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Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second smallest in terms of area. Sikkim was an independent monarchy ruled by a Chogyal until 1975, at which point a referendum was held making it India's twenty-second state. This thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, Tibet to the north and east, and Bhutan in the south-east. The Indian state of West Bengal borders Sikkim to its south. The official language is Nepali, and the predominant religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Gangtok is the capital and largest city.
Despite its small size, Sikkim is geographically diverse, owing to its location at the Himalayan foothills, with terrain ranging 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. Sikkim has fast become one of India's most visited states owing to its reputation for untouched scenic beauty and political stability.
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", owing to the fact that almost the entire region is mountainous. An alternative etymology is from the Limbu words Su which means "new" and Khim which means "palace". Hence the term Sikkim may also mean "New Palace", the palace built by the state's first ruler, Panache Namgyal. The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Denzong which means the "valley of rice".
It is also possible that the name came from Su Him which means "Superb Snow" or "Superb Setting", the words of a newlywed Nepali princess when she first entered the palace as the bride of the local Lepcha king.
History
Main article: History of Sikkim
Statue of Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim in Namchi is the tallest statue of saint in the world. Not much is known about Sikkim's ancient history. The earliest known fact about Sikkim was that the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche passed through the land in the 9th century. The Guru blessed the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim and also foretold the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later.
In the 13th century, according to legend, Guru Tashi, a prince from the Mi-nyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation one night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. In 1642 the fifth generation descendant of Guru Tashi, Phuntsog Namgyal, was consecrated as the first Denjong Gyalpo or the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim by the three great Lamas who came from the north, west, and south to Yuksom Norbugang in West Sikkim. The chogyal, along with the three lamas, proselytised to the Lepcha tribes into Buddhism and annexed the Chumbi Valley, the present day Darjeeling district and parts of today's eastern Nepal.
Flag of the former monarchy of Sikkim. Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded by his son, Tensung Namgyal, in 1670. The reign of the chogyal was peaceful and saw the capital being shifted from Yuksom to Rabdentse. Chadok Namgyal, the king's second wife's son, took the throne from him in 1700. This outraged his elder half-sister Pendiongmu, who ousted him with the help of the Bhutanese. Chadok fled to Tibet, where he remained in exile for ten years before returning and reclaiming his lost territory with the help of the Tibetans. His son Gurmed Namgyal succeeded him in 1717, and saw many skirmishes between the Nepalese and Sikkimese during his rule. Phunstok Namgyal, the illegitimate child of Gurmed, succeeded his father in 1733. His reign was tumultuous and faced with attacks by the Bhutanese and the Nepalese who managed to capture the capital, Rabdentse.
The Dro-dul Chorten Stupa in Gangtok is one of the most famous monuments in the state With the arrival of the British in neighbouring India, Sikkim allied itself with them as they had a common enemy — Nepal. The infuriated Nepalese attacked Sikkim with vengeance overrunning most of the region including the Terrai. This prompted the British East India Company to attack Nepal, resulting in the Gurkha War in 1814. Treaties signed between Sikkim and Nepal—the Sugauli Treaty and Sikkim and British India–Titalia Treaty—returned the territory annexed by the Nepalese to Sikkim in 1817.
Ties between Sikkim and India grew sour, however, with the taxation of the area of Morang by the British. In 1849, a pair of British doctors ventured into the mountains of Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised. The doctors were detained by the Sikkim government, which led to a punitive British expedition against the Himalayan kingdom following which the Darjeeling district and Morang were annexed in 1861. The appropriation of the kingdom led to the chogyal's being a puppet king under the directive of the British governor.
In 1947, a popular vote for Sikkim to join the Indian Union failed and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. After a period of unrest in 1972-1973, matters came to a head in 1975, when the Kazi appealed to the Indian Parliament for representation and change of status to statehood. On April 14, 1975, a referendum merged Sikkim with the union of India. Sikkim became the 22nd Indian State on April 26, 1975. On May 16, 1975, Sikkim was officially a state of the Indian Union and the monarchy was abrogated. In 2000, relations turned cold after the 17th Karmapa fled to the Rumtek Monastery near Gangtok. The Chinese government was in a quandary, as any protest to India would mean an explicit endorsement of the ascension of Sikkim as a state of India, which they only recognised in 2002.
