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Area : 7,096 sq km
Population : 540,493
Capital : Gangtok
Principal Languages : Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu and Nepali
The early history of Sikkim
starts in the 13th century with the signing of a
blood-brotherhood treaty between the Lepcha
Chief Thekong Tek and Tibetan prince Khye-Bumsa
at Kabi Lungtsok in North Sikkim. This follows
the historical visit of three revered Lamas to
Yuksam in 1641 in West Sikkim, where they
consecrated Phuntsog Namgyal, a sixth generation
descendent of Khye-Humsa as the first Chogyal of
Sikkim, thus heralding the beginning of the
Namgyal dynasty in Sikkim. With the march of
history, events in Sikkim saw the state pass
through the process of democratisation and
became an integral part of the Indian Union in
1975. Guru Padmasambhava blessed Sikkim enroute
to Tibet. Sikkim is a blessed land, where people
from all communities live in harmony. Inspite of
the fact that Sikkim comprises of different
people and multi ethnic society, perhaps it is
the most peaceful state of the Indian Union to
promote communal harmony and human relations, a
feat which is much expected in a plural society
like India.
Sikkim is a small hilly state, bounded by
vast stretches of Tibetan Plateaux in the North,
the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and the Kingdom of
Bhutan in the East, the Kingdom of Nepal in the
West, and Darjeeling (West Bengal) in the South.
The State has a total area of 7,096 sq km, and
is stretched over 112 km from North to South,
and 64 km from East to West. It lies in the
North-Eastern Himalayas between 27 degree
00’46’’ to 28 degree 07’48’’ North Latitude, and
88 degree 00’58’’ to 88 degree 55’25’’ East
Longitude.
The world’s third highest mountain,
Kanchenjunga, regarded as the guardian deity of
Sikkim, dominates the tiny Himalayan State with
its awe-inspiring beauty and majesty. Sikkim is
one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the
world. The Sikkim Himalayas show tremendous
biological diversity. More than 5000 species of
angiosperms are found in the State, which is
nearly one third of the total species of
angiosperm found in the country. There are 4,000
species of flowering plants, 300 species of
ferns and allies, 450 to 500 species of orchids,
36 species of Rhododendrons, 40 species of oaks,
30 to 40 species of Primulas and bamboos, 144
species of mammals, 500 to 600 species of birds,
over 400 species of butterflies and moths, and
many species of reptiles in the State. Rare Blue
Sheep, Tibetan Mastiff, Yaks and Red Pandas are
found here.
The
State’s economy is basically agrarian. More than
64 per cent of the population depends on
agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural
land in Sikkim is estimated to be around
1,09,000 hectares, i.e., 15.36 per cent of the
total geographical area. Farmers commonly follow
mixed farming, which is ideally suited and fits
well in the developmental process of making
Sikkim an organic State. The State Government
has drawn up plans to promote organic farming in
Sikkim and see the further value addition in its
agricultural and horticultural produces. Maize,
rice, wheat, potato, large cardamom, ginger and
orange are the principal crops. Sikkim has the
largest area and highest production of large
brown cardamom in India. Ginger, potato, organge
and off-season vegetables are other cash
crops.
As per the Human Development Report-2001,
land resources in Sikkim are constrained on
account of demographic pressure (per capita
availability) and activities that they can
sustain. Diversification in the pattern of land
use has to take into account both food security
requirements and constraints imposed by the
terrain. The limitations of terrace farming in
terms of productivity, irrigation and the scope
for extending cultivation highlight the
constraints faced by farming for livelihood
security. Under these conditions innovative
practices in land management and horticulture
and floriculture can be identified as growth
sectors.
Though
Sikkim has been declared industrially backward
state, the existence of craftsmanship based
traditional Sikkimese cottage industries dates
back to several centuries. Lepcha’s skill in
bamboo-craft, woodwork, spinning of yarn and
carpet weaving in traditional textures, Bhutia’s
excellence in ancient Tibetan practice of carpet
and rug weaving and Nepali’s celebrated
craftsmanship of their metalwork, silverware and
woodwork are very exclusive. The Department of
Commerce and Industries lays emphasis on the
promotion and development of various small-scale
industries. New Industrial Policy, which was
extended in the year 2003, provides special
package for development of industries in the
state on the lines of northeast industries
policy. This includes excise and income tax
exemption to all new industries as well as
expansion of existing units for a period of ten
years from the date of commencement of
commercial production. In addition, the policy
also entails granting of financial concessions
to 12 identified thrust areas in
industries irrespective of where they are
located in the state. The Government of Sikkim
had organised two workshops at Delhi in 2003 to
open up Sikkim as an investment destination and
industrial growth.
