Sikkim

Sikkim State India:

Other States

Area : 7.096 sq km

Population: 5,40,492; growth rate (1991 - 2001): 32.98%

Density per sq km: 76

Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males): 875

Literacy rate: 69.68% (males: 76.73% females: 61.46%

Capital: Gangtok

No. of Districts: 4

Legislature: Unicameral

Principal Languages: Bhutia, Nepali, Lepcha and Limbu

Important Cities, Towns and Religious/Tourist Places:

Bankhim Natural Garden changu Lake, Dubdi monastery), Gangtok (capital nine mid-1800s, previous capitals were at Yuksam and Rabdantse; one can have excellent views of the entire Kanchenjunga range from any point in the vicinity), Gyalshing, Mangan, Namchi, Pemayantse (monastery), Phodang (monastery), Tashiding (monastery), Rumtek (monastery), Tashi View Point (picnic spot where a panoramic view of Kanchenjunga can be had), Yuksam (meeting place of the great Lamas).

Judicature: High court at Gangtok.

Location: Location in the Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim is bounded north by Tibet (China), east by Tibet and Bhutan, south by West Bengal and west by Nepal. It is the least populated State of the Indian Union.

History:

Sikkim became a full-fledged state of the Indian Union with effect from April 26, 1975. Earlier in September 1974, it became an associate State. The Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on April 10, 1975 abolishing the institution of Chogyal and seeking for the territory full statehood in the Indian Union.

Sikkim is inhabited chiefly by the Lepchas, who are a tribe indigenous to Sikkim with their own dress and language, the Bhutias, who originally came from Tibet, and the Gorkhalis (Nepalis), who entered from Nepal in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Economy:

Sikkim's economy is principally agrarian. The main crops are rice, maize wheat, millet and barley. Only 11 to 12 percent of the total land is available for cultivation and there is no scope for expansion. The principal cash crops are cardamom in India. About a third of the area is under forests.

High grade deposits of gold, silver copper and zinc in combined form have recently been located. The copper mine of Dikchu is under exploration. Wool weaving and carpet weaving are among important traditional industries. The important hydel projects are kalez Hydel Project and Lachung in North Sikkim.