Government and politics
The White Hall complex houses the residences of the Chief Minister and Governor of Sikkim. The head of the state-government is a governor appointed by the Central Indian Government. His appointment is largely ceremonial, and oversees the swearing in of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, who holds the real executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition garnering the largest majority in the state elections. The governor then appoints the cabinet ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister. Sikkim has a unicameral legislature like most other Indian states. Sikkim is allocated one seat each in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha; India's national bicameral legislature. There are a total of 32 state assembly seats including one reserved for the Sangha. Sikkim also has its own High Court, the smallest court in the country.
In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy, the Congress Party garnered the largest majority in the 1977 elections. On 13 August, 1979, the Assembly was dissolved and the government was forced to resign a few days later. This led to the imposition of President's rule in the state. After the expiration of the President's Proclamation, fresh elections were held on 12 October, 1979. A popular ministry headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari, leader of the Sikkim Parishad Party was sworn in on 18 October, 1979. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994 elections Pawan Kumar Chamling from the Sikkim Democratic Front becoming the Chief Minister of the state. The party has since held on to power winning the 1999 and 2004 elections.
See also:
Geography
The rugged Himalayan range The thumb-shaped state of Sikkim, as its name suggests, is a wholly mountainous terrain. Almost the entire state is hilly, and the elevation ranges from 280 metres (920 feet) to 8,585 metres (28,000 feet), with the Kanchenjunga being its highest point. For the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture owing to the precipitous and rocky slopes. Numerous snow-fed streams in Sikkim have carved out river valleys in the west, south of the land. These streams combine into the Teesta and its tributary, the Rangeet. The Teesta, described as the "lifeline of Sikkim", flows from north to south of this state. About a third of the land is heavily forested.
The Himalayan mountain range in North Sikkim. The lofty Himalayan ranges surround the northern, eastern and western borders of Sikkim in a crescent shape. The populated areas lie in the southern reaches of the state which lie in the Lower Himalayas. The state has twenty-eight mountain peaks, twenty-one glaciers, 227 high altitude lakes including the Tsongmo Lake and Khecheoperi, five hot springs and over 104 rivers and streams. It also has eight mountain passes connecting the state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
Geology
Cities and towns of Sikkim. The hills of Sikkim mainly consist of gneissose and half-schistose rocks. The soil derived from them is brown clay, and generally poor and shallow. The soil is characteristically coarse, with large amounts of ferric 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 state is covered by the pre-Cambrian rock and is much younger in age than the hills. The rock type 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. This results in numerous landslides, 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 in summer or dropping below 0°C in winter. The state enjoys four seasons: Winter, summer, spring, autumn and the monsoon season. The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18°C. Sikkim is one of the few states in India to receive regular snowfall. The snow line is around 6,000 metres.
During the monsoon months between June and September, the state is lashed by heavy rains which exacerbate the numerous landslides. The state record for the longest period of non-stop rain is eleven days. In the northern region, owing to its high altitude, temperatures plummet below -40°C in winter. Fog also affects many parts of the state during winter and the monsoons, making transportation extremely perilous.
Flora and fauna
Sikkim sits in an ecological hotspot of the lower Himalayas, one of only three in India. The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range of fauna and flora. Owing to the graduation in altitude, the state sees a variety of plant life, from tropical to temperate to alpine and tundra, and is perhaps the only region in the world to exhibit such a diverse transformation within such a small area.
 The Rhododendron is the state flower. Flora of Sikkim include the Rhododendron, the state flower, orchids. Figs, laurel, bananas, sal trees and bamboo grow in the lower altitudes of Sikkim, which enjoy a sub-tropical type climate. In the temperate elevations above 1,524 metres; oak, chestnut, maple, birch, alder, magnolia and silver fir grow in large numbers. The alpine type vegetation include juniper, pine, cypresses and rhododendrons, and grows between an altitude of 3,500 metres to 5,000 m. A breakdown of flora on offer shows that the state has around 5,000 flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 36 rhododendrons species, 16 conifers types, 23 bamboos varieties, 362 types of ferns and Ferns allies, 8 Tree ferns, 60 primulas types, 11 oaks varieties, over 424 medicinal plants.
