"
Modern Sikkim is a multiethnic and
Motto: Kham sum
multilingual Indian state. The official wangdu
languages of the state are English, (Conqueror of the
three worlds)
Nepali, Sikkimese, and Lepcha.[4] Anthem: Jahan
Additional official languages include Bagcha Teesta
Rangeet (Where
Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Teesta and
Rangeet flow)
Rai, Sherpa and Tamang for the
purpose of preservation of culture and
tradition in the state.[5] English is taught
in schools and used in government
documents. The predominant religions
are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism.
Sikkim's economy is largely dependent
on agriculture and tourism. As of 2019,
Location of Sikkim
the state had the fifth-smallest GDP in India
among Indian states,[13] although it is
also among the fastest-growing.[14][15]
Country India
Sikkim achieved its ambition to convert
Region Northeast
its agriculture to fully organic between India
2003 and 2016, and became the first Before Kingdom
state in India to achieve this was of
Sikkim
distinction.[16][17][18][19] It is also among Admission 16
India's most environmentally conscious to union May
1975
states, having banned plastic water
Capital Gangtok
bottles "in any government functions and
and meetings" and polystyrene largest
city
products (throughout the state).[20][21] Districts 6
Government
Toponymy • Body Governmen
of Sikkim
The name Sikkim is believed to be a • Governor Lakshm
Achary
combination of the Limbu words su • Chief Prem
"new" and khyim "palace" or "house".[22] minister Singh
The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Tamang
(SKM)
Drenjong (Wylie-transliteration: bras State Unicam
ljongs), which means "valley of rice",[23] Legislature
• Assembly Sikkim
while the Bhutias call it Beyul Legisla
Demazong, which means "the hidden Assem
(32 se
valley of rice".[24] According to folklore,
National Parliam
after establishing Rabdentse as his Parliament of India
new capital, Bhutia king Tensung • Rajya 1 seat
Sabha
Namgyal built a palace and asked his • Lok 1 seat
Limbu Queen to name it. The Lepcha Sabha
High Sikkim
people, the original inhabitants of Court High
Sikkim, called it Nye-mae-el, meaning Court

"paradise".[24] In historical Indian Area

• Total 7,096 km2
literature, Sikkim is known as Indrakil, (2,740 sq m
the garden of the war god Indra.[25] • Rank 27th
Dimensions
• Length 116 km
History (72 mi)
• Width 65 km
(40 mi)
Elevation 1,650 m
(5,410 ft)
Highest elevation
Guru Rinpoche, patron saint of Sikkim (Kangchenjunga[1])
Lowest elevation 2
(border with (9
The Lepchas are considered to be the West Bengal[2])
earliest inhabitants of Sikkim.[26] Population (2011)[3]
However the Limbus and the Magars • Total
610,577
also lived in the inaccessible parts of • Rank 32nd
West and South districts as early as the • Density 86/km2
(220/sq
Lepchas perhaps lived in the East and • Urban 25.15%
North districts.[27] The Buddhist saint • Rural 74.85%
Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Language
• Official Nepali ·
Rinpoche, is said to have passed
Sikkimes
through the land in the 8th century.[28] · Lepcha
English
The Guru is reported to have blessed [4][5]

the land, introduced Buddhism, and

• Additional Gurun
foretold the era of monarchy that would official · Limb
arrive in Sikkim centuries later. · Mag
·
Mukhi
·
Foundation of the monarchy Newa
· Rai ·
Sherp
·
Tama

GDP
Flag of Sikkim during its independent monarchy. • Total
(2019- ₹30,000
20) crore
According to legend, Khye Bumsa, a (US$3.8
billion)
14th-century prince from the Minyak
House in Kham in eastern Tibet, • Rank 29th
received a divine revelation instructing • Per ₹412,754
capita (US$5,200)
him to travel south to seek his fortunes. Time UTC+05:30
zone (IST)
A fifth-generation descendant of Khye
ISO IN-SK
Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal, became 3166
code
the founder of Sikkim's monarchy in
Vehicle SK
1642, when he was consecrated as the registration
first Chogyal, or priest-king, of Sikkim HDI 0.764
(2019) Very
by the three venerated lamas at
High
Yuksom.[29] Phuntsog Namgyal was (10th)
succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Literacy
(2011) 81.42%
Namgyal, who moved the capital from (13th)
Yuksom to Rabdentse (near modern Sex 890♀/1000
ratio ♂ (10th)
Pelling). In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by (2011)
the Bhutanese with the help of the half- Website www
sister of the Chogyal, who had been .sikkim
.gov.in
denied the throne. The Bhutanese were (http://
www.si
driven away by the Tibetan people, who kkim.g
restored the throne to the Chogyal ten ov.in)
years later. Between 1717 and 1733, Symbols of Sikkim
the kingdom faced many raids by the
Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in
Emblem of Sikkim
the east, culminating with the
Song Jahan
destruction of the capital Rabdentse by
Bagcha
the Nepalese.[30] In 1791, China sent Teesta
Rangeet
troops to support Sikkim and defend (Where
Tibet against the Gorkha Kingdom. Teesta
Following the subsequent defeat of and
Rangeet
Gorkha, the Chinese Qing dynasty flow)
established control over Sikkim.[31] Bird Blood
pheasant[6]
Fish Copper
Mahseer[7]
During the British Raj
Flower Noble
dendrobium
Mammal Red
panda
Tree Rhododendro
State highway
mark

An 1876 map of Sikkim, depicting Chomto Dong Lake in northern Sikkim.[32] However, the whole of Chumbi and
Darjeeling are not depicted as part of Sikkim in the map.

