| Sikkim |
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| Sikkim (also known as Denzong) is a landlocked state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India and the second smallest in area after Goa. The state borders Nepal in the west, Tibet to the north and the east, Bhutan in the southeast and the state of West Bengal to the south. Despite its small area of 7,096 square km, Sikkim is geographically diverse due to its location in the Himalayas. The most widely accepted origin of the name Sikkim is that it is a combination of two words in the Limbu Su, which means "new", and Khyim, which means "palace" or house, in reference to the palace built by the state's first ruler, Phuntsog Namgyal. The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Denjong, which means the "valley of rice". The Lepchas, original inhabitants of Sikkim, called it Nye-mae-el or paradise, and the Bhutias call it Beymul Demazong, which means the hidden valley of rice. In Hindu religious texts, Sikkim is known as Indrakil, the garden of Indra. Sikkim has four districts, each overseen by a Central Government appointee. 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 them. The four districts are East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim. The district capitals are Gangtok, Geyzing, Mangan and Namchi respectively. Almost the entire state is mountainous, with an elevation ranging from 280 metres to 8,585 metres. The Himalayan ranges surround the northern, eastern and western borders of Sikkim in a crescent. The Lower Himalayas in the southern reaches of the state are the most densely populated. The state has 28 mountain peaks, 21 glaciers, 227 high-altitude lakes including the Tsongmo Lake, Gurudongmar and Khecheopalri Lake, 5 hot springs, and more than 100 rivers and streams. Eight mountain passes connect the state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), the world's third highest peak, is located on the border of Sikkim and Nepal. For the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture because of the precipitous and rocky slopes. However, certain hill slopes have been converted into farm lands using terrace farming techniques. Numerous snow-fed streams in Sikkim have carved out river valleys in the west and south of the state. These streams combine into the Teesta and its tributary, the Rangeet. The Teesta, described as the "lifeline of Sikkim", flows through the state from north to south. About a third of the land is heavily forested. Sikkim's economy is largely agrarian. Besides the terraced farming of rice crops such as maize, millet, wheat, barley, oranges, tea and cardamom are grown. Sikkim has the highest production and largest cultivated area of cardamom in India. Because of the hilly terrain, and lack of reliable transportation infrastructure, there are no large-scale industries. Breweries, distilleries, tanning and watchmaking are the main industries. These are located in the southern reaches of the state, primarily in the towns of Melli and Jorethang. Among the minerals mined in Sikkim are copper, dolomite, talc, graphite, quartzite, coal, zinc and lead. In recent years, the government of Sikkim has extensively promoted tourism. As a result, the state revenue has increased 14 times since the mid-1990s. The opening of the Nathula Pass on July 6th 2006 connecting Lhasa, Tibet to India is expected to give a boost to the local economy, though the financial benefits will be slow to arrive. The Pass, closed since the 1962 Sino-Indian War, was an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road, which was essential to wool, fur and spice trade. |
Gangtok .
Rumtek .
Mangan .
Lachung .
Hema .
Kerang .