Sikkim Jewels limited is one of the
sophisticated and precision oriented industries
for the manufacture of jewel bearings for
electric meters, water meters and other
measuring instruments like watches and clocks.
Ten ancillary units have been set up to
manufacture watch jewels. The Sikkim Industrial
Development and Investment Corporation Ltd.,
(SIDICO) was set up as the state level principal
financial institution engaged in the promotion
and financing of development in this sector. It
provides long-term loans for cottage, tiny,
small and medium scale industrial units, hotels,
hospitals, nursing homes and taxis.
Tenth Five Year Plan targets to
irrigate 34,118 hectares of agricultural land.
Many new irrigation schemes for providing
assured water both for Kharif and Rabi cropping
are taken up and to prevent damages to open
channels owing to landslides and to ensure
regular flow of water concrete hume pipes and
HDPE pipes are used extensively in problem
areas.
Total installed capacity of power in the
State is 36 MW that is hydro based with
transformation capacity of 123 MVA. Rangeet
hydel project has installed capacity of 560 MW.
The total power potential of the state is
estimated at 8,000 MW. Though only 0.2 per cent
capacity was installed by the year 2001, four
hydro projects with the total of 804 MW power
are nearing completion in the state. More
initiatives are being taken by the government to
tap the full potential of the power in the
state. The State is also open to
private
investment in power sector. The
Teesta V Project now under construction is run
of the river scheme located in the East District
and the proposed installed capacity of this
project is 510 MW.
Roads : Gangtok is
connected by roads with Darjeeling, Kalimpong,
Siliguri, and also with all the district
headquarters within Sikkim. The total road
length of the state is 2,383 km, including 41 km
of National Highway.
Railways and
Aviation : The closest railway stations
are Siliguri (113) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km)
connecting Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Lucknow and
other important cities. There is no airport in
Sikkim, although there is a helicopter service
between Gangtok and Bagdogra, heavily subsidised
by the State Government. The State has also
initiated construction of a number of helipads
to connect the district and sub-divisional
headquarters and important tourist places.
A new Information
Technology Department has been created in the
State, and has prepared extensive projects to
give top priority to this department. The newly
created department has already launched a number
of Web sites on Sikkim, and is now aiming for
e-governance through the use of information
tools. The official Web site of Sikkim, hosted
and maintained by the Department of Information
Technology, Government of Sikkim, is
www.sikkimgovt.org.
Sikkim’s
population comprises the three principal ethnic
communities of the Bhutias, Lepchas and the
Nepalese. Maghey Sankranti, Durga Puja, Laxmi
Puja and Chaite Dassai/Ram Navami, Dassai,
Tyohar, Sonam Losoong, Namsoog, Tendong Lho Rum
Faat (Worship of Mt. Tendong), Lohsar (Tibetan
New Year) are the major festivals. The other
festivals include Sakewa (Rai), Sonam Lochar
(Gurung), Barahimzong (Magor),
etc.
Sikkim
is famous for its lush green vegetation, forest,
scenic valleys and majestic mountains, and a
range of rich and magnificent cultural heritage
and peace loving people, which provide a safe
haven for tourists. The State Government
supports eco-friendly and pilgrim tourism and
accordingly, has provided facilities to enable
visitors to enjoy a first-hand experience of the
rich heritage and lifestyle of Sikkim.
Recognising the potential of adventure tourism,
the State government is setting up a Himalayan
Centre for Adventure Tourism at Chemchey Village
in South Sikkim.
The premier monastery of Sikkim is
Pemayantshe in Pelling. Apart from this, there
is Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim, which is
considered the holiest of all the monasteries in
Sikkim. The most ancient monastery of Sikkim is
in Yuksom, called the Drubdi monastery. It was
the personal hermitage of Lhatsun Chenpo (Patron
Saint of Sikkim), and was possibly built in 1700
AD. Some of the other monasteries are Phodong,
Phensang, Rumtek, Ngadak, Tolung, Ahlay,
Tsuklakhand, Ralong, Lachen, Enchey and others.
Of the Hindu temples, the best known is the
Thakurbari, in the heart of Gangtok. There is
also a holy cave in South district, which has a
Shiva Lingam that irradiates the cave where no
other light finds its way. There are some
important Gurdwaras and Mosques, chief among
them being in Gangtok and
Ravangla.
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