State highway of
Sikkim
SK SH1 - SK SH27
Following the beginning of British rule
List of Indian state
in neighbouring India, Sikkim allied with
symbols
Britain against their common adversary,
Nepal. The Nepalese attacked Sikkim, overrunning
most of the region including the Terai. This
prompted the British East India Company to attack
Nepal, resulting in the Gurkha War of 1814.[33]
Treaties signed between Sikkim and Nepal
resulted in the return of the territory annexed by
the Nepalese in 1817. However, ties between
Sikkim and the British weakened when the latter
began taxation of the Morang region. In 1849, two
British physicians, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker and
Dr. Archibald Campbell, the latter being in charge
of relations between the British and Sikkimese
governments, ventured into the mountains of
Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised.[34] The
doctors were detained by the Sikkimese
government, leading to a punitive British
expedition against the kingdom, after which the
Darjeeling district and Morang were annexed to
British India in 1853. The Chogyal of Sikkim
became a titular ruler under the directive of the
British governor as a result of the invasion.[35]

Sikkim became a British protectorate in the later

decades of the 19th century, formalised by a
convention signed with China in 1890.[36][37][38]
Sikkim was gradually granted more sovereignty
over the next three decades,[39] and became a
member of the Chamber of Princes, the assembly
representing the rulers of the Indian princely
states, in 1922.[38]

Indian protectorate
Prior to Indian independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, as
the Vice President of the Executive Council,
pushed through a resolution in the Indian
Constituent Assembly to the effect that Sikkim and
Bhutan, as Himalayan states, were not 'Indian
states' and their future should be negotiated
separately.[40] A standstill agreement was signed
in February 1948.[41]

Meanwhile, Indian independence and its move to

democracy spurred a fledgling political movement
in Sikkim, giving rise to the formation of Sikkim
State Congress (SSC), a pro-accession political
party. The party sent a plate of demands to the
palace, including a demand for accession to India.
The palace attempted to defuse the movement by
appointing three secretaries from the SSC to the
government and sponsoring a counter-movement
in the name of Sikkim National Party, which
opposed accession to India.[42]

The demand for responsible government

continued and the SSC launched a civil
disobedience movement. The Chogyal Palden
Thondup Namgyal asked India for help in quelling
the movement, which was offered in the form of a
small military police force and an Indian Dewan. In
1950, a treaty was agreed between India and
Sikkim which gave Sikkim the status of an Indian
protectorate. Sikkim came under the suzerainty of
India, which controlled its external affairs, defence,
diplomacy and communications.[43] In other
respects, Sikkim retained administrative
autonomy.

A state council was established in 1953 to allow

for constitutional government under the Chogyal.
Despite pressures from an India "bent on
annexation", Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal
was able to preserve autonomy and shape a
"model Asian state" where the literacy rate and per
capita income were twice as high as neighbouring
Nepal, Bhutan and India.[44] Meanwhile, the Sikkim
National Congress demanded fresh elections and
greater representation for Nepalis in Sikkim.
People marched on the palace against the
monarchy.[44] In 1973, anti-royalist riots took place
in front of the Chogyal's palace.

Merger and statehood

In 1975, the Prime Minister of Sikkim appealed to
the Indian Parliament for Sikkim to become a state
of India. In April of that year, the Indian Army took
over the city of Gangtok and disarmed the
Chogyal's palace guards. Thereafter, a referendum
was held in which 97.5 per cent of voters
supported abolishing the monarchy, effectively
approving union with India. India is said to have
stationed 20,000–40,000 troops in a country of
only 200,000 during the referendum.[45] On 16 May
1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian
Union, and the monarchy was abolished.[46] To
enable the incorporation of the new state, the
Indian Parliament amended the Indian
Constitution. First, the 35th Amendment laid down
a set of conditions that made Sikkim an "Associate
State", a special designation not used by any other
state. A month later, the 36th Amendment
repealed the 35th Amendment, and made Sikkim a
full state, adding its name to the First Schedule of
the Constitution.[47]

Recent history
In 2000, the seventeenth Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley
Dorje, who had been confirmed by the Dalai Lama
and accepted as a tulku by the Chinese
government, escaped from Tibet, seeking to return
to the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. Chinese
officials were in a quandary on this issue, as any
protests to India would mean an explicit
endorsement of India's governance of Sikkim,
which China still recognised as an independent
state occupied by India. The Chinese government
eventually recognised Sikkim as an Indian state in
2003, in return for India declaring Tibet as a "part
of" the territory of China;[48][49] New Delhi had
accepted Tibet as part of China way back in 1954,
but China appears to have believed that the
agreement had lapsed.[50][51] The 2003 agreement
led to a thaw in Sino-Indian relations.[52] On 6 July
2006, the Sikkimese Himalayan pass of Nathu La
was opened to cross-border trade, becoming the
first open border between India and China.[53] The
pass, which was first opened during the 1904
Younghusband Expedition to Tibet,[54] had
remained closed since the 1962 Sino-Indian
War.[53]
On 18 September 2011, a magnitude 6.9Mw
earthquake struck Sikkim, killing at least 116
people in the state and in Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh and Tibet.[55] More than 60 people
died in Sikkim alone, and the city of Gangtok
suffered significant damage.[56]

Geography

Kangchenjunga

Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, near the Zemu Glacier.

