84-643: Pakyong district is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim , administered from Pakyong . The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision. The remaining Gangtok Subdivision of the former district was named as the Gangtok district , which now bounds the Pakyong district in the northwest. In addition,
168-468: A divine revelation instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. A fifth-generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal , became the founder of Sikkim's monarchy in 1642, when he was consecrated as the first Chogyal , or priest-king, of Sikkim by the three venerated lamas at Yuksom . Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal , who moved the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse (near modern Pelling ). In 1700, Sikkim
252-405: A state government . The governing powers of the states are shared between the state government and the union government . On the other hand, the union territories are directly governed by the union government. The Indian Empire was a very complex political entity consisting of various imperial divisions and states and territories of varying autonomy. At the time of its establishment in 1876, it
336-427: 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 . Sikkim also has
420-515: 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. In other respects, Sikkim retained administrative autonomy. A state council
504-452: 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
588-545: A palace and asked his Limbu Queen to name it. The Lepcha people , the original inhabitants of Sikkim, called it Nye-mae-el , meaning "paradise". In historical Indian literature , Sikkim is known as Indrakil , the garden of the war god Indra . The Lepchas are considered to be the earliest inhabitants of Sikkim. However the Limbus and the Magars also lived in the inaccessible parts of West and South districts as early as
672-542: A part of the territory of China; New Delhi had accepted Tibet as part of China in 1954, but China appears to have believed that the agreement had lapsed. The 2003 agreement led to a thaw in Sino-Indian relations . 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. The pass, which was first opened during
756-461: 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. The demand for responsible government continued, and the SSC launched
840-541: 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. On 16 May 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union, and the monarchy was abolished. To enable the incorporation of the new state, the Indian Parliament amended
924-545: 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. A standstill agreement was signed in February 1948. 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),
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#17327727974601008-616: A rich diversity of arthropods , many of which remain unstudied. 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. These include the endangered Kaiser-i-hind , the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory . List of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Sikkim: According to
1092-464: A sovereign democratic republic. The new republic was also declared to be a "Union of States". The constitution of 1950 distinguished between three main types of states: Andhra State was created on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu -speaking northern districts of Madras State . The French enclave of Chandernagore was transferred to West Bengal in 1954. In the same year Pondicherry , comprising
1176-438: Is 50 °C (122 °F). The hills of Sikkim mainly consist of gneiss and schist 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 . The rock consists of phyllites and schists, and
1260-616: 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
1344-517: Is believed to be a combination of the Limbu words su "new" and khyim "palace" or "house". The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Drenjong (Wylie-transliteration: bras ljongs ), which means "valley of rice ", while the Bhutias call it Beyul Demazong , which means "the hidden valley of rice". According to folklore, after establishing Rabdentse as his new capital, Bhutia king Tensung Namgyal built
1428-416: 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. The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, autumn, and monsoon season. Sikkim's climate ranges from sub-tropical in
1512-452: 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. 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
1596-513: 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 . Sikkim's capital and largest city is Gangtok . Almost 35% of the state is covered by Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The Kingdom of Sikkim was founded by the Namgyal dynasty in
1680-801: Is planned later to be prolonged to Gangtok . Pakyong Greenfield Airport the only airport of Sikkim, lies on Pakyong District at the district Headquarter- Pakyong . Assembly Constituencies falling under Pakyong District are as follows: The major towns and cities of Pakyong District are Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Pakyong District. It is connected to Neora Valley National Park of Kalimpong district of North Bengal via thick forest cover in Aritar Mulkharka Rachela region. Sumin Reserve Forest and Saramsa Garden also lies in Pakyong District which
1764-511: Is rich in varieties of floral plants and fauna. Variety of plants and wildlife are found in Pakyong District. The important ones are red panda the state animal, blood pheasant the state bird Dendrobium nobile the state flower and Rhododendron the state tree are found in the wildlife sanctuaries of Pakyong District. Other important wild animals include Snow Leopard , Himalayan black bear , Clouded leopard , Large Indian civet etc. Forest Department, Government of Sikkim has also confirmed
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#17327727974601848-669: Is the largest cricket stadium of entire Sikkim. The stadium belongs to Sikkim Cricket Association and hosts important cricket tournaments like Ranji Trophy , CK Nayudu Trophy , Cooch Behar Trophy , Vijay Merchant Trophy etc.It is the home ground of Sikkim cricket team . Other major sports grounds of Pakyong district are St. Xavier's Football ground - Pakyong, Rongli Mela Ground, Rhenock SSS Ground, Chujachen SSS Ground, Central Pendam SSS Ground etc. Pakyong District has many educational institutions. Some important ones among them are as follows: Sikkim Sikkim ( / ˈ s ɪ k ɪ m / SIK -im ; Nepali: [ˈsikːim] )
