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North Eastern State of India |
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Population: |
5.40 Lac |
Sikkim is a landlocked
state of India situated amidst the Himalayas. It is the least populous
state in India, and the second smallest in area after Goa. Sikkim was
an independent state ruled by the Chogyal monarchy until 1975, when a
referendum to make it India's twenty-second state succeeded. The
thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, China to the north and
east, and Bhutan in the south-east. The Indian state of West Bengal
borders Sikkim to its south. Gangtok is the capital. With 50,000
inhabitants, Gangtok is the state's only significant town. Despite its
tiny size, Sikkim is geographically diverse, owing to its location at
the Himalayan foothills. Terrain ranges from tropical in the south to
tundra in the north. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, is
located in Sikkim, straddling its northern border with Nepal. The
state has twenty-eight mountain peaks, twenty-one glaciers, 227 high
altitude lakes, including the Tsongmo Lake, Gurudongmar and
Khecheopalri Lakes, five hot springs, and over 100 rivers and streams.
Eight mountain passes connect the state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
Sikkim has become one of India's most visited states owing to its
reputation for untouched scenic beauty and political stability.
Climate
The thumb-shaped state of Sikkim is characterised by wholly
mountainous terrain. Almost the entire state is hilly, with the
elevation ranging from 280 metres (920 feet) to 8,585 metres (28,000
feet). 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.
Language and culture
Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim. English and Hindi are also
spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages spoken in
Sikkim include Bhutia, Dzongkha , Groma, Gurung, Lepcha, Limbu, Magar,
Majhi, Majhwar, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Sunuwar, Tamang, Thulung,
Tibetan, and Yakha. The southern urban areas have English, Nepali and
Hindi dailies. Nepali language newspapers are locally printed, whereas
Hindi and English newspapers are printed in Siliguri. English
newspapers include The Statesman and The Telegraph which are printed
in Siliguri, as well as The Hindu and The Times of India, printed in
Calcutta, and are received with a day's delay in the towns of Gangtok,
Jorethang, Melli and Geyzing. The Sikkim Herald is an official weekly
publication of the government. Internet caf�s are well established in
the district capitals, but broadband connectivity is not widely
available, and many rural areas have yet to be linked to the Internet.
Satellite television channels through dish antennae are available in
most homes in the state. Channels served are the same available
throughout India along with a Nepali language channels. The main
service providers are Sikkim Cable, Dish TV, Doordarshan and Nayuma.
The area is well serviced by local cellular companies such as BSNL,
Reliance Infocomm, and Airtel. BSNL has state wide coverage, whereas
Reliance Infocomm and Airtel have coverage only in urban areas. The
national All India Radio is the only radio station in the state.
People and Lifestyle
Today the majority of Sikkim's residents are of Nepali ethnic-national
origin who came to the province in the 19th century. 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 have
migrated from the far east. Tibetans reside mostly in the northern and
eastern reaches of the state. Immigrant resident communities not
native to the state include the Marwaris, who own most of the shops in
South Sikkim and Gangtok, the Biharis, most of whom are employed in
blue collar jobs, and the Bengalis. Hinduism and Buddhism are the
religions professed by most Sikkimese. The state has never had
inter-religious strife. Mosques in downtown Gangtok and Mangan also
serve the minuscule Muslim population. Sikkim residents celebrate all
major Indian festivals such as Diwali and Dussera, the popular Hindu
festivals. Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and
Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals that are also celebrated. During the
Losar - the Tibetan New Year in mid-December - most government offices
and tourist centres are closed for a week. Christmas has also recently
been promoted in Gangtok to attract tourists during the off-season. It
is common to hear Western rock music being played in homes and in
restaurants even in the countryside. Hindi songs have gained wide
acceptance among the masses. Indigenous Nepali rock, music suffused
with a Western rock beat and Nepali lyrics, is also particularly
popular. Football (soccer) and cricket are the two most popular
sports. Noodle-based dishes such as the thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk,
fakthu, gyathuk and wonton are common in Sikkim. Momos, steamed
dumplings filled with vegetable, beef or pork and served with a soup
is a popular snack. The mountainous peoples have a diet rich in beef,
pork and other meats. Almost all dwellings in Sikkim are rustic,
consisting of a bamboo frame, woven with pliable bamboo and coated
with cow dung, providing a warm interior. In the higher elevations,
houses are made of wood.
Mountain
Sikkim has a very rugged topography and the flat lands are difficult
to come by. The towering mountains that define this paradise of the
nature also create a barrier to efficient agriculture. The two
mountain ranges are Singalila on the western boarder and Chola on the
eastern boarder
The Singalila Range
This is an enormous spur of the Great Himalayas. The crowning glory of
this range is the 8596 m elevated summit, of Mount Khangchendzonga.
This peak - the third highest in the world, is a difficult mountain to
climb, because of unpredictable weather and winds. The Sikkimese
believe that it is not meant to be climbed, but only worshipped, as it
is the abode of five treasures of the snows. In deference to local
sentiments, no expedition has set foot on the summit- but remained a
few meters below. For those of us who cannot attempt the climb, the
5000 m high viewpoint at Goechela (the Lock Pass) offers a superb
alternative. A depression, between Mount Pandim, and a spur of the
Kabru Peak form the pass. It looks down into the Talung Valley, with
the mighty Talung Glacier, winding its way down below. One is
surrounded by great white peaks - Khangchendzonga (8596 m), Simvo
(6811 m), Siniolchu (6888 m), Pandim (6691 m), Kabru (7338 m) and
Rathang (6087 m). The awe inspiring sight, instills a feeling of
standing in the very lap of Khangchendzonga, and gazing up at its
face.
Glaciers
Glaciers are moving mountains of ice. Important Glaciers of Sikkim
are:
Zemu Glacier
Rathong Glacier
Lonak Glacier
Zemu Glacier
The Zemu glacier is the largest and the most famous glacier of the
eastern Himalayas. It is 26 km in length and is situated in a large
U-shaped valley at the base of the Khangchendzonga massif in
northwestern Sikkim. The Teesta River rises from the snout of this
glacier. Many tributary glaciers feed the trunk glacier. The side
valleys in which these glaciers lie open into the main Zemu Valley
from different directions. Icefalls and waterfalls have formed at the
junction of the tributary glaciers with the Zemu glacier.
Hot Springs
Sikkim has many hot springs known for their medicinal value. The most
important are the ones located at Reshi, Yumthang and Ralang. These
springs are considered holy as one of the four holy caves is located
here. This holy cave is called the Kadosangphu or 'cave of the occult
fairies' and lies on the south of the four cardinal points.
Yumthang Hot Spring
At an altitude of 12,000 ft, 135 km from Gangtok in North Sikkim, a
few hundred metres off the road, after crossing river Lachung over a
wooden bridge lies a small hut which houses a pool where sulphur water
of hot spring is collected for taking a dip.
Phurchachu Reshi Hot Spring
Around 25 km from Gyalshing, near Reshi, after crossing the Rangit
river by a pedestrian bridge, hardly ten minutes from the highway is
Phurchachu springs with medicinal properties, ideal from skin disease.
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