Situated in the Himalayan mountains, the state of

Sikkim is characterised by mountainous terrain.
Almost the entire state is hilly, with an elevation
ranging from 280 metres (920 ft) in the south at
the border with West Bengal to 8,586 metres
(28,169 ft) in northern peaks near Nepal and Tibet.
The summit of Kangchenjunga, the world's third-
highest peak, is the state's highest point, situated
on the border between Sikkim and Nepal.[57] For
the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture
because of the rocky, precipitous slopes. However,
some hill slopes have been converted into terrace
farms.

Sikkim is in lower center of image of the Tibetan Plateau- (NASA Satellite photo).

Numerous snow-fed streams have carved out river

valleys in the west and south of the state. These
streams combine into the major Teesta River and
its tributary, the Rangeet, which flow through the
state from north to south.[58] About a third of the
state is heavily forested. The Himalayan
mountains surround the northern, eastern and
western borders of Sikkim. The Lower Himalayas,
lying in the southern reaches of the state, are the
most densely populated.
Detailed 1:250k scale, 1955 US Army map of Sikkim showing major river valleys, glaciers, lakes, peaks (height in feet) and Mines. One could see
more concentration of glaciers at the north-western part of Sikkim around Kangchenjunga (28,168 ft).

The state has 28 mountain peaks, more than 80

glaciers,[59] 227 high-altitude lakes (including the
Tsongmo, Gurudongmar and Khecheopalri Lakes),
five major hot springs, and more than 100 rivers
and streams. Eight mountain passes connect the
state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.[60]

Sikkim's hot springs are renowned for their

medicinal and therapeutic value. Among the
state's most notable hot springs are those at
Phurchachu, Yumthang, Borang, Ralang, Taram-
chu and Yumey Samdong. The springs, which have
a high sulphur content, are located near river
banks; some are known to emit hydrogen.[61] The
average temperature of the water in these hot
springs is 50 °C (122 °F).[62]

Geology

A waterfall in Sikkim
The hills of Sikkim mainly consist of gneiss and
schist[63] which weather to produce generally poor
and shallow brown clay soils. The soil is coarse,
with large concentrations of iron oxide; it ranges
from neutral to acidic and is lacking in organic and
mineral nutrients. This type of soil tends to
support evergreen and deciduous forests.[64]

The rock consists of phyllites and schists, and is

highly susceptible to weathering and erosion. This,
combined with the state's heavy rainfall, causes
extensive soil erosion and the loss of soil nutrients
through leaching. As a result, landslides are
frequent, often isolating rural towns and villages
from the major urban centres.[65]

Climate

The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring,

autumn, and monsoon season. Sikkim's climate
ranges from sub-tropical in the south to tundra in
the north. Most of the inhabited regions of Sikkim
experience a temperate climate, with temperatures
seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer. The
average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is
around 18 °C (64 °F).

Sikkim is one of the few states in India to receive

regular snowfall. The snow line ranges from 6,100
metres (20,000 ft) in the south of the state to
4,900 metres (16,100 ft) in the north.[66] The
tundra-type region in the north is snowbound for
four months every year, and the temperature drops
below 0 °C (32 °F) almost every night.[61] In north-
western Sikkim, the peaks are frozen year-
round;[67] because of the high altitude,
temperatures in the mountains can drop to as low
as −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter.

During the monsoon, heavy rains increase the risk

of landslides. The record for the longest period of
continuous rain in Sikkim is 11 days. Fog affects
many parts of the state during winter and the
monsoons, making transportation perilous.[68]

Flora and fauna

Noble orchid (top) is Sikkim's state flower. Rhododendron is its state tree; about 40 species of Rhododendron bloom late April – mid May across
the state.[69]

Sikkim is situated in an ecological hotspot of the

lower Himalayas, one of only three among the
ecoregions of India.[70][71] The forested regions of
the state exhibit a diverse range of fauna and flora.
Owing to its altitudinal gradation, the state has a
wide variety of plants, from tropical species to
temperate, alpine and tundra ones, and is perhaps
one of the few regions to exhibit such a diversity
within such a small area. Nearly 81 per cent of the
area of Sikkim comes under the administration of
its forest department.[72]

Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of

flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula
species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak
varieties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer species,
362 types of ferns and ferns allies, 8 tree ferns,
and over 900 medicinal plants.[70][10] A relative of
the Poinsettia, locally known as "Christmas
Flower", can be found in abundance in the
mountainous state. The Noble Dendrobium is the
official flower of Sikkim, while the rhododendron is
the state tree.[73]

Orchids, figs, laurel, bananas, sal trees and

bamboo grow in the Himalayan subtropical
broadleaf forests of the lower altitudes of Sikkim.
In the temperate elevations above 1,500 metres
(4,900 ft) there are Eastern Himalayan broadleaf
forests, where oaks, chestnuts, maples, birches,
alders, and magnolias grow in large numbers, as
well as Himalayan subtropical pine forests,
dominated by Chir pine. Alpine-type vegetation is
typically found between an altitude of 3,500 to
5,000 metres (11,500 to 16,400 ft). In lower
elevations are found juniper, pine, firs, cypresses
and rhododendrons from the Eastern Himalayan
subalpine conifer forests. Higher up are Eastern
Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows and high-
altitude wetlands, which are home to a wide variety
of rhododendrons and wildflowers.[71][10]

The red panda is the state animal of Sikkim.