1932-420: Is the only civilian helipad in the state. 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
2016-485: 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. The fauna of Sikkim include
2100-590: 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: 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
2184-803: The Crown Colony of Burma . In 1947, the last Act of the Crown was passed. The act dissolved the Indian Empire, the Imperial Legislative Council and the Chamber of Princes and the Union of India was consequently established from 9 former Indian provinces ( East Punjab , United Provinces , Central Provinces , Madras , Bombay , Bihar , Orissa , West Bengal and Assam ) and 562 former Indian states. Between 1947 and 1950,
2268-663: 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 dilemma on this issue, for 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
2352-675: The Gorkha Kingdom . Following the subsequent defeat of Gorkha, the Chinese Qing dynasty established control over Sikkim. Following the beginning of British rule in neighbouring India, Sikkim allied with 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
2436-659: The Gurkha War of 1814. 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 Archibald Campbell , the latter being in charge of relations between the British and Sikkimese governments, ventured into
2520-554: 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 . In 2000, the seventeenth Karmapa , Urgyen Trinley Dorje , who had been confirmed by
2604-560: 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. Sikkim did not have any operational airport for a long time because of its rough terrain. However, in October 2018, Pakyong Airport ,
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2688-782: 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 . 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
2772-732: 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. However, the 2019 legislative assembly elections were won by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party and
2856-508: The hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling in northern West Bengal. The state is furthermore connected to Tibet by the mountain pass of Nathu La . List of National Highways of Sikkim: Sikkim lacks significant railway infrastructure. The closest major railway stations are Siliguri Junction and New Jalpaiguri in neighbouring West Bengal. However, the New Sikkim Railway Project has been launched to connect
2940-416: The snow leopard , musk deer , Himalayan tahr , red panda , Himalayan marmot , Himalayan serow , Himalayan goral , muntjac , common langur , Asian black bear , clouded leopard , marbled cat , leopard cat , 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
3024-467: The third-smallest GDP among India's 28 states . 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 . Sikkim produces more cardamom than any other Indian state and is home to the largest cultivated area of cardamom. Sikkim achieved its ambition to convert its agriculture to fully organic between 2003 and 2016, and became
3108-618: The 17th century. It was ruled by Buddhist priest-kings known as the Chogyal . It became a princely state of the British Indian Empire in 1890. Following Indian independence, Sikkim continued its protectorate status with the Union of India after 1947 and the Republic of India after 1950. It enjoyed the highest literacy rate and per capita income among Himalayan states . In 1973, anti-royalist riots took place in front of
3192-456: The 1904 Younghusband Expedition to Tibet, had remained closed since the 1962 Sino-Indian War . On 18 September 2011, a magnitude 6.9M w earthquake struck Sikkim, killing at least 116 people in the state and in Nepal , Bhutan , Bangladesh and Tibet . More than 60 people died in Sikkim alone, and the city of Gangtok suffered significant damage. Situated in the Himalayan mountains,
3276-546: The BRO's jurisdiction. Sikkim receives most of its electricity from 19 hydroelectric power stations . Power is also obtained from the National Thermal Power Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of India . By 2006, the state had achieved 100 per cent rural electrification. However, the voltage remains unstable and voltage stabilisers are needed. Per capita consumption of electricity in Sikkim
3360-589: The 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 and Sikkim's joining India as its 22nd state. Modern Sikkim is a multiethnic and multilingual Indian state. The official languages of the state are English , Nepali , Bhutia , and Lepcha . Additional official languages include Gurung , Limbu , Magar , Mukhia , Newari , Rai , Sherpa and Tamang for
3444-474: The Government of India introduced legislation to merge the union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into a single union territory to be known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , effective from 26 January 2020. Ladakh UT The Constitution of India distributes the sovereign executive and legislative powers exercisable with respect to the territory of any state between
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3528-430: The Indian Union and the state's monarchy was abolished. In 1987, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became states on 20 February, followed by Goa on 30 May, while erstwhile union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu 's northern exclaves Damão and Diu became a separate union territory as Daman and Diu . In November 2000, three new states were created, namely: Pondicherry was renamed Puducherry in 2007 and Orissa
3612-657: The Lepchas perhaps lived in the East and North districts. The Buddhist saint Padmasambhava , also known as Guru Rinpoche, passed through the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism , and foretold the era of monarchy that would arrive in Sikkim centuries later. According to legend, Khye Bumsa , a 14th-century prince from the Minyak House in Kham in eastern Tibet , received
3696-670: The chief minister since then is Prem Singh Tamang . The current Governor of Sikkim is Lakshman Acharya . Sikkim is among India's most environmentally conscious states, having banned plastic water bottles "in all government functions and meetings" and polystyrene products (throughout the state). 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. These six districts are further divided into 16 subdivisions; Pakyong, Rongli, Rangpo and Gangtok are
3780-499: 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. 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. The Gangtok helipad
