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Travel Guide ––» Sikkim Travel Guide
Sikkim Travel Guide
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.
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.
The land of mighty Kanchenjunga. A holiday land with few equals anywhere.
This jewel -like mountain state of ethereal beauty with an area of 7299 Sq.
kilometres, nestles in the heart of the Himalayas.
People :
Sikkim has population of about three laksh, made up of Lepchas, Nepalese and
Bhutias. The Lepchas are the oldest inhabitants of Sikkim.
There is an old Lepcha legend that long ago, the laughter of the Lepchas wafted
into the sky and it scattered and froze into shimmering stars.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Tibetans arrived bringing with them the
Red Hat Lamist tradition - Nying -ma-pa, which became the dominant culture and
official state religion.