The fauna of Sikkim include the snow leopard,[74]

musk deer, Himalayan tahr, red panda, Himalayan
marmot, Himalayan serow, Himalayan goral,
muntjac, common langur, Asian black bear,
clouded leopard,[75] marbled cat, leopard cat,[76]
dhole, Tibetan wolf, hog badger, binturong, and
Himalayan jungle cat. Among the animals more
commonly found in the alpine zone are yaks,
mainly reared for their milk, meat, and as a beast
of burden.

The avifauna of Sikkim include the impeyan

pheasant, crimson horned pheasant, snow
partridge, Tibetan snowcock, bearded vulture and
griffon vulture, as well as golden eagles, quails,
plovers, woodcocks, sandpipers, pigeons, Old
World flycatchers, babblers and robins. Sikkim has
more than 550 species of birds, some of which
have been declared endangered.[71]

Sikkim also has a rich diversity of arthropods,

many of which remain unstudied.[71] Some of the
most understudied species are Sikkimese
arthropods, specifically butterflies. Of the
approximately 1,438 butterfly species found in the
Indian subcontinent, 695 have been recorded in
Sikkim.[77] These include the endangered Kaiser-i-
hind, the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory.[78]

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

List of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of

Sikkim:

Khangchendzonga National Park

Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary
Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary

Government and politics

Sikkim Legislative Assembly

According to the Constitution of India, Sikkim has

a parliamentary system of representative
democracy for its governance; universal suffrage
is granted to state residents. The government
structure is organised into three branches:

Executive: As with all states of India, a governor

stands at the head of the executive power of state,
just as the president is the head of the executive
power in the Union, and is appointed by the
President of India. The governor's appointment is
largely ceremonial, and his or her main role is to
oversee the swearing-in of the chief minister. The
chief minister, who holds the real executive
powers, is the head of the party or coalition
garnering the largest majority in the state
elections. The governor also appoints cabinet
ministers on the advice of the chief minister.
 Legislature: Sikkim has a unicameral legislature,
the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, like most other
Indian states. Its state assembly has 32 seats,
including one reserved for the Sangha. Sikkim is
allocated one seat in each of the two chambers of
India's national bicameral legislature, the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Judiciary: The judiciary consists of the Sikkim High
Court and a system of lower courts. The High
Court, located at Gangtok, has a Chief Justice
along with two permanent justices. The Sikkim
High Court is the smallest state high court in the
country.[79]

In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy,

the Indian National Congress gained a majority in
the 1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of
instability, a popular ministry headed by Nar
Bahadur Bhandari, leader of the Sikkim Sangram
Parishad Party, was sworn in. Bhandari held on to
power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994
elections, Pawan Kumar Chamling of the Sikkim
Democratic Front became the Chief Minister of the
state. Chamling and his party had since held on to
power by winning the 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014
elections.[35][80][81] However, the 2019 legislative
assembly elections were won by the Sikkim
Krantikari Morcha party and the chief minister
since then is Prem Singh Tamang.[82][83] The
current Governor of Sikkim is Lakshman
Acharya.[84]

Subdivisions

Sikkim has six districts – Gangtok District, Mangan

District, Namchi District, Pakyong District, Geyzing
District and Soreng District. The district capitals
are Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Pakyong, Gyalshing
and Soreng respectively.[85] These six districts are
further divided into 16 subdivisions; Pakyong,
Rongli, Rangpo and Gangtok are the subdivisions
of the Gangtok and Pakyong Districts. Soreng,
Yuksom, Gyalshing and Dentam are the
subdivisions of the Geyzing and Soreng district.
Chungthang, Dzongu, Kabi and Mangan are the
subdivisions of the Mangan district. Ravongla,
Jorethang, Namchi and Yangyang are the
subdivisions of the Namchi district.[86]
Each of Sikkim's districts is overseen by a state
government appointee, the district collector, who
is in charge of the administration of the civilian
areas of the district. The Indian Army has control
over a large part of the state, as Sikkim forms part
of a sensitive border area with China. Many areas
are restricted to foreigners, and official permits are
needed to visit them.[87]

Economy
Sikkim's nominal state gross domestic product
(GDP) was estimated at US$4.6 billion in 2019,
with GDP per capita being $7,530 (₹ 5,50,000) thus
constituting the third-smallest GDP among India's
28 states.[14] The state's economy is largely
agrarian based on the terraced farming of rice and
the cultivation of crops such as maize, millet,
wheat, barley, oranges, tea, and cardamom.[88][89]
Sikkim produces more cardamom than any other
Indian state and is home to the largest cultivated
area of cardamom.[90]