3864-501: The defunct Bengal Presidency for judicial and legal purposes. Agra was separated in 1878 and merged with Oudh . The Bengal Presidency was re-established in 1912 as a governorship. All these provinces had their own legislatures established by the Indian Councils Acts, and high courts established by Indian High Courts Acts. Laws passed by these legislatures needed the dual assent of the governor or lieutenant-governor of
3948-529: The district is now bounded by the Kalimpong district of West Bengal , Bhutan , China and the Namchi district of Sikkim. Pakyong District has the total area of 404 km (156 sq mi). The total population as per 2011 census is 74,583. The major highways in Pakyong District are as follows: The under construction Sivok–Rangpo railway line will end in Pakyong District at the town of Rangpo . It
4032-528: The first state in India to achieve this distinction. 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 . Despite
4116-587: The former French enclaves of Pondichéry , Karikal , Yanaon and Mahé , was transferred to India. This became a union territory in 1962. Also in 1954, pro-India forces liberated the Portuguese-held enclaves of Dadrá and Nagar Aveli , declaring the short-lived de facto state of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli . In 1961, India annexed it as the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli . The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 reorganised
4200-551: The later decades of the 19th century, formalised by a convention signed with China in 1890. Sikkim was gradually granted more sovereignty over the next three decades, and became a member of the Chamber of Princes , the assembly representing the rulers of the Indian princely states , in 1922. Prior to Indian independence , Jawaharlal Nehru , as the Vice-President of the Executive Council, pushed through
4284-522: The mid-1990s. 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. In the year 2010 the government subsequently issued three gambling licences for casinos and online sports betting in general. The Playwin lottery has been a notable success in the state. The opening of
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#17327727974604368-461: 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 . 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. About a third of
4452-539: The mountains of Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised. 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. Sikkim became a British protectorate in
4536-618: The palace against the monarchy. In 1973, anti-royalist agitations took place, which needed to be quelled using Indian security forces. In 1975 , the Prime Minister of Sikkim Kazi Lhendup Dorjee , appealed to the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi 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,
4620-969: The presence of Royal Bengal Tiger in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of Pakyong District in January 2019. River Teesta , the largest river of state flows in Pakyong district from Singtam to Rangpo . Rangpo River the third largest river of Sikkim originates from Lake Menmecho at Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District and flows through Pakyong Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision villages and towns of Pakyong District before meeting river Teesta at Rangpo Town . River Jaldhaka which originates near Dzuluk in Pakyong District and flows towards Bhutan, West Bengal and Bangladesh. Other major rivers of Pakyong District are Richu Khola, Rongli Khola, Pachey Khola, Reshi Khola etc. Important lakes of Pakyong District are : Mining Cricket Stadium located at Rangpo , Pakyong district
4704-595: The province and the governor-general of India , who functioned as the representative of the Emperor . In addition to these, there were certain territories ruled directly by the Government of India through nominated chief commissioners. These were former independent states annexed to India and since ruled directly by the Supreme Government. A vast majority of the Indian states in the late nineteenth century were, in terms of imperial divisions, organised within
4788-466: The provinces with only territories under direct Crown rule. The latter years of the Indian Empire saw the enactment of the last Government of India Act by the Crown. This act granted full autonomy to Indian provinces. Provincial laws no longer needed the assent of the governor-general. This act created the office of a Premier in each province, who functioned as the new head of government and
4872-694: The provinces. However a good number of states were organised into imperial structures called agencies, or residencies. An Agent to the Governor-General (AGG) functioned as the Emperor's representative to all the states in the agency. In 1919, the fourth Government of India was enacted by the Crown. This saw many major changes. The legislatures of the provinces were made elected ones rather than nominated ones. Some provinces were given bicameral legislatures . All provinces were elevated to governorships and all lieutenant governors were made governors. Burma
4956-430: The purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state. English is taught in schools and used in government documents. The predominant religion is Hinduism , with a significant Vajrayana Buddhist minority. Sikkim's economy is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. As of 2019 , the state had the fifth-smallest GDP among Indian states , although it is also among the fastest-growing. The name Sikkim
5040-531: The representative of the Emperor to that province and head of government of the directly ruled territories in the province. The governor or lieutenant-governor also served as the Emperor's representative to the constituent states of the province. The first three of the lieutenant-governorships were territories annexed to India from other powers and temporarily governed by the erstwhile Bengal Presidency, before being made into their own separate provinces. Agra and Bengal were still considered de jure parts of
5124-451: 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. Sikkim is situated in an ecological hotspot of the lower Himalayas, one of only three among the ecoregions of India . The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range of fauna and flora . Owing to its altitudinal gradation,
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#17327727974605208-411: 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
5292-588: 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. 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. A relative of
