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Sikkim
Sikkim
offers the magical feel of a Himalayan fairytale
land. It is an amazing place of hidden valleys,
mystical monasteries, snow-fed lakes and a
mountain setting covered with flowers and
forests. This former kingdom is home to three
major population groups - Lepcha, Bhutia and
Nepali - providing a colorful composite of
cultures. Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest
peak in the world at 8,586 m, dominates the
landscape and is revered as Sikkim's guardian
deity. Sikkim is a state of India tucked in
the Himalaya across Nepalís eastern
frontier. It is crammed in between Tibet (China)
to the north, Bhutan to the east and the Darjeeling
Gorkha Hill Council to the south.
Sikkim
is the 22nd state of India came into existence
with effect from 26th April, 1975. Sikkim
state being a part of inner mountain ranges
of Himalayas, is hilly having varied elevation
ranging from 300 to 8540 meters. But the habitable
areas are only up to the altitude of 2100
mtrs. Constituting only 20% of the total area
of the state. Sikkim has been divided into
four districts and each district has further
been bifurcated into two sub-divisions for
administrative purpose.
The
highest portion of sikkim lies in its north
west direction. A large number of mountains
having altitudes of about seven thousand meters
stands here with - Kanchenjunga (8598 m.),
The third highest peak in the world. The high
serrated, snow capped spurs and peaks of Kanchenjunga
look attractive consisting of Kumbha Karna
(7711 m.), Pendem (6706 m.), Narsingh (5825
m.), Kabru Dome (6545 m.), etc. A number of
glaciers descends from eastern slopes of Kanchenjunga
into Sikkim where snow clad line is found
above 5300 mtrs. The biggest of them
is Zemu, from whose snout above Lachen monastery
rises the river Teesta. Teesta is the main
river and its main tributaries are Zemu, Lachung,
Rangyong, Dikchu, Rongli, Rangpo and Rangit
which form the main channel of drainage from
the north to the south. It boasts of the great
mount Kanchendzonga as its crown. Ethically
Sikkim has mainly three groups of people viz.
Nepalis, Bhutias, Lepchas. The local language
is Nepali. English is the official language.
This jewel- like mountain state of ethereal
beauty with an area of 7299 sq. kms , nestles
in the heart of Himalayas. Cradled in the
manifold splendors of nature deep within the
snow clad Himalayas is Sikkim's capital Gangtok.
Wrapped in mists and clouds, a garden state
with an incredible variety of rhododendrons
& a host of other flowers.
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