Because of its hilly terrain and poor transport

infrastructure, Sikkim lacks a large-scale industrial
base. Brewing, distilling, tanning and watchmaking
are the main industries and are mainly located in
the southern regions of the state, primarily in the
towns of Melli and Jorethang. In addition, a small
mining industry exists in Sikkim extracting
minerals such as copper, dolomite, talc, graphite,
quartzite, coal, zinc, and lead.[91] Despite the
state's minimal industrial infrastructure, Sikkim's
economy has been among the fastest-growing in
India since 2000; the state's GDP expanded by
89.93% in 2010 alone.[92] In 2003, Sikkim decided
to fully convert to organic farming and achieved
this goal in 2015 becoming India's first "organic
state".[17][18][19][16]

In recent years, the government of Sikkim has

extensively promoted tourism. As a result, state
revenue has increased 14 times since the mid-
1990s.[93] Sikkim has furthermore invested in a
fledgling gambling industry promoting both
casinos and online gambling. The state's first
casino, the Casino Sikkim, opened in March
2009.[94] In the year 2010 the government
subsequently issued three gambling licenses for
casinos and online sports betting in general.[95]
The Playwin lottery has been a notable success in
the state.[96][97]

The opening of the Nathu La pass on 6 July 2006,

connecting Lhasa, Tibet, to India, was billed as a
boon for Sikkim's economy. Trade through the
pass remains hampered by Sikkim's limited
infrastructure and government restrictions in both
India and China, though the volume of traded
goods has been steadily increasing.[98][99]

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Transport

Air
Runway at Pakyong Airport, is the first greenfield airport to be constructed in the Northeast India.[100]

Teesta River is considered the state's key waterway.

Sikkim did not have any operational airport for a

long time because of its rough terrain. However, in
October 2018, Pakyong Airport, the state's first
airport, located in Pakyong Town at a distance of
30 km (19 mi) from Gangtok, became operational
after a four-year delay.[101][102] It has been
constructed by the Airports Authority of India on
200 acres of land. At an altitude of 4,700 feet
(1,400 m) above sea level, it is one of the five
highest airports in India.[103][104] The airport is
capable of operating ATR aircraft.[105]

Before October 2018, the closest operational

airport to Sikkim was Bagdogra Airport near
Siliguri in northern West Bengal. The airport is
located about 124 km (77 mi) from Gangtok, and
frequent buses connect the two.[106] A daily
helicopter service run by the Sikkim Helicopter
Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra; the flight
is thirty minutes long, operates only once a day,
and can carry four people.[80] The Gangtok helipad
is the only civilian helipad in the state.

Roads

Gangtok to Siliguri Bus

National Highway 10 (NH 10; formerly NH 31A)

links Siliguri to Gangtok. Sikkim Nationalised
Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately
run bus, tourist taxi, and jeep services operate
throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri. A
branch of the highway from Melli connects
western Sikkim. Towns in eastern, southern and
western Sikkim are connected to the hill stations
of Kalimpong and Darjeeling in northern West
Bengal.[107] The state is furthermore connected to
Tibet by the mountain pass of Nathu La.

List of National Highways of Sikkim:

Length Length
Number [108]
Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Formed Removed Notes
(km) (mi)

NH 10 52 32 Gangtok – Singtam – Rangpo – West Bengal Border. — —

NH 310 87 54 Ranipool (NH-31A) – Burtuk – Menla – Nathula — —

NH 310A 55 34 Tashi view point – Phodong – Mangan — —

NH 510 70 43 Singtam – Damthang- Legship – Gyalshing — —

NH 710 45 28 Melli- Manpur- Namchi- Damthang- Tarku — —

West Bengal Border-Reshi- Rhenock, Rorathang Pakyong a-junction

NH 717A 112 70 — —
with new NH No. 10 at Ranipool near Gangtok

Junction with NH No. 717A at Rhenock – Rongli, Rolep -junction with

NH 717B 42 26 — —
NH No. 310 near Menla at Serethang

Rail

Sikkim lacks significant railway infrastructure. The

closest major railway stations are Siliguri Junction
and New Jalpaiguri in neighbouring West
Bengal.[109] However, the New Sikkim Railway
Project has been launched to connect the town of
Rangpo in Sikkim with Sevoke on the West Bengal
border. This line is Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line
from Sivok railway station to Rangpo railway
station.[110] The five-station line is intended to
support both economic development and Indian
Army operations and was initially planned to be
completed by 2015,[111][112] though as of 2013 its
construction has met with delays.[113] The railway
line up to Rangpo is expected to be completed in
2021.[114] In the second phase the line will be
extended up to Gangtok.[115] In addition, the
Ministry of Railways proposed plans in 2010 for
railway lines linking Mirik in West Bengal to
Namchi, Daramdin, Ranipool, and Gangtok.[116]

Infrastructure

Nathu La Pass – Indo-China Border

Sikkim's roads are maintained by the Border Roads

Organisation (BRO), an offshoot of the Indian
Army. The roads in southern Sikkim are in
relatively good condition, landslides being less
frequent in this region. The state government
maintains 1,857 kilometres (1,154 mi) of roadways
that do not fall under the BRO's jurisdiction.[117]
Sikkim receives most of its electricity from 19
hydroelectric power stations.[93] Power is also
obtained from the National Thermal Power
Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of
India.[118] By 2006, the state had achieved 100 per
cent rural electrification.[119] However, the voltage
remains unstable and voltage stabilisers are
needed. Per capita consumption of electricity in
Sikkim was approximately 182 kWh in 2006. The
state government has promoted biogas and solar
power for cooking, but these have received a poor
response and are used mostly for lighting
purposes.[120] In 2005, 73.2 per cent of Sikkim's
households were reported to have access to safe
drinking water,[117] and the state's large number of
mountain streams assures a sufficient water
supply.