Among the fauna species include the snow leopard, musk deer, Bhoral, Himalayan Tahr, Red Panda, Himalayan Marmot, Serow, Goral, barking deer, common langur, Himalayan Black Bear, clouded leopard, marbled cat, leopard cat, Wild Dog, Tibetan Wolf, Hog badger, Bintu-rong, jungle cat and the civet cat. Among the more commonly found animals in the alpine zone are yaks mainly reared for their milk, meat and as a beast of burden.
Avifauna of Sikkim comprise of the lmpeyan Pheasant, Crimson Horned Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Snow cock, Lammergeyer and Griffon vultures, Black arid golden eagles, Quails Plovers, woodcock, sandpipers, pigeons, fly-catchers, babblers and robins. There are a total of 550 species of birds recorded in Sikkim, some of which have been declared endangered.
Economy
Sikkim's economy is largely agrarian, based on traditional farming methods, on terraced slopes. The agricultural industry keeps its rural populace employed in growing crops such as cardamom, oranges, apples, tea and orchids. Rice is grown on terraced hillsides in the southern reaches. Sikkim has the highest production and area under cultivation of cardamom in India. Owing to the hilly terrain, and difficult transportation, the state lacks the large-scale industries. Breweries, distilleries, tanning and watch-making are the main industries located in the southern reaches of the state, mostly in the towns of Melli and Jorethang. The state has an impressive growth rate of 8.3%, which is the second highest in the country after Delhi.
In recent years, the government of Sikkim has managed to push tourism as one of its main industries. Sikkim has a vast tourism potential and by tapping into this the state has grossed a windfall in its earnings. With the general improvement in infrastructure, the tourism is slated to be the mainstay in Sikkim's economy. A fledgling industry that the state has recently tapped is the online lottery. The "Playwin" lottery, which is played on custom-built terminals connected to the internet, has been a commercial success, with operations all over the country, consequently boosting Sikkim's economy. Among the minerals mined in Sikkim are copper, dolomite, limestone, graphite, mica, iron and coal.
With the Central Government proposing to open up the Nathula Pass which connects Lhasa, Tibet to India, the state economy would get a fillip. The Pass, closed since the 1962 Sino-Indian War, was an offshoot of the ancient Silk Route and the hubbub of the wool, fur and spice trade.
Sub-divisions
The four districts of Sikkim and their capitals. Sikkim has four districts, each overseen by a Central Government appointee, the district collector who oversees the running of the civilian areas of the districts. The Indian army has control of a large territory, as the state is a sensitive border area. Many areas are restricted and permits are needed to visit these areas. There are a total of eight towns and nine sub-divisions in Sikkim.
The four districts are East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim. The district capitals are Gangtok, Geyzing, Mangan and Namchi respectively.
Demographics
A traditional Buddhist dwelling in Gangtok A majority of Sikkim's residents are of ethnic Nepali origin, who migrated to the province in the 19th century. The native Sikkimese, consisting of Bhutias, who migrated from Bhutan; the Lepchas, the state's original inhabitants; and the Damais also contribute a sizable portion of the populace. 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, who are employed in mostly blue collar jobs and the Bengalis.
Hinduism and Buddhism are the largest religions professed in the state. Sikkim also has a small Christian population, most of who are of Lepcha origin proselytised into the faith after British missionaries started preaching here in the late 19th century. The state staunchly maintains its secular credentials having never witnessed any sort of inter-religious strife in its history. A mosque in downtown Gangtok and Mangan also serves the miniscule Muslim population.
Nepali is the most widely spoken language in Sikkim. English and Hindi are also widely spoken and understood in most of Sikkim and Gangtok in particular. Other cognate languages spoken in Gangtok include Sikkimese, Lepcha, Limboo and Bengali.
As India's least inhabited state, Sikkim has only 541,000 inhabitants out of which 28,217 are males and 252,276 are females. It is also the least densely populated state with only 76 persons per square kilometre. Its growth rate is 32.98% (1991-2001), and the literacy is 69.68%: 76.73% males and 61.46% for females. The sex ratio is 875 females per 1000 males. Gangtok is the state's only city of 50,000 inhabitants. The urban population in Sikkim is 11.06%. The per capita income stands at Rs 11,356, which is one of the highest in the country.
