The Lepcha were early inhabitants of the region, originating from the Naong, Chang, Mon, and other tribes.
The Bhutia entered Sikkim from Tibet in the 14th century. The kingdom of Sikkim was established by a spritual king from Bhutia community, Phuntsog Namgyal, in 1642 until 1975.
Nepal gained dominance in Western Sikkim and adjacent tarai region towards South Sikkim after prolonged struggle for power in Sikkim.
In 1816 these territories were restored to Sikkim by the British in return for its support during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16), by 1817 Sikkim had become a de facto protectorate of Britain.
In 1890 an agreement was established between the British and the Tibetans that defined the border between Sikkim and Tibet.
Demographic Location
Sikkim is a basin surrounded on three sides by mountain walls. There is little lowland, and the variation in land relief is extreme.
The Sikkim basin is drained by the Tista River and its tributaries, such as the Rangit, Lhonak, Talung, and Lachung, which have cut deep valleys into the mountains.
The land rises from an elevation in the Teesta River valley to nearly 28,200 feet at the Great Kanchenjunga, India’s highest peak and the world’s third highest mountain.
From a glacier near the Tibetan border, the Teesta River descends steeply, dropping to Rangpo on the border with West Bengal, cutting a gorge through the Darjeeling Ridge finally emerging onto the Indo Gangetic Plain.
The Singalila Range in the western Himalayas separates Sikkim from Nepal in the west.
The Dongkya Range forms the border of Sikkim with the Tibet a part of Chinese control to the east.
Several passes across this range pave easy gateway to the Chumbi valley in Tibet and to the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
The Snowman, or Yeti, called Nee-gued in Sikkim, is believed to live in the valleys of Kanchenjunga. Other lofty peaks are Tent, Kabru, and Pauhunri, all 28000 ft above sea level.
Bhutan shares the International border with India at Sikkim. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok.
Gangtok is the capital hill station and the district headquarter of East district. East district lies in the south-east corner of the state.
Season and Climate
Sikkim has a variety of climatic types, from almost tropical conditions in the south to severe mountain climates in the north.
In Gangtok, winters are very cold. Depending on elevation and exposure, annual precipitation is heavy mostly during the Southwest Monsoon.
The heavy rains and snows make the mountain rocks fragile resulting in dangerous landslides and Avalanches.
Gangtok enjoys a mild, temperate climate all year round. It rains and gets engulfed with thick mist and fog anytime in this city.
Sikkim's climate ranges from sub-tropical in the south to tundra in the north.
Snow fall makes the peaks and its surrounding areas a treat to watch. Several natural and seasonal rivers that originate in Tibet creates gorges and flows through Sikkim.
Culture and Education
Nepali is the primary language of Sikkim. Lepcha, Bhutia and English are spoken in some part of this north-east province. Some common languages spoken in Sikkim are Kafle, Limbu, Majhwar, Yakha, Tamang, Tibetan, and Sherpa.
Additional official languages are Gurung, Magar, Mukhia, Rai and Newari spoken in Sikkim state.
The food of the people of Sikkim is a mix and blend of the culture of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
Most of the population speak in Nepali (Gorkhali) dialect and are Hindu in religion and culture.
People in Sikkim eat noodles, Gundruk and Sinki soups, Thukpas, Tomato pickle, Cottage Cheese, Fermented Soybean, Bamboo Shoot, Fermented Rice product due to very cold climate.
Rice is the main and staple food of the state. People eat Momos, also known as dumplings and wantons are favorites.
The people relish eating fish, beef and pork. Steamed and boiled food dipped in local spices and herbs. People of Sikkim prefer drinks with food like local beer, whiskey and rum.
The most fascinating form of ritual dance that is performed by the Lamas is “Chaam” which involves colorful masks and amazing musical instruments.
Lamas dressed with blithely painted masks, ceremonials swords, sparkling jewels, and dance on the rhythm of the music, drums, and horns.
Some of the most popular festivals, notable in Sikkim are as follows:
Saga Dawa : On this day, the Buddhists visit the monasteries, offer the prayers and butter lamps as they were the three remarkable events associated with the existence of Buddha which is celebrated at this event. This particular is held on the full moon of the 4th month of the Buddhist calendar either at the end of May or at the beginning of June. This festival takes place in Gangtok.
Lhabab Dunchen Festival : This festival represents the descent of Lord Buddha from the heaven. This festival celebrates Lord Buddha’s descent from deva kingdom after teaching his departed mother, Mahamaya. This festival takes place on the 22nd day of the 9th lunar month every year.