On 8 December 2008, it was announced that

Sikkim had become the first state in India to
achieve 100 per cent sanitation coverage,
becoming completely free of public defecation,
thus attaining the status of "Nirmal State".[121][122]

Demographics
A little girl from Kaluk Bazaar

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1901 59,014 —
1911 87,920 +4.07%
1921 81,721 −0.73%
1931 109,808 +3.00%
1941 121,520 +1.02%
1951 137,725 +1.26%
1961 162,189 +1.65%
1971 209,843 +2.61%
1981 316,385 +4.19%
1991 406,457 +2.54%
2001 540,851 +2.90%
2011 610,577 +1.22%
source:[123]

Sikkim is India's least populous state, with 610,577

inhabitants according to the 2011 census.[3]
Sikkim is also one of the least densely populated
Indian states, with only 86 persons per square
kilometre. However, it has a high population
growth rate, averaging 12.36% per cent between
2001 and 2011. The sex ratio is 889 females per
1,000 males, with a total of 321,661 males and
286,027 females recorded in 2011. With around
98,000 inhabitants as of 2011, the capital Gangtok
is the most significant urban area in the mostly
rural state; in 2005, the urban population in Sikkim
constituted around 11.06 per cent of the total.[117]
In 2011, the average per capita income in Sikkim
stood at ₹ 81,159 (US$1,305).[124]

Languages

Languages of Sikkim (2011 census)[125]

Nepali (62.6%)
Sikkimese (6.86%)
Limbu (6.34%)
Lepcha (6.27%)
Hindi (5.58%)
Sherpa (2.24%)
Tamang (1.92%)
Bhojpuri (1.63%)
Rai (1.22%)
Bengali (1.14%)
Other (4.2%)
The official languages of the state are Nepali,
Sikkimese, Lepcha and English. Additional official
languages include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia,
Newar, Rai, Sherpa and Tamang for the purpose of
preservation of culture and tradition in the state.

Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while

Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in
certain areas.[126] English is also spoken and
understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages
include Dzongkha, Groma, Hindi, Majhi, Majhwar,
Thulung, Tibetan, and Yakha.[127]

Ethnicity

The majority of Sikkim's residents are of Nepali

ethnic origin.[128] The native Sikkimese consist of
the Bhutias, who migrated from the Kham district
of Tibet in the 14th century, and the Lepchas, who
are believed to pre-date the Bhutias and are the
oldest known inhabitants. Tibetans reside mostly
in the northern and eastern reaches of the state.
Migrant resident communities include Bengalis,
Biharis and Marwaris, who are prominent in
commerce in South Sikkim and Gangtok.[129]
Religion

Religion in Sikkim (2011)[130]

Hinduism (57.76%)
Buddhism (27.39%)
Christianity (9.91%)
Islam (1.62%)
Sikhism (0.31%)
Jainism (0.05%)
Other faith like Kirat Mundhum, Bon, Mun (2.67%)
No religion (0.3%)

Religious Population Population Population

group % 1991[131] % 2001[132] % 2011[130]

Hinduism 68.36% 60.93% 57.76%

Buddhism 27.15% 28.11% 27.39%

Christianity 3.29% 6.67% 9.91%

Islam 0.94% 1.42% 1.62%

Sikhism 0.09% 0.21% 0.31%

Jainism 0.001% 0.03% 0.05%

Other religions 0.04% 2.38% 2.67%

No religion – – 0.3%

According to the 2011 census, 57.8% follow

Hinduism, making it the state's majority religion.
Buddhism is followed by 27.4% of the population,
while Christianity is followed by 9.9%.[133] Between
2001 and 2011, Christianity was the fastest
growing religion in the state, going from 6.67% to
9.91% of the population.[133] It was thus the fourth
state with the highest Christian growth in the
period, behind only Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur
and Meghalaya.[132][134] As of 2014, the Evangelical
Presbyterian Church of Sikkim is the largest
Christian denomination in Sikkim.[135] Hinduism,
on the other hand, declined from 60.93% to 57.76%
of the population in the same period.[132][133]
Sikkim was the fourth state with the biggest
decline in the percentage of Hindus, behind only
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam.[134]
Vajrayana Buddhism, which accounts for 27.3% of
the population, is Sikkim's second-largest, yet most
prominent religion. Prior to Sikkim's becoming a
part of the Indian Union, Vajrayana Buddhism was
the state religion under the Chogyal. Sikkim has 75
Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to
the 1700s.[136] The public and visual aesthetics of
Sikkim are executed in shades of Vajrayana
Buddhism and Buddhism plays a significant role in
public life, even among Sikkim's majority Nepali
Hindu population. Other religious minorities
include Muslims of Bihari ethnicity and Jains, who
each account for roughly 1% of the population.[137]
The traditional religions of the native Sikkimese
account for much of the remainder of the
population.
Although tensions between the Lepchas and the
Nepalese escalated during the merger of Sikkim
with India in the 1970s, there has never been any
major degree of communal religious violence,
unlike in other Indian states.[138][139] The traditional
religion of the Lepcha people is Mun, an animist
practice which coexists with Buddhism and
Christianity.[140]

KRV
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rsy
Mta
aek
hrT
aye
dm
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Te
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mt
mt
pR
lh
ee
in
no
Lc
ek
g
s
h
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p
i
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d
e
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d
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d
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 v
a
.

