Tourisr Attraction in Sikkim

Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom : Instituted with the aim of promoting and keeping alive the State’s traditional arts and craft, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom lies a storehouse of hand woven woolen carpets with traditional motifs, blankets, shawls in Lepcha weaves and exquisitely carved ‘choktse’ or table and many other gift items.

Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30 a.m. 12.30 and 1 p.m – 3 p.m.

Enchey Monastery : An important seat of the Nyingma order, the Enchey Monastery is built on the site blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master known for his power of flying. This 200-year-old Monastery has in its premises images of Gods, Goddesses and other religious objects. Every year around January ‘Chaam’ or religious masked dance is performed with great fanfare for two days. It is situated adjoining the Siniolhu Tourist Lodge, 3 kms from Gangtok town.

Flower Festival : Flower exhibitions are organised round the year at the FlowerShow Venue near the White Hall Complex, Gangtok. Orchid shows held during the spring tourist season is one of the most popular shows organized in the State.

Nam-Nam View Point (Hurhurey Dara) : Situated in the vicinity of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, one can have very good walk from Nam Nam View Point to Sikkim Press. The visitors can also experience the breath taking view of a dense forest of Assam Lingey Area and lush green valley. A serene area to relish.

Do-drul Chorten (Stupa) : The Do-drul Chorten or Stupa was built by the venerable Trulshi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1945. Inside this Stupa, there are complete mandala sets of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of kan-gyur relics (Holy Books), complete.

‘Zung’ (mantras) and other religious objects. Around this Chorten, which is one of the most important stupas in Sikkim, are 108 Mani Lhakor (Prayer wheels). These prayer wheels are turned by the devout Buddhist while chanting “Hail to the jewel in the Lotus”, to invoke the Boddhisattva. The Chorten is surrounded by Chorten Lakhang and Guru Lhakhang, where there are two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava).

Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology (NRIT) : The most prestigious of its king in India-this Buddhist Institute is a treasure trove of vastcollection of rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, Statues and rare Thankas (Tapestries used in Buddhist liturgy) and has over 200 Buddhist icons and other prized objects of art. Today, it is a renowned worldwide centre for study of Buddhist Philosophy and religion

Visiting hour: from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sikkim Time Corporation Ltd. (SITCO) : Situated at a distance of 1.5 kms from Gangtok town is one the first industrial units set up in Sikkim. The Sikkim Time Corporation Limited (SITCO) set up in 1977, has grown from strength to strength and now has 4 units which manufacture quality mechanical watches, semi-conductor devices, attractive Digital and Analog watches and top class watch crowns.

In its 23 years of existence, besides attaining the distinction of producing over 8 million HMT mechanical watches, the unit is presently involved in marketing its own brand of fashionable digital watches having functional versatility and Analog Watches with exquisite dials and various colour options.These quality watches are reasonably priced and are available in all the leading outlets of the country. Located in the beautiful campus is a showroom in the factory premises from where the watches can be bought at ex-factory cost.

Visiting hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Sundays and National Holidays.

Getting in Sikkim

By Air

Jet Airways and Indian Airlines operate flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati to Bagdogra. From the airport one can take a taxi to the campus at Majitar, Rangpo – the drive takes about three hours. One can also use
the services of charter helicopters to travel between Gangtok and Bagdogra.

By Train

One can travel by train from any part of the country to New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri. From here the journey to the campus, which takes 3 hours, can be made by bus or taxi.

By Road

Long distance buses ply from major towns in West Bengal and Assam to Siliguri. The journey from Siliguri to the campus can be made by taxi or bus via the Himalayan foothills along the Teesta and Rangit rivers and passing through the towns of Teestabazar, Melli and Rangpo.

Gangtok: Sikkim

Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated in the lower Himalayas, located at 27.2° N 88.4° E. Known for its clean surroundings and temperate climate, this hill station of about fifty thousand people is the centre of Sikkim’s tourist industry.

Gangtok was a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. It became a major stopover between Tibet and British India at the end of the 19th century. Following India’s independence in 1947, Sikkim became a nation-state with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975 the monarchy was abrogated and Sikkim became India’s twenty-second state, with Gangtok remaining as its capital.

The precise meaning of the name Gangtok is unclear, though it is generally held to mean “lofty hill”. Gangtok is also a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with numerous monasteries and religious educational institutions.

History

Not much is known about the early history of Gangtok. The earliest records date from the construction of the hermitic Gangtok monastery in 1716. Gangtok remained a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. After the defeat of the Tibetans by the British, Gangtok became a major stopover in the trade between Tibet and British India at the end of the 19th century. Most of the roads and the telegraph in the area were built during this time.

In 1894, Thutob Namgyal, the Sikkimese monarch under British rule, shifted the capital from Tumlong to Gangtok, increasing its importance. A new grand palace along with other state buildings was built in the new capital. Following India’s independence in 1947, Sikkim became a nation-state with Gangtok as its capital. Sikkim became a suzerain of India, with the condition that it would retain its independence, by the treaty signed between the Chogyal and the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Trade between India and Tibet continued to flourish through the Nathula and Jelepla passes, offshoots of the ancient Silk Route near Gangtok. These border passes were sealed after the Sino-Indian War in 1962, which deprived Gangtok of its trading business. In 1975, the monarchy was abrogated and Sikkim became India’s twenty-second state, with Gangtok as its capital .