5376-516: 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. The state has 28 mountain peaks, more than 80 glaciers , 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
5460-420: 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 the 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 . For
5544-431: The state to 4,900 metres (16,100 ft) in the north. 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. In north-western Sikkim, the peaks are frozen year-round; 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
5628-418: The state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. 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 . The average temperature of the water in these hot springs
5712-552: 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. 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. The airport is capable of operating ATR aircraft. Before October 2018,
5796-443: 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. In 2003, Sikkim decided to fully convert to organic farming and achieved this goal in 2015 becoming India's first "organic state". In recent years, the government of Sikkim has extensively promoted tourism . As a result, state revenue has increased 14 times since
5880-495: The states based on linguistic lines resulting in the creation of the new states. As a result of this act: Bombay State was split into the linguistic states of Gujarat and Maharashtra on 1 May 1960 by the Bombay Reorganisation Act. The former Union Territory of Nagaland achieved statehood on 1 December 1963. The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 resulted in the creation of Haryana on 1 November and
5964-636: 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. Each of Sikkim's districts is overseen by a state government appointee, the district collector , who
6048-552: The territories of the princely states were politically integrated into the new Indian Union . Most were merged into existing provinces. Others were organised into new provinces and states , such as Rajasthan , Himachal Pradesh , Malwa Union , Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States Union , and Patiala and East Punjab States Union , made up of multiple princely states. A few, including Mysore , Hyderabad , Bhopal , and Bilaspur , became separate states. The new Constitution of India , which came into force on 26 January 1950, made India
6132-449: The total. In 2011, the average per capita income in Sikkim stood at ₹ 81,159 (US$ 1,305). States and union territories of India India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories , for a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 806 districts and smaller administrative divisions . The states of India are self-governing administrative divisions, each having
6216-479: 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 . The five-station line is intended to support both economic development and Indian Army operations and was initially planned to be completed by 2015, though as of 2023 its construction has met with delays. In 2019, the railway line up to Rangpo
6300-415: The transfer of the northern districts of Punjab to Himachal Pradesh . The act designated Chandigarh as a union territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. The north-eastern states of Manipur , Meghalaya and Tripura were formed on 21 January 1972. Mysore State was renamed Karnataka in 1973. On 16 May 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of
6384-424: 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". Sikkim is India's least populous state, with 610,577 inhabitants according to the 2011 census . Sikkim is also one of the least densely populated Indian states, with only 86 persons per square kilometre. However, it has
6468-408: 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. In 2005, 73.2 per cent of Sikkim's households were reported to have access to safe drinking water, and the state's large number of mountain streams assures a sufficient water supply. On 8 December 2008, it
6552-502: Was established in 1953 to allow for constitutional government under the Chogyal. 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. Meanwhile, the Sikkim National Congress demanded fresh elections and greater representation for Nepalis in Sikkim. People marched on
6636-715: Was expected to be completed in 2021. In the second phase the line will be extended up to Gangtok . In addition, the Ministry of Railways proposed plans in 2010 for railway lines linking Mirik in West Bengal to Namchi , Daramdin , Ranipool , and Gangtok . 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
6720-506: Was given a special status and made an autonomous province. The Chamber of Princes was established by Emperor George V in 1920. One of the major consequences of this was the creation of many more agencies from the states of the provinces, thus granting them direct relations with the Emperor instead of with the Governors. This saw the separation of all the states from the provinces and addition to before-mentioned agencies. This left all
6804-594: 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 Tibetan people , 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. In 1791, China sent troops to support Sikkim and defend Tibet against
6888-605: Was made up of 584 constituent states and the directly ruled territories of the Crown . The entire empire was divided into provinces and agencies. A province consisted of territory under the direct rule of the Emperor of India (who was also the King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions ) and a few minor states, ruled by Indian princes under the suzerainty of the Emperor. A Governor or Lieutenant-Governor acted as
6972-593: Was renamed Odisha in 2011. Telangana was created on 2 June 2014 from ten former districts of north-western Andhra Pradesh . In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 , which contains provisions to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories; Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh , effective from 31 October 2019. Later that year in November,
7056-399: Was responsible to the provincial legislature. Bengal, Madras and Bombay which had been till now styled Presidencies, were now officially styled as provinces. The provinces of Orissa and Sind were created from Bihar and Bombay respectively. The Province of Burma which had previously functioned as an autonomous province of India was now separated from the Indian Empire, and established as
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