Districts
There are 6 districts in Sikkim, each overseen by a
Central Government appointee, the district
collector, who is in charge of the administration of
the civilian areas of the districts. The Indian army
has control of a large territory, as the state is a
sensitive border area. Many areas are restricted
and permits are needed to visit them. The four
districts are:

Population Density
Code District Headquarters Area (km²)
(2011)[141] (/km²)

GD Gangtok district Gangtok 281,293 954 257

MD Mangan district Mangan 43,354 4,226 10

ND Namchi district Namchi 146,742 750 175

GD Gyalshing district Geyzing 136,299 1,166 106

PD Pakyong District Pakyong 74,583 404 180

SD Soreng District Soreng na na na

Culture

Festivals and holidays

The traditional Gumpa dance being performed in Lachung during the Buddhist festival of Losar.

Sikkim's Nepalese majority celebrate all major

Hindu festivals, including Tihar (Diwali) and
Dashain (Dashera). Traditional local festivals, such
as Maghe Sankranti, Ramnavmi, Janmastami, Holi,
Shivaratri, Navratri, Sakela, Chasok Tangnam and
Bhimsen Puja, are popular.[142] Losar, Saga Dawa,
Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are
among the Buddhist festivals celebrated in Sikkim.
During the Losar (Tibetan New Year), most offices
and educational institutions are closed for a
week.[143]

Sikkimese Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr and

Muharram.[144] Christmas has been promoted in
Gangtok to attract tourists during the off-
season.[145]

Western rock music and Indian pop have gained a

wide following in Sikkim. Nepali rock and Lepcha
music are also popular.[146] Sikkim's most popular
sports are football and cricket, although hang
gliding and river rafting have grown popular as part
of the tourism industry.[147]

Famous Bollywood actor Danny Denzongpa is from Sikkim.

Cuisine

Noodle-based dishes such as thukpa, chow mein,

thenthuk, fakthu, gyathuk and wonton are common
in Sikkim. Momos – steamed dumplings filled with
vegetables, chicken, mutton, beef or pork and
served with soup – are a popular snack.[148]

Beer, whiskey, rum and brandy are widely

consumed in Sikkim,[149] as is tongba, a millet-
based alcoholic beverage that is popular in Nepal
and Darjeeling. Sikkim has the third-highest per
capita alcoholism rate amongst all Indian states,
behind Punjab and Haryana.[150]

Media

The Dro-dul Chorten Stupa in Gangtok.

In 1957, a Nepali monthly magazine Kanchenjunga

became the first news outlet for the masses in
Sikkim.[151]

The southern urban areas of Sikkim have English,

Nepali and Hindi daily newspapers. Nepali-
language newspapers, as well as some English
newspapers, are locally printed, whereas Hindi and
English newspapers are printed in Siliguri.
Important local dailies and weeklies include
Hamro Prajashakti (Nepali daily), Himalayan Mirror
(English daily), the Samay Dainik, Sikkim Express
(English), Kanchanjunga Times (Nepali weekly),
Pragya Khabar (Nepali weekly) and Himali Bela.[152]
Furthermore, the state receives regional editions of
national English newspapers such as The
Statesman, The Telegraph, The Hindu and The
Times of India. Himalaya Darpan, a Nepali daily
published in Siliguri, is one of the leading Nepali
daily newspapers in the region. The Sikkim Herald
is an official weekly publication of the government.
Online media covering Sikkim include the Nepali
newspaper Himgiri, the English news portal
Haalkhabar and the literary magazine Tistarangit.
Avyakta, Bilokan, the Journal of Hill Research,
Khaber Khagaj, Panda, and the Sikkim Science
Society Newsletter are among other registered
publications.[153]

Internet cafés are well established in the district

capitals, but broadband connectivity is not widely
available. Satellite television channels through dish
antennae are available in most homes in the state.
Channels served are largely the same as those
available in the rest of India, although Nepali-
language channels are also available. The main
service providers include Airtel digital TV, Tata Sky,
Dish TV, DD Free Dish and Nayuma.
Education

Sikkim Manipal University Campus, Gangtok

In 2011, Sikkim's adult literacy rate was 82.2 per

cent: 87.29 per cent for males and 76.43 per cent
for females.[154] There are a total of 1,157 schools
in the state, including 765 schools run by the state
government, seven central government schools
and 385 private schools.[155] There is one Institute
of National Importance,[156] one central
university[157] and four private universities[158] in
Sikkim offering higher education.