Culture
The Gumpa dance in Lachung, being performed with great revelry. The dance is performed during the Buddhist festival of Losar. Sikkim residents encompass all major Indian festivals such as Diwali and Dussera, the popular Hindu festivals. Losar, Loosong, Bhumchu, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals that are celebrated with great gusto. During the Losar – the Tibetan New Year in mid-December, most government offices and tourist centres are closed for a week. In recent times, Christmas is being promoted in Gangtok to attract tourists in the off-season.
Residents of Sikkim are music lovers and 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 in this state.
Noodle based victuals such as the Thupka, Chowmein, Thanthuk, Fakthu, Gyathuk and Wonton are relished in these parts. The momo is a popular snack in the state made of vegetable, beef or pork filling, steamed and served with a soup. The mountainous peoples have a diet rich in beef, pork and other meats. Alcohol is cheap owing to low excise duty in Sikkim and beer, whiskey, rum and brandy are consumed by many Sikkimese.
Almost all dwellings in Sikkim are aesthetically designed blending with the local culture and architecture. Rustic houses are constructed first by a bamboo frame, then woven with pliable bamboo and finally coated with cow dung giving a warm and cosy feel inside. In the higher elevations, houses are constructed using wood.
Transportation
Sikkim does not have any airports or railheads due its terrain. The closest airport, Bagdogra airport is near the town of Siliguri, West Bengal; situated in the plains. The airport is about 124 km from Gangtok. A regular helicopter service run by the Sikkim Helicopter Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra, which is a thirty minute flight. The Gangtok helipad is the only civilian helipad in the state. Sikkim is slated to get its own airport in 2005.The closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri which is situated at a distance of sixteen kilometres from Siliguri.
National Highway 31A links Siliguri to Gangtok. The highway is an all-weather metalled road which runs parallel to most of the river Teesta, before touching Sikkim at Rangpo. Numerous public and privately run bus and jeep services connect the airport, railway station and Siliguri to Gangtok. A branch of this highway from Melli connects western Sikkim. Towns in southern and western Sikkim are well connected to the northern West Bengal hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Within the state the most popular mass transportation are the jeeps which are adept at navigating the precipitous slopes. Mini-buses link up the smaller towns to the state and district capitals.
Infrastructure
Tibetology Museum and research centre Roads in Sikkim are in a poor condition owing to the numerous landslides and streams that wash away most of the roads. The roads are maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is an offshoot of the Indian army. The roads in South Sikkim and NH-31 are in a good condition owing to reduced incidence of landslides. The state government maintains 1857.35 km of roadways that do not fall in the BRO jurisdiction.
Sikkim has a number of hydroelectric power stations thus providing a steady electricity source. However the voltage is unstable and voltage stabilisers are needed. Per capita consumption of electricity in Sikkim is 182 Kwh. 73.2% of households have access to safe drinking water; and owing to the cornucopia of streams, the state never witnesses a drought.
There are a total of 1545 government-run educational institutions and eighteen private schools mainly located in the towns. There are about twelve colleges and other institutions in Sikkim that offer higher education. The largest institution is the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology which offers higher education in engineering and medicine. Many students however, migrate to Siliguri and Calcutta in search of a higher education.
Unlike other parts of India, which have switched over to the metric system of measurement, Sikkim continues to measure elevation in feet, though distances are in kilometres.
Media
The Rumtek monastery is the most famous monument of Sikkim and was the centre of medial attention in 2000. The southern urban areas are served by 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 & The Telegraph which are printed in Siliguri; and The Hindu & The Times of India which are printed in Calcutta, and are received after 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 cafés are well established in the district capitals, but true broadband connectivity has yet to make its mark, however many rural areas are yet to be linked to the internet. Satellite channels through dish antennae are prevalent 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 and Airtel. BSNL has state wide coverage, whereas Reliance and Airtel have coverage only in urban areas. The national All India Radio is the only radio station in the state.
References
- Holidaying in Sikkim and Bhutan – published by Nest and Wings – ISBN 81-87592-07-9
- Sikkim — Land of Mystic and Splendour – published by Sikkim Tourism.
- Manorama Yearbook 2003 – ISBN 81-900461-8-7
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