Geography

Gangtok is situated in the lower Himalayas at an altitude of 1,780 metres (5,480 feet), in southeast Sikkim. In addition to being the state capital, it is also the headquarters of the East Sikkim district. The town lies on one side of a hill, with “The Ridge”, a promenade housing the governor’s residence at one end and the palace, situated at an altitude of about 6,000 feet (1,828 m), at the other. The city overlooks the Ranikhola in the valley below. Most of the roads are steep, with the buildings built on compacted ground alongside them. The peaks of the snow-clad Himalayan range, including the world’s third tallest peak, the Kanchenjunga, can be seen to the east of the city.

Education in Sikkim

Literacy is 69.68%, which breaks up into 76.73% for males and 61.46% for females.[6] There are a total of 1545 government-run educational institutions and eighteen private schools mostly located in the towns. There are about twelve colleges and other institutions in Sikkim that offer higher education.

The largest institution is the Sikkim Manipal University which has 2 wings Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology[8] which offers higher education in engineering and SMIMS medicine. There are two state-run polytechnics, Advanced Technical Training Centre(ATTC) and Centre for Computers and Communication Technology(CCCT) in Sikkim which offer diploma courses in various branches of engineering. ATTC is situated at Bardang, Singtam and CCCT at Chisopani, Namchi. Many students however, migrate to Siliguri and Calcutta for their higher education.

Media in Sikkim

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 weekly publication of the government.

Internet cafes are well established in the district capitals, but broadband connectivity is not widely available, and many rural areas have yet to be linked to the Internet. Satellite television channels through dish antennae are available in most homes in the state. Channels served are the same available throughout India along with a Nepali language channels.

The main service providers are Sikkim Cable, Dish TV, Doordarshan and Nayuma. The area is well serviced by local cellular companies such as BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, and Airtel. BSNL has state wide coverage, whereas Reliance Infocomm and Airtel have coverage only in urban areas. The national All India Radio is the only radio station in the state.

Government and politics in Sikkim

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 allocated one seat in each of both chambers of India’s national bicameral legislature, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. There are a total of 32 state assembly seats including one reserved for the Sangha. The Sikkim High Court is the smallest high court in the country.

In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim’s monarchy, the Congress Party got the largest majority in the 1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of instability, a popular ministry headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari, leader of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party was sworn in. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994 elections Pawan Kumar Chamling from the Sikkim Democratic Front becoming the Chief Minister of the state. The party has since held on to power by winning the 1999 and 2004 elections.

Music of Sikkim

Sikkim is a state of India. It is a center for western-style music in India, and has been since the rise of bands like Orchids and Naren Rasaily’s Flickers, beginning in about 1968.

This period ended in about 1973, though it was revived by 1982 when Shooting Star and Soul Saviour (a reincarnation of Flicker).

Sikkim is largely Nepali, and popular Nepali folk singers include Bejamin Rai. Sukmit Lepcha is another Nepali-styled singer.

Culture of Sikkim

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 attract tourists during the off-season.

It is common to hear Western rock music being played in homes and in restaurants even in the countryside. Hindi songs have gained wide acceptance among the masses. Indigenous Nepali rock, music suffused with a Western rock beat and Nepali lyrics, is also particularly popular. Football (soccer) and cricket are the two most popular sports.

Noodle-based dishes such as the thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk, fakthu, gyathuk and wonton are common in Sikkim. Momos, steamed dumplings filled with vegetable, beef or pork and served with a soup is a popular snack. The mountainous peoples have a diet rich in beef, pork and other meats. Alcohol is cheap owing to the low excise duty in Sikkim and beer, whiskey, rum and brandy are consumed by many Sikkimese.

Almost all dwellings in Sikkim are rustic, consisting of a bamboo frame, woven with pliable bamboo and coated with cow dung, providing a warm interior. In the higher elevations, houses are made of wood.

Demographics of Sikkim

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 in blue collar jobs, and the Bengalis.

Hinduism and Buddhism are the religions professed by most Sikkimese. Sikkim also has a small Christian population, consisting mostly of people of Lepcha origin, converted to the faith after British missionaries started preaching in the region in the late 19th century. The state has never had inter-religious strife. Mosques in downtown Gangtok and Mangan also serve the minuscule Muslim population.

Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim. English and Hindi are also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages spoken in Sikkim include Bhutia, Dzongkha , Groma, Gurung, Lepcha, Limbu, Magar, Majhi, Majhwar, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Sunuwar, Tamang, Thulung, Tibetan, and Yakha.

As India’s least populous state, Sikkim has only 540,493 inhabitants[2], with 288,217 males and 252,276 females. It is also the least densely populated state with only 76 persons per square kilometre.

Its growth rate is 32.98% (1991-2001). The sex ratio is 875 females per 1000 males. With 50,000 inhabitants, Gangtok is the state’s only significant town. The urban population in Sikkim is 11.06%.[3] The per capita income stands at Rs 11,356, which is one of the highest in the country.

Transport in Sikkim

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. The closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri which is situated sixteen kilometres from Siliguri.

National Highway 31A links Siliguri to Gangtok. The highway is an all-weather metalled road which mostly runs parallel of the river Teesta, entering Sikkim at Rangpo. Numerous public and privately run bus and jeep services connect the airport, railway station, and Siliguri to Gangtok. A branch of the highway from Melli connects western Sikkim.

Towns in southern and western Sikkim are connected to the northern West Bengal hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Within the state, four wheel drives are the most popular means of transport, as they can navigate rocky slopes. Mini-buses link the smaller towns to the state and district headquarters.