Recently, Government of Sikkim has approved the

open school board named Board of Open
Schooling and Skill Education,[159] BOSSE to
provide Secondary Education, Senior Secondary as
well as Skill & Vocational Education up to pre-
degree level and to provide opportunity to continue
education to such students who have missed the
opportunity of school education. Sikkim has a
National Institute of Technology, currently
operating from a temporary campus in Ravangla,
South Sikkim,[160] which is one among the ten
newly sanctioned NITs by the Government of India
under the 11th Five year Plan, 2009.[161] The NIT
Sikkim also has state of art super computing
facility named PARAM Kanchenjunga which is said
to be fastest among all 31 NITs.[162] Sikkim
University is the only central university in Sikkim.
The public-private funded institution is the Sikkim
Manipal University of Technological Sciences,
which offers higher education in engineering,
medicine and management. It also runs a host of
distance education programs in diverse fields.[163]

There are two state-run polytechnic schools – the

Advanced Technical Training Centre (ATTC) and
the Centre for Computers and Communication
Technology (CCCT) – which offer diploma courses
in various branches of engineering. ATTC is
situated at Bardang, Singtam, and CCCT at
Chisopani, Namchi.
Sikkim University began operating in 2008 at
Yangang, which is situated about 28 kilometres
(17 mi) from Singtam.[164] Many students,
however, migrate to Siliguri, Kolkata, Bangalore
and other Indian cities for their higher education.

The campus of the National Institute of Electronics

& Information Technology (NIELIT), under the
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
of the Government of India, is at Pakyong in East
Sikkim, and offers formal and informal education
in the IT/ITES sector.

Towns and cities

M. G. Marg in Gangtok.

Jorethang at night time.

The major towns and cities of Sikkim are as
follows:

Gangtok, Pakyong, Namchi, Jorethang, Rangpo,

Singtam, Gyalshing, Mangan, Soreng, Pelling,
Rhenock, Rongli, Rorathang, Ravangla,
Chungthang, Ranipool, Lachen, Nayabazar,
Lachung, Dikchu, Majitar, Legship, Melli, Yuksom,
Sherathang, Namthang, Rinchenpong, Singhik, Hee
Burmiok, Tashiding, Kumrek, Makha, Yangang, and
Damthang.

Sports
The popular sports played in Sikkim include
football, cricket, archery, volleyball, tennis,
badminton, and athletics. Adventure sports like
paragliding, Hiking and mountain biking are also
popular in Sikkim. The stadiums of Sikkim are as
follows:

Mining Cricket Stadium, Rangpo

Paljor Stadium, Gangtok
Bhaichung Stadium, Namchi
Resithang Athletics Stadium, Gangtok.
See also
Outline of Sikkim
East Sikkim district

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Further reading and bibliography

Bareh, Hamlet (2001). "Introduction" (https://books.goog
le.com/books?id=jrr7HPr8NAQC) . Encyclopaedia of
North-East India: Sikkim. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-
81-7099-794-8. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
Choudhury, Maitreyee (2006). Sikkim: Geographical
Perspectives (https://books.google.com/books?id=W9E
wNfXkxZwC) . New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-
81-8324-158-8.
Duff, Andrew (2015), Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan
Kingdom (https://books.google.com/books?id=m1VDCQ
AAQBAJ) , Birlinn, ISBN 978-0-85790-245-0
Evans, W. H. (1932). The Identification of Indian
Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural
History Society. ASIN B00086SOSG (https://www.amazo
n.com/dp/B00086SOSG) .
Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2011). 'The Tea Horse
Road from Lhasa to Sikkim'. China's Ancient Tea Horse
Road. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti
Books.ASIN B005DQV7Q2. (https://www.amazon.com/d
p/B005DQV7Q2.)
Kandell, Alice S. (1971). Sikkim: The Hidden Kingdom
(2nd ed.). Doubleday. ISBN 978-03-8502-206-4.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1854). Himalayan Journals:
notes of a naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal
Himalayas, the Khasia mountains etc. (https://books.goo
gle.com/books?id=wvO_GDMo7X8C) Ward, Lock,
Bowden & Co.
Haribal, Meena (2003) [1994]. Butterflies of Sikkim
Himalaya and their Natural History. Sikkim Nature
Conservation Foundation. Natraj Publishers. ISBN 978-
81-85019-11-6.
Ray, Arundhati; Das, Sujoy (2001). Sikkim: A Traveller's
Guide (https://books.google.com/books?id=Xnw-2sU1K
MoC) . Orient Blackswan, New Delhi. ISBN 81-7824-008-
4.
Rose, Leo E. (1978), "Modernizing a Traditional
Administrative System: Sikkim 1890–1973" (https://boo
ks.google.com/books?id=B0C-IhEKrSEC&pg=PA205) , in
James F. Fisher (ed.), Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-
Tibetan Interface, Walter de Gruyter, pp. 205–, ISBN 978-
90-279-7700-7
Sinha, A. C., "Sikkim" (https://www.ide.go.jp/library/Engli
sh/Publish/Reports/Jrp/pdf/133_10.pdf) (PDF), in
 Mayumi Murayama; Kyoko Inoue; Sanjoy Hazarika (eds.),
Sub-Regional Relations in the Eastern South Asia: With
Special Focus on India's North Eastern Region (https://w
ww.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Reports/Jrp/133.html) ,
Institute of Developing Economies
Holidaying in Sikkim and Bhutan. Nest and Wings.
ISBN 81-87592-07-9.
Sikkim – Land of Mystic and Splendour. Sikkim Tourism.
Manorama Yearbook 2003. ISBN 81-900461-8-7.

External links

Government Sikkim
at Wikipedia's
Official website (http://www.sikkim.gov.i sister projects

n/)
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ikkimtourism.gov.in/) Media from
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dia/Sikkim) at Curlie from
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s://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/179 Textbooks
1324) at OpenStreetMap from
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