SIKKIM
KNOW THE PLACE
SIKKIM | INDIA
Weather | 20˚C
Capital | GANGTOK
Ideal duration | 5 -6 days
Best time | MAR to MAY & OCT to DEC
Airport | Pakyong Airport Gangtok
Official language | Sikkimese & Nepali
Sikkim is the 22nd state of India
came in to 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 meters.
Constituting only 20% of the total
area of the state. A large number
of mountains having altitudes of
about seven thousand meters
stands here with Kanchenjunga
(8598 meters), the third highest
peak in the world.
HISTORY
Little is known of sikkim's history
prior to the 17th century. The
state's name is derived from the
Limbu words su him, meaning
"new house." The Lepcha were
early inhabitants of the region,
apparently assimilating the
Naong, Chang, Mon, and other
tribes. The Bhutia began entering
the area from Tibet in the 14th
century. When the kingdom of
Sikkim was established in 1642,
Phuntsog Namgyal, the first
chogyal (temporal and spiritual
king), came from the Bhutia
community, The Namgyal dynasty
ruled Sikkim until 1975.