Losar Festival : This festival marks the New Year in Tibetan in the first week of February with lot of festivities, gaiety, merrymaking, and feasting.
Drupka Teshi Festival : Another amazing festival celebrated by the Buddhist is the Drupka Teshi Festival. Falls on the fourth day of sixth Tibetan month, around the month of August, this festival is celebrated as Buddha lectured his first sermon of four Noble Truths to his five disciples in Sarnath at the Deer Park.
Phang Lhabsol : Chakdor Namgyal, the 3rd ruler of Sikkim started this festival to worship Mount Kanchendzonga and devoting for its uniting powers.
Bumchu Festival : The festival of Bumchu is celebrated with full grandeur and zeal at the Tashiding Monastery in the West Sikkim in the month of January. During the celebration, the pot that is filled with the Holy water is opened by the Lamas present in the monastery and then distributed to all the devotees in this festival and the pot is refilled again with water and sealed for the next year’s celebration since the level of the water in the pot depicts the prosperity of the future year.
Losoong Festival : This Festival is celebrated on the occasion of the end of the harvest season and at the end of the tenth month of Tibetan year in the rural Sikkim. During this festival, the Chaam dances by the people of Sikkim are performed at the Tsu-La-Khang monastery, Phodong monastery and Rumtek monastery.
Dasain Festival : is the main festival of Hindu Nepalese in Sikkim which takes place a few weeks before the Losoong Festival. The celebration of this festival signifies the victory of good over evil. The elder people of the family apply “Tika” to younger people and give them their blessings.
Tihaar Festival : The festival is an exciting festival of Sikkim celebrated as the festival of lights.
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival : is an annual festival carnival celebrated in Hee Bermiok city nearby Gangtok since 2005 in the month of May every year.
Some of the most popular handicraft objects of Sikkim like Choksee Table, Woolen carpet, Canvas wall hanging and painting on various aspects of the state.
The state has various handicrafts in the form of cane and bamboo products. Melli, Gangtok, and Namchi are popular places of Sikkim for handloom products and cottage industries.
The handmade carpets and papers of the state are in huge demand in and outside of Sikkim.
Most of the tribal dances depict the harvest season for prosperity accompanied by traditional musical instruments and chanting. Dancers carry bright costumes and traditional masks.
The people of the state grow crops like wheat, barley, buckwheat, finger millet, potato, and soybeans etc.
Christianity and Muslims are minority communities in Sikkim. A small number of Sikkim’s people belong to the Scheduled Castes.
Famous Spots
There are several breath taking places with natural and scenic beauty. Some of them are :
Nathula Pass
Gurudongmar Lake
Yumthang Valley
Yume Samdong
Kanchenjunga Falls
Rumtek Monasteries
Char Dham
Dzongri La
Aqualife, Flora and Fauna
Sikkim’s economy is based predominantly on agriculture. Famers grow Corn (maize), Rice, Buckwheat, Wheat and Barley produced in terraced fields along the valley flanks.
Beans, Ginger, Potatoes, Vegetables, Fruits, Cardamom and Tea are grown in Sikkim.
Sikkim’s farmers raise livestock like Cattle, Pigs, Sheep, Goats and Poultry. Cattle and buffalo are limited to the subtropical humid belt, yaks and sheep are herded in the higher elevations in the north.
Almost two-fifths of Sikkim is forested. Sal hardwood tree, Pandanus, Palms, Bamboos, Ferns, and Orchids are common in the subtropical forests.
In the higher mountains trees like Oak, Laurel, Maple, Chestnut, Magnolia, Alder, Birch, Rhododendron, Fer, Hemlock and Spruce are natural source of vegetation. Alpine Tundra cover forest land in the higher elevations.
Sikkim has a rich and varied animal life, like Black Bears, Brown Bears, Red Pandas, Deer, Blue Sheep, small goat like mammals and Tibetan Antelope.
Tigers, Leopards, and lesser cats are also found. Birdlife includes Pheasants, Partridges, Quail, Eagles, Barbets, Himalayan cuckoos, Tibetan Black Crows, and Minivets.
The Kanchenjunga National Park near the peak from which it draws its name, is among the largest of India’s high-elevation conservation areas.
Blood Pheasant is the state bird, Copper Mahseer is the state fish and Red Panda is the state animal of Sikkim.
The Teesta & Rangit rivers form the major riverine system in Sikkim that has 48 species of fishes breeding in the water. Important species are Mahseer, Snow Trout and Cat Fishes.
