| Sikkim
East Sikkim
North Sikkim
South Sikkim
West Sikkim
Geographical Area : 7096
Population in 2001 : 5 40 851
Estimated population in 2025 : 7 04 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Sikkim population as percentage of India : 0.05%
Population in 2011 : 6 07 688
Males 3 21 661
Females 2 86 027
Sex ratio : 889
Under 6 Sex ratio : 944
Number of Districts : 4
Number of habitated villages : 450
Capital
Gangtok
Principal Languages
Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu and Nepali
History and Geography
The early history of Sikkim starts in the 13th century with the
signing of a blood-brotherhood treaty between the Lepcha Chief Thekong
Tek and Tibetan prince Khye-Bumsa at Kabi Lungtsok in North Sikkim.
This follows the historical visit of three revered Lamas to Yuksam
in 1641 in West Sikkim, where they consecrated Phuntsog Namgyal,
a sixth generation descendent of Khye-Humsa as the first Chogyal
of Sikkim, thus heralding the beginning of the Namgyal dynasty in
Sikkim. With the march of history, events in Sikkim saw the state
pass through the process of democratisation and became an integral
part of the Indian Union in 1975. Guru Padmasambhava blessed Sikkim
route to Tibet. Sikkim is a blessed land, where people from all
communities live in harmony. Inspite of the fact that Sikkim comprises
of different people and multi ethnic society, perhaps it is the
most peaceful state of the Indian Union to promote communal harmony
and human relations, a feat which is much expected in a plural society
like India.
Sikkim is a small hilly state, bounded by vast stretches of Tibetan
Plateaux in the North, the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and the Kingdom
of Bhutan in the East, the Kingdom of Nepal in the West, and Darjeeling
(West Bengal) in the South. The State has a total area of 7,096
sq km, and is stretched over 112 km from North to South, and 64
km from East to West. It lies in the North-Eastern Himalayas between
27 degree 00' 46" to 28 degree 07' 48" North Latitude,
and 88 degree 00' 58" to 88 degree 55' 25" East Longitude.
The world's third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, regarded as the
guardian deity of Sikkim, dominates the tiny Himalayan State with
its awe-inspiring beauty and majesty. Sikkim is one of the 18 bio
diversity hotspots in the world. The Sikkim Himalayas show tremendous
biological diversity. More than 5000 species of angiosperms are
found in the State, which is nearly one third of the total species
of angiosperm found in the country. There are 4,000 species of flowering
plants, 300 species of ferns and allies, 450 to 500 species of orchids,
36 species of Rhododendrons, 40 species of oaks, 30 to 40 species
of Primulas and bamboos, 144 species of mammals, 500 to 600 species
of birds, over 400 species of butterflies and moths, and many species
of reptiles in the State. Rare Blue Sheep, Tibetan Mastiff, Yaks
and Red Pandas are found here.
Agriculture
The State's economy is basically agrarian. More than 64 per cent
of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural
land in Sikkim is estimated to be around 1,09,000 hectares, i.e.,
15.36 per cent of the total geographical area. Farmers commonly
follow mixed farming. Maize, rice, wheat, potato, large cardamom,
ginger and orange are the principal crops. Sikkim has the largest
area and highest production of large brown cardamom in India. Ginger,
potato, orange and off-season vegetables are other cash crops.
Industry
Though Sikkim has been declared an industrially backward state,
the existence of craftsmanship based traditional Sikkimese cottage
industries dates back to several centuries. Lepcha's skill in bamboo-craft,
woodwork, spinning of yarn and carpet weaving in traditional textures,
Bhutia's excellence in ancient Tibetan practice of carpet and rug
weaving and Nepali's celebrated craftsmanship of their metalwork,
silverware and woodwork are very exclusive.
Sikkim Jewels Limited is one of the sophisticated and precision
oriented industries for the manufacture of jewel bearings for electric
meters, water meters and other measuring instruments like watches
and clocks. Ten ancillary units have been set up to manufacture
watch jewels. The SIDICO provides long-term loans for cottage, tiny,
small and medium scale industrial units, hotels, hospitals, nursing
homes and taxis.
Irrigation and Power
Tenth Five Year Plan targets to irrigate 34,118 hectares of agricultural
land. Total installed capacity of power in the State is 36 MW that
is hydro based with transformation capacity of 123 MVA. Rangeet
hydel project has installed capacity of 560 MW. The total power
potential of the State is estimated at 8,000 MW. The Teesta Valley
Project now under construction is a run of the river scheme located
in the East District and the proposed installed capacity of this
project is 510 MW.
Transport
Roads: Gangtok is connected by roads with Darjeeling, Kalimpong,
Siliguri, and also with all the district headquarters within Sikkim.
The total road length of the state is 2,383 km, including 41 km
of National Highway.
Railways and Aviation: The closest railway stations are Siliguri
(113) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km) connecting Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati,
Lucknow and other important cities. There is no airport in Sikkim,
although there is a helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra,
heavily subsidised by the State Government. The State has also initiated
construction of a number of helipads to connect the district and
sub-divisional headquarters and important tourist places.
Information Technology
A new Information Technology Department has been created in the
State, and has prepared extensive projects to give top priority
to this department. The newly created department has already launched
a number of Web sites on Sikkim, and is now aiming for e-governance
through the use of information tools. The official Web site of Sikkim,
hosted and maintained by the Department of Information Technology,
Government of Sikkim, is www.sikkimgovt.org
Festivals
Sikkim's population comprises the three principal ethnic communities
of the Bhutias, Lepchas and the Nepalese. Maghey Sankranti, Durga
Puja, Laxmi Puja and Chaite Dassai/Ram Navami, Dassai, Tyohar, Sonam
Losoong, Namsoog, Tendong Lho Rum Faat (Worship of Mt. Tendong),
Lohsar (Tibetan New Year) are the major festivals. The other festivals
include Sakewa (Rai), Sonam Lochar (Gurung), Barahimzong (Magor),
etc.
Tourism
Sikkim is famous for its lush green vegetation, forest, scenic valleys
and majestic mountains, and a range of rich and magnificent cultural
heritage and peace loving people, which provide a safe haven for
tourists. The State Government supports eco-friendly and pilgrim
tourism and accordingly, has provided facilities to enable visitors
to enjoy a first-hand experience of the rich heritage and lifestyle
of Sikkim. Recognising the potential of adventure tourism, the State
government is setting up a Himalayan Centre for Adventure Tourism
at Chemchey Village in South Sikkim.
The premier monastery of Sikkim is Pemayantshe in Pelling. Apart
from this, there is Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim, which is
considered the holiest of all the monasteries in Sikkim. The most
ancient monastery of Sikkim is in Yuksom, called the Drubdi monastery.
It was the personal hermitage of Lhatsun Chenpo (Patron Saint of
Sikkim), and was possibly built in 1700 A.D. Some of the other monasteries
are Phodong, Phensang, Rumtek, Ngadak, Tolung, Ahlay, Tsuklakhand,
Ralong, Lachen, Enchey and others. Of the Hindu temples, the best
known is the Thakurbari, in the heart of Gangtok. There is also
a holy cave in South district, which has a Shiva Lingam that irradiates
the cave where no other light finds its way. There are some important
Gurdwaras and Mosques, chief among them being in Gangtok and Ravangla.
|
