Sikkim, a small Himalayan State lying between 270 to 280 North Latitude and 880 to 890 East Longitude is the 22nd State of India. It is 7,096 Sq. kms in size yet has an elevation ranging from 200 meter to 8585 meters above sea level. It’s topography is dominated by the most majestic mountain chain in the world which includes Khangchendzonga, world’s third highest mountain-a guardian deity of the Sikkimese.
Surrounded by Tibet in the North, Nepal in the West, Bhutan in the East and Bengal in the South. Sikkim is rich in biodiversity.Population of Sikkim comprises of three main ethnic groups Lepcha, Bhutia and the Nepalese.
History of Sikkim
The original inhabitants were the Lepchas or the “raven folks” who came to the area from Assam and Burma. From the 1200’s the Bhutias or the Tibetan people moved into Sikkim. They included the Namgyal clan who arrived in the 1400’s and gradually won political control over Sikkim. In 1642,Phintsok Namgyal (1604-1670) became the first Chogyal (King). |
