Sikkim - Sub-divisions

Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second smallest in area after Goa. Sikkim was an independent state ruled by the Chogyal monarchy until 1975, when a referendum to make it India's twenty-second state succeeded. The thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, the People's Republic of China to the north and east, and Bhutan in the south-east. The Indian state of West Bengal borders Sikkim to its south. The official language is Nepali, and the predominant religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddh ...

Including:

• Sikkim - Origin of name
• Sikkim - History
• Sikkim - Geography
• Sikkim - Geology
• Sikkim - Climate
• Sikkim - Sub-divisions
• Sikkim - Flora and fauna
• Sikkim - Economy
• Sikkim - Transport
• Sikkim - Demographics
• Sikkim - Culture
• Sikkim - Government and politics
• Sikkim - Infrastructure
• Sikkim - Media
• Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia - Sikkim

The earliest recorded event related to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche through the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim, and foretold the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later. In the 14th century, according to legend, Khye Bumsa, a prince from the Minyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation one night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. His descendants were later to form the royal family of ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - History

Roads in Sikkim are in a poor condition because most are exposed to landslides and flooding by nearby streams. The roads are maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), an offshoot of the Indian army. The roads in South Sikkim and NH-31A are in a good condition, landslides being less frequent in these areas. The state government maintains 1857.35 km of roadways that do not fall in the BRO jurisdiction.[4] Sikkim has a number of hydroelectric power stations, providing a steady electricity source. However the voltage i ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Infrastructure

The southern urban areas have English, Nepali and Hindi dailies. Nepali language newspapers are locally printed, whereas Hindi and English newspapers are printed in Siliguri. English newspapers include The Statesman and The Telegraph which are printed in Siliguri, as well as The Hindu and The Times of India, printed in Calcutta, and are received with a day's delay in the towns of Gangtok, Jorethang, Melli and Geyzing. The Sikkim Herald is an official weekl ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Media

Like all states of India, the head of the state government is a governor appointed by the Central Indian Government. His appointment is largely ceremonial, and his main role is to oversee the swearing in of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, who holds the real executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition garnering the largest majority in the state elections. The governor also appoints the cabinet ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister. Sikkim has a unicameral legislature like most other Indian states. Sikkim is allocat ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Government and politics

Today the majority of Sikkim's residents are of Nepali ethnic-national origin who came to the province in the 19th century. The native Sikkimese, consist of the Bhutias, who migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th Century, and the Lepchas who are believed to have migrated from the far east. Tibetans reside mostly in the northern and eastern reaches of the state. Immigrant resident communities not native to the state include the Marwaris, who own most of the shops in South Sikkim and Gangtok, the Biharis, most of whom are employed ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Demographics

The thumb-shaped state of Sikkim is characterised by wholly mountainous terrain. Almost the entire state is hilly, with the elevation ranging from 280 metres (920 feet) to 8,585 metres (28,000 feet). The summit of the Kanchenjunga is the highest point. 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 and is used for cultivation. Numerous snow-fed streams in Sikkim have carved out river valleys in ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Geography

Sikkim's economy is largely agrarian, based on traditional farming methods, on terraced slopes. The rural populace grows crops such as cardamom, oranges, apples, tea and orchids. Rice is grown on terraced hillsides in the southern reaches. 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 watch-making are the main industries. These are located in the sout ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Economy

Sikkim does not have any airports or railheads because of its rough terrain. The closest airport, Bagdogra Airport, is near the town of Siliguri, West Bengal. The airport is about 124 km away from Gangtok. A regular helicopter service run by the Sikkim Helicopter Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra; the flight is thirty minutes long. The Gangtok helipad is the only civilian helipad in the state. Sikkim is slated to get its own airport in 2005. The closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri which is situat ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Transport

Sikkim residents celebrate all major Indian festivals such as Diwali and Dussera, the popular Hindu festivals. Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals that are also celebrated. During the Losar – the Tibetan New Year in mid-December – most government offices and tourist centres are closed for a week. Christmas has also recently been promoted in Gangtok to attra ...

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Sikkim, Sikkim - Origin of name, Sikkim - History, Sikkim - Geography, Sikkim - Geology, Sikkim - Climate, Sikkim - Sub-divisions, Sikkim - Flora and fauna, Sikkim - Economy, Sikkim - Transport, Sikkim - Demographics, Sikkim - Culture, Sikkim - Government and politics, Sikkim - Infrastructure, Sikkim - Media, Sikkim - Education

Read more here: » Sikkim: Encyclopedia II - Sikkim - Culture