| Voice of North Sikkim
: Shring Dodji
Population in North Sikkim (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 43,354
Male : 24,513
Female : 18,841
Under 6 population
Total : 4479
Male : 2361
Female : 2118
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Disability : 581 (Census 2001)
HIV : Does not figure in A & B Category districts
Minority : Yes
Literacy Ratio : 245 (Census 2001)
Brief About North Sikkim District
Origin of Name:
Sikkim (or Sikhim) means crested land in Nepali. The term, which
was coined by the invading Gorkhas, is derived from the Sanskrit
word Shikhim which means "crested", and is the most widely accepted
origin. Sikkim would thus owe its name to its almost entirely mountainous
terrain. An alternative etymology suggests that the name originates
in the Limbu words Su, which means "new", and Khyim, which means
"palace". Hence the term Sikkim may also mean "New Palace", in reference
to the palace built by the state's first ruler, Panchen Namgyal.
The Tibetan name for Sikkim is 'Bras mo ljongs, which means the
"valley of rice".
History : The earliest recorded event related
to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche through
the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have blessed
the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim, and foretold the era of
monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later. In the
14th century, according to legend, Khye Bumsa, a prince from the
Minyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation one
night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. His
descendants were later to form the royal family of Sikkim. In 1642,
the fifth generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal,
was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim by the three
venerated Lamas who came from the north, west, and south to Yuksom,
marking the beginning of the monarchy. Flag of the former monarchy
of Sikkim.Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung
Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse. In 1700,
Sikkim was invaded by the Bhutanese with the help of the half-sister
of the Chogyal, who had been denied the throne. The Bhutanese were
driven away by the Tibetans, who restored the throne to the Chogyal
ten years later. Between 1717 and 1733, the kingdom faced many raids
by the Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in the east, culminating
with the destruction of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese.
Geology : The hills of Sikkim mainly
consist of gneissose and half-schistose rocks, making their soil
brown clay, and generally poor and shallow. The soil is coarse,
with large amounts of iron oxide concentrations, ranging from neutral
to acidic and has poor organic and mineral nutrients. This type
of soil tends to support evergreen and deciduous forests. A large
portion of the Sikkim territory is covered by the Precambrian rock
and is much younger in age than the hills. The rock consists of
phyllites and schists and therefore the slopes are highly susceptible
to weathering and prone to erosion. This, combined with the intense
rain, causes extensive soil erosion and heavy loss of soil nutrients
through leaching. As a result, landslides are frequent, isolating
the numerous small towns and villages from the major urban centres.
Climate : The climate ranges from sub-tropical
in the south to tundra in the northern parts. Most of the inhabited
regions of Sikkim, however, enjoy a temperate climate, with the
temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer or dropping
below 0 °C (32 °F) in winter. The state enjoys five seasons: winter,
summer, spring, and autumn, and a monsoon season between June and
September. 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 is around 6,000 metres (19,600
feet). During the monsoon months, the state is lashed by heavy rains
that increase the number of landslides. The state record for the
longest period of non-stop rain is eleven days. In the northern
region, because of high altitude, temperatures drop below -40 °C
in winter. Fog also affects many parts of the state during winter
and the monsoons, making transportation extremely perilous.
North Sikkim : is a district of the
Indian state of Sikkim. Its capital is Mangan. It is the largest
of the four districts of Sikkim. The people are mainly of Nepali
descent. Other ethnic groups include the Lepcha and Bhutia communities.
Nepali is the most widely spoken language in the district. It also
has one of the lowest populated regions of the state. The region
has many power projects and enjoys almost uninterrupted electricity.
Roads however, are in a poor condition owing to the frequent landslides.
Most of North Sikkim is restricted to travellers and permits are
needed to visit these areas. The area, which shares a sensitive
border with the People's Republic of China is heavily patrolled
by the Indian army. Most of the people of the state reside near
Mangan, the district headquarters which is about 2,000 feet above
sea level. Further north the elevation increases with the vegetation
turning from temperate to alpine to tundra. Temperatures range from
about 25° to below -40° in the extreme high reaches where the altitude
is in excess of 6,000 metres. Kanchenjanga is the highest peak at
over 8,000 m, straddling its eastern border with Nepal.
PLACES in North Sikkim
Kabi Longstok
Twenty kilometers on the way to North Sikkim, before Phodong, is
Kabi Longstok, where the treaty of brotherhood between the Lepcha
Chieftain-Tekong Tek and the Tibetan Chief Khye Bumbsa was signed.
The spot where the treaty was signed is marked by a memorial stone
and is seen on the left side of the road while traveling from Gangtok
to Mangan
Phodong
It is a small town with around ten shops and few hotels almost on
the middle of the Gangtok-Mangan journey. A police outpost, a senior
secondary school, Jawar Navodya Bhidhayala and a physical health
center are near by.
