
Small
but beautiful. Sikkim is
situated in the eastern
Himalayas . Spread below the
Mount Khanchendzonga (8534 mts),
the third highest mountain in
the world, and revered by the
Sikkimese as their protective
deity. With an area of 7,300 sq
kms and measuring approx. 114
kms from the north to south and
64 kms from east to west, the
elevation ranges from 300 mts to
over 8540 mts above sea level.
Amidst the grandeur of the
mountain peaks, lush valleys,
fast flowing rivers, hills,
Sikkim offers her visitors a
rare and singular experience.
Within a matter of hours one can
move from the sub tropical heat
of the lower valleys to the cold
of the rugged mountain slopes
that reach up to the area of
perpetual snow .
Sikkim is the 22nd state of
India came into existence with
effect from 26th April, 1975.
Sikkim has been divided into
four districts and each district
has further been bifurcated into
two sub-divisions for
administrative purpose. Sikkim
state being a part of inner
mountain ranges of Himalayas, is
hilly having varied elevation
ranging from 300 to 8540 meters.
But the habitable areas are only
up to the altitude of 2100 mtrs.
Constituting only 20% of the
total area of the state. The
highest portion of sikkim lies
in its north west direction.
A large number of mountains
having altitudes of about seven
thousand meters
stands here with
- Kanchenjunga (8598 m.), The
third highest peak in the world.
The high serrated, snow capped
spurs and peaks of Kanchenjunga
look attractive consisting of
Kumbha Karna (7711 m.), Pendem
(6706 m.), Narsingh (5825 m.),
Kabru Dome (6545 m.), etc.
A number of glaciers descends
from eastern slopes of
Kanchenjunga into Sikkim where
snow clad line is found above
5300 mtrs. The biggest of them
is Zemu, from whose snout above
Lachen monastery rises the river
Teesta. Teesta is the main river
and its main tributaries are
Zemu, Lachung, Rangyong, Dikchu,
Rongli, Rangpo and Rangit which
form the main channel of
drainage from the north to the
south. It boasts of the great
mount Kanchendzonga as its
crown.
Ethically Sikkim has mainly
three groups of people viz.
Nepalis, Bhutias, Lepchas. The
local language is Nepali.
English is the official
language. This jewel- like
mountain state of ethereal
beauty with an area of 7299 sq.
kms , nestles in the heart of
Himalayas. Cradled in the
manifold splendors of nature
deep within the snow clad
Himalayas is Sikkim's capital
Gangtok.
Wrapped in mists and clouds. A
garden state with an incredible
variety of orchids,
rhododendrons, gladioli and a
host of other flowers. Rustling,
tumbling streams and torrents.
Mountain monasteries and quaint
shopping plazas. This is Sikkim.
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