 |
| Location |
North East of India |
| Area |
7096 sq.km |
| Population |
5.4 lakhs |
| Best time |
March- May and October- December |
| Topography |
Hilly terrain elevation from 600 ft.
to over 28,509 ft above sea level |
| Temperature |
Summer Max- 21°C; Min- 13°C
Winter Max -13°C; Min- 0.48°C |
| Rainfall |
325 cm per annum |
| Languages |
Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Tibetan,
English, Hindi |
Long isolated from the outside world, Sikkim was
settled by Tibetans in the 16th century and became a
British protectorate in 1890. Sikkim was passed on to
India in 1949 and became a state of the country in 1975. Sikkim's people are predominantly of Nepalese extraction;
the minority Bhotias (Tibetan in origin) and aboriginal
Lepchas are mainly pastoral nomads. Although the Nepalese
practice Hinduism, Buddhism was professed by the former
chogyal (“king under the religious laws”) and the official
class, and Sikkim is noted for its Buddhist monasteries.
Tibeto-Burmese languages and dialects are spoken widely.
Sikkim is India's smallest state in terms of population
and second smallest in area after Goa. It is the shrine of
the third highest mountain in the world i.e. Mt.
Kanchendzonga (28,208 Ft asl). The main source of revenue
has been tourism for this small land locked on all sides.
It shares its border with Bhutan to the east, Nepal to its
west, Tibet (China) to the north and Indian mainland to
its south. Rich physical features like forests, rivers and mountains
that define the boundaries of the state. Most of the peaks
above 6100 meters (20000ft) lie towards the western border
of State including Kanchenjunga. On the eastern border the
most imposing peak is Paunhri, at an altitude of about
6700 meters (22000ft). Most of the peaks of Sikkim have
remained unscaled because the Sikkimese consider them
sacred and feel that they will lose their sanctity if
climbed. On the way between Gangtok to Nathula, 35 Kilometers from
Gangtok lies the serene Changu (Tsomgo) Lake at an
altitude of about 3693 meters (12310 ft). Two other lakes
nearby are the Bidang cho and the Mememcho. Kecheopalri
lake is another well-known lake that lies on the route
between Gyalshing and Yoksum. The highest concentration of
lakes is on the western border north of Chiwabhanjang
towards the Base Camp. Laxmipokhari, Lampokhari,
Majurpokhari, twin lakes of Ram-Laxman are a few of the
lakes in this area. Dud Phokhari and Samiti Lake are two
other lakes situated in this area. Gurudogmar, which is
the largest lakes is in north Sikkim. Sikkim has many hot springs known for medicinal and
therapeutic values. The most important hot springs are at Phurchachu (Reshi), Yumthang, Borang, Ralang, Taram-chu and
Yumey Samdong. All these hot springs have high sulphur
content and are located near the riverbanks. The average
temperature of the water in these hot springs is 50°C.
HOW TO GET THERE:
| By road: |
| Bagdogra- Gangtok |
130 kms/ 5 hrs |
| New Jalpaiguri- Gangtok |
124 kms/ 4.5 hrs |
| Siliguri- Gangtok |
114 kms/ 4 hrs |
|
By rail: Delhi - New Jalpaiguri |
| Dibrugarh Rajdhani |
1400 hrs |
1050 hrs |
| North East Express |
0640 hrs |
0815 hrs |
| By rail: New
Jalpaiguri- Delhi |
| Dibrugarh Rajdhani |
1310 hrs |
1400 hrs |
| North East Express |
1650 hrs |
1930 hrs |
| By air: Delhi-
Bagdogra |
| Air Deccan |
DN 629 |
1100 hrs |
1445 hrs (Days 1,3,5,7) |
| DN 619 |
1100 hrs |
1300 hrs (Days 2,4,6) |
| Jet Airways |
9W 601 |
1010 hrs |
1215 hrs (Days 1,3,5) |
| Indian Airlines |
IC 7891 |
1330 hrs |
1520 hrs (Days 2,4,6) |
| By air: Bagdogra-
Delhi |
| Air Deccan |
DN 629 |
1520 hrs |
1715 hrs(Days 1,3,5,7) |
| DN 619 |
1330 hrs |
1725 hrs (Days 2,4,6) |
| Jet airways |
9W 602 |
1250 hrs |
1650 hrs (days 2,4,6,7) via Guwahati |
| Indian Airlines |
IC 879 |
1550 hrs |
1740 hrs (Days 1,5) |
| By air: Kolkata-
Bagdogra |
| Air Deccan |
DN563 |
1330 hrs |
1500 hrs (daily) |
| Jet airways |
9W617 |
1210 hrs |
1310 hrs (daily) |
| Indian airlines |
IC721 |
1430 hrs |
1525 hrs (Days 2,6) |
| By air: Bagdogra-
Kolkata |
| Air Deccan |
DN564 |
1515 hrs |
1640 hrs (daily) |
| Jet airways |
DN564 |
1345 hrs |
1445 hrs (daily) |
| Indian airlines |
IC722 |
1605 hrs |
1700 hrs (days 2,6) |
* FLIGHT SCHEDULES KEEP CHANGING. PLEASE CHECK WITH
CONCERNED AIRLINE BEFORE MAKING FIRM PLANS.
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