Phodong Monastry
Phodong Monastry belonging to Kargyupa Sect(karmapa), is situated
about a kilometer uphill by a jeepable road that bifurcates from
the north Sikkim highway a little bit ahead of Phodong towards Mangan.
The monastry was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere
in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The main annual
Puja (worship) is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth
month of the Tibetan calendar when the religious Chaams or the dances
are also performed
Labrang Monastry. Another Kilometer uphill from the Phodong
Monastry on the same jeeepable road is the Labrang Monastry which
was built about one hundred years later then Phodong Monastry but
belongs to the Nyingmapa sect.
Ruins of Tumlong Palace.
The capital of Sikkim was shifted from Rabdanste to Tumlong in the
beginning of neneteenth century. It is the fourth capital of Sikkim
and remained capital for around ninety years. The ruins of the palace
of Maharaja is seen just below the road between Phodong Monastry
and Labrang Monastry
Mangan Mangan
is the capital of North Sikkim. It is 65 kilometers from Gangtok.
It lies at an altitude of 3950 ft. .The Bazar(market) with around
fifty different types of shops is situated on the north sikkim highway.
The district collectorate where the district collector and other
government department function is situated around two kilometers
uphill from market at a place called Pentok and is approached by
a link road. On the sides of this link road while traveling towards
Pentok lies a public ground and Mangan Senior Secondary School.
Just opposite to Mangan, separated by river Teesta, is seen a sloppy
villages namely Lingdong, Barfok, Hee-Gyathang falling under Dzongu
area. From the Pentok area, the picturesque view of mount Silnoulchu
(a Range of mount Kanchendzonga) is also seen.
Singhik ViewPoint
Singhik is situated four kilometers away from Mangan towards
the north. It has few shops on the roadside and a junior high school.
The view point lies just on the road side from where is seen a very
picturesque view of mount Silnoulchu . Right downwards from the
viewpoint is seen the confluence of River Teesta and River Kanaka.
Other sorrounding places too look very beautiful from the viewpoint.
A nice and clean guesthouse, suitable for a night halt is also available
near by
Chungthang
Chunghthang is 30 kilometers away from Mangan further north.
It is around 95 kilometers away from Gangtok. It is a small town
on the way to Yumthang surrounded by high mountains that seem to
be almost touching the sky. At an altitude of about 5,600 ft, Chungthang
lies at the confluence of the Lachen Chu (Teesta) and the Lachung
Chu {“ Chu” means river in bhutia language}. The north Sikkim highway
bifurcates here to take different routes for Lachen and Lachung.
Spot of interest in Chungthang is a legendary rock having an imprint
which is believed to be the foot mark of Guru Padmasambha. There
is a small opening in the rock which remains filled with spring
water. Adjacent to the rock there is a small stretch of paddy field
defying the condition that demands the growth of paddy in this area.
Yumthang Valley & Hot Spring.
Situated at an altitude of 12000 ft., Yumthang is a valley between
the snow clad hills all around. It is around 75 kilometers from
district headquarter, Mangan and around 95 kilometers from Gangtok.
The route to Yumthang from Lachung-adjoining the Singba Forest Reserve
has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with rhododendrons
that bloom in different colour at their best during the month of
May. The natural scenic beauty around Yumthang, look very much similar
to that of Switzerland. The valley has a grassy plane area in the
middle, a river on the side and a forest Dak Bunglo (Guest House),
surrounded all sides by snow clad mountains. It is a big fun over
here playing with the snow and throwing it at each other.
Before entering the valley a small pedestrian road goes through
a small bridge right way which connects the Yumthang Hot Spring.
Hot water rich in sulphur, emanates from a small spring and is diverted
inside a hut where two pools are made for the bathers. In such a
cold place, it is a very pleasant experience to bath in the water,
which is so hot in its natural form.
People
A majority of population of North Sikkim comprises of Bhutias,
Lepchas and less number of Nepalis. The Lepchas are predominantly
concentrated in the Dzongu Areas, Bhutias are seen from Kabi-Tingda
to Lachen-Lachung. Nepalies are found mixed up around Phodong, Mangshila
and Mangan. Bhutias and Lepchas are usually Bhuddist and Nepalis
are Hindus, whereas around 1 % of populations from all tribes have
lately converted to Christians.
NORTH DISTRICT- POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION
Though North sikkim geographically comprises of 75 % of Sikkim,
because of very less population of the district, the total area
is dived into only three Assembly Constituencies- namely Lachen-Mangshila
which covers the area from Lachen to Mangshila, Kiba-Tingda which
ranges from east district boarder to Phodong and Dzongu-Lying in
the south-west boarder. The first election to these constituencies
were held in 1974 and the list of elected MLAs since then
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