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Area :7229
sq. Kms.
Population: Sikkim- around three lakh and Gangtok- around
40 thousands.
Literacy rate: 56.94%
Main Language: Napalese
Near by cities: Bagdogra- 124 Kms Siligurhi- 114 kms
Kalempong- 75 Kms Jalpaigurhi- 125 kms Calcutta- 724 Kms
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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.
Geomorphology
Sikkim
encompasses the lesser Himalaya, Central Himalaya, and the Tethys Himalaya.
It is essentially a mountainous state without flate piece of land of
any extent any where. The mountains rise in elevation northward. The
northern portion of the state is deeply cut into steep escarpments,
and except in the Lachen and Lachung valleys, is not populated. Southern
Sikkim is lower, more open, and fairly well cultivated. This configuration
of the State is partly due to the direction of the main drainage which
is southern.
The physical
configuration of Sikkim is also partly due to geological struture. Major
portion od state is covered by Precambrian rock and is much younger
in age. The Northern, Eastern and Western portion of the state are constituted
of hard massive gneissose rocks capable of resisting denudation. The
central and southern portion is formed of comparatively soft, thin,
slaty and half-schistore rocks which denudes very easily. The trend
of the mountain system is in a general east-west direction. However,
chief ridges run in a more or less north south direction.
The Rangeet
and the Tista which form the main channels of drainage, run nearly north-south.
The valleys cut by these rivers and their chief feeders are very deep.
The valleys are rather open towards the top, but usually attain a steep
gorge like structure as we approach the bed of the rivers. There are
180 perennial lakes of different altutudes. Many hot water springs i.e.
Phur-Cha, Ralang Sachu, Yumthang, Momay are also found in the state.
The Perpetual snow line in Sikkim may be approx. at 16,000 ft. Demographic
Features :- Sikkim is a multi-ethnic state. Broadly, the population
can be divided into tribal and non-tribal groups. Lepchas, Bhutias,
Sherpas are categorized as Scheduled Tribes.
The Lepchas
are the original inhabitants of the state. Compared to other ethnic
groups, the Lepchas still maintain many of their traditional ways. The
Bhutias comprise, the sikkimese Bhutia and Bhutia from Bhutan and Tibet.
The Sherpas are a marginal ethnic group in the state. over 70% population
consist of Nepalese. They are dominant ethnic group in the state.
The people
from the plain, mostly involed in trade and services represent a marginal
group. As per the 1991 census of India, the total population of the
state is 406457, whereas in 1981 it was 3,16,385 only. Dicennial growth
has come down, as in 1971-81 it was 50.77% where as for 1981-91 it is
28.47% only. The overall density of population in the state is 57 per
sq. Km. East district is the most populated where as North's density
only 7, is least populated. Sex ratio ( females per thousand male) in
1981 was 835, where as it has improved and now is 878. There are only
eight urban towns and urban population is 9.10% of total population.
Schedule caste and schedule tribe population is 5.93 % and 22.36% respectively,
North district is a tribal district and it has about 55.38% tribal population.
Literacy rate is 56.94% (19th position), higher than the all India average
literacy tare of 52.11%.
Location
Sikkim
is a very small hilly state in the Eastern Himalayas, extending
approximately 114 Kms from north to south and 64Kms from east to west,
surrounded by vast stretches of Tibetan Plateau in the North, Chumbi
Valley of Tibet and the kingdom of Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling district
of West Bengal in the south and the kingdom in Nepal in the west . The
state being a part of inner ranges of the mountains of Himalayaa has
no open valley and no plains but caried elevations ranging from 300
to 8583 mtrs above means sea level consisting of lower hill, middle
and higher hills, alpine zones and snow bound land, the highest elevation
8583 mtrs. being the top of the Mt. Kangchendzonga itself.
Climate
The climate of
the state has been roughly divided into the tropical, temperature
and alphine zones. For most of the period in a a year, the climate
is cold and humid as rainfall occurs in each month. The area experience
a heavy rainfall due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal. The rainfall
in north district is comparatively less than of the other districts.
The general trend of decrease in temperature with increase in altitude
holds good every where. Pre-monsoon rain occurs in April-May and monsoon
(south-west) operates normally from the month of May and continues up
to early October.
Temperature
The mean temperature
in the lower altitudinal zone, it varies from 1.5 degree centigrade
to 9.5 degree centigrade. Temperature varies with altitude and slope.
The maximum temperature is recorded usually during July and August,
and minimum during December & January. Fog is a common feature in the
entire state from May to September. Biting cold is experienced at high
altitude places in the winter months and snowfall is also not uncommon
during this period.
Rainfall
An examination
of availble rainfall date shows that the mean annual rainfall is minimum
at Thangu (82 mm.) and maximum at Gangtok (3494 mm.) . An isohyatal
analysis of these data reveals that there are two maximum rainfall areas
(i) South-East quadrant, including including Mangan, Singhik, Dikchu,
Gangtok, Rongli etc. (ii) South-West corner including Hilley . In between
these two regions, there is a low rainfall region e.g. Namchi. Rainfall
in this area is about half of that in the former areas. There is an
area in the North-West Sikkim which gets very little rainfall (even
less than 4.9 mm.). This area is having mainly snow -covered mountains.
Rainfall is heavy and well distributed during the months from May to
early October. July is the wettest month in most of the places. The
intensity of rainfall during South-West monsoon season decreases from
south to North, while the ditribution of winter rainfall is in the opposite
order. The highest annual rainfall for the individual station may exceed
5000 mm. and average number of rainy days ( days with rain of 2.5 mm.
or more) ranges from 100 at Thangu to 184 at Gangtok.
