Sikkim

Sikkim(/ˈsɪkɪm/SIK-im;Nepali:[ˈsikːim]) is astatein northeasternIndia. It borders theTibet Autonomous Regionof China in the north and northeast,Bhutanin the east,Koshi ProvinceofNepalin the west, andWest Bengalin the south. Sikkim is also close to theSiliguri Corridor, which bordersBangladesh. Sikkim is theleast populousandsecond-smallestamong the Indian states. Situated in theEastern Himalaya, Sikkim is notable for itsbiodiversity, includingalpineandsubtropicalclimates, as well as being a host toKangchenjunga, thehighest peak in Indiaandthird-highest on Earth.Sikkim'scapitaland largest city isGangtok. Almost 35% of the state is covered byKhangchendzonga National Park– aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
TheKingdom of Sikkimwas founded by theNamgyal dynastyin the 17th century. It was ruled byBuddhistpriest-kings known as theChogyal. It became aprincely stateof theBritish Indian Empirein 1890. Following Indian independence, Sikkim continued itsprotectoratestatus with theUnion of Indiaafter 1947 and the Republic of India after 1950. It enjoyed the highest literacy rate and per capita income amongHimalayan states. In 1973, anti-royalist riots took place in front of the Chogyal's palace. In 1975, after theIndian Armytook over the city of Gangtok, areferendumwas held that led to the dissolution of the monarchy and Sikkim's joining India as its 22nd state.
Modern Sikkim is amultiethnicandmultilingualIndian state. Theofficial languagesof the state areEnglish,Nepali,Bhutia, andLepcha.Additional official languages includeGurung,Limbu,Magar,Mukhia,Newari,Rai,SherpaandTamangfor the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.Englishis taught in schools and used in government documents. The predominant religion isHinduism, with a significantVajrayana Buddhistminority. Sikkim's economy is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. As of 2019, the state hadthe fifth-smallest GDP among Indian states,although it is also among the fastest-growing.
The nameSikkimis believed to be a combination of theLimbuwordssu"new" andkhyim"palace" or "house".TheTibetanname for Sikkim isDrenjong(Wylie-transliteration:bras ljongs), which means "valley ofrice",while theBhutiascall itBeyulDemazong, which means "the hidden valley of rice".According to folklore, after establishing Rabdentse as his new capital, Bhutia kingTensung Namgyalbuilt a palace and asked his Limbu Queen to name it. TheLepcha people, the original inhabitants of Sikkim, called itNye-mae-el, meaning "paradise".In historicalIndian literature, Sikkim is known asIndrakil, the garden of thewar godIndra.
TheLepchasare considered to be the earliest inhabitants of Sikkim.However theLimbusand theMagarsalso lived in the inaccessible parts of West and South districts as early as the Lepchas perhaps lived in the East and North districts.The Buddhist saintPadmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, passed through the land in the 8th century.The Guru is reported to have blessed the land, introducedBuddhism, and foretold the era of monarchy that would arrive in Sikkim centuries later.
According to legend,Khye Bumsa, a 14th-century prince from theMinyakHouse inKhamin easternTibet, received adivine revelationinstructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. A fifth-generation descendant of Khye Bumsa,Phuntsog Namgyal, became the founder of Sikkim's monarchy in 1642, when he was consecrated as the firstChogyal, or priest-king, of Sikkim by the three veneratedlamasatYuksom.Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son,Tensung Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom toRabdentse(near modernPelling). In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by theBhutanesewith the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had been denied the throne. The Bhutanese were driven away by theTibetan people, who restored the throne to theChogyalten years later. Between 1717 and 1733, the kingdom faced many raids by the Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in the east, culminating with the destruction of the capitalRabdentseby the Nepalese.In 1791,Chinasent troops to support Sikkim and defendTibetagainst theGorkha Kingdom. Following the subsequent defeat of Gorkha, the ChineseQing dynastyestablished control over Sikkim.
Following the beginning ofBritish rulein neighbouring India, Sikkim allied with Britain against their common adversary,Nepal. The Nepalese attacked Sikkim, overrunning most of the region including theTerai. This prompted theBritish East India Companyto attack Nepal, resulting in theGurkha Warof 1814.Treaties signed between Sikkim and Nepal resulted in the return of the territory annexed by the Nepalese in 1817. However, ties between Sikkim and the British weakened when the latter began taxation of theMorangregion. In 1849, two Britishphysicians, SirJoseph Dalton HookerandArchibald Campbell, the latter being the superintendent of Darjeeling, ventured into the mountains of Sikkim with the prior permission of King Tsugphu Namgyal.The doctors were detained by an influential Dewan,leading to a punitive British expedition against the kingdom, after which theDarjeelingdistrict and Morang were annexed to British India in 1853. The Chogyal of Sikkim became atitular rulerunder the directive of the British governor as a result of the invasion.
Sikkim became a Britishprotectoratein the later decades of the 19th century, formalised by aconventionsigned with China in 1890.Sikkim was gradually granted more sovereignty over the next three decades,and became a member of theChamber of Princes, the assembly representing the rulers of the Indianprincely states, in 1922.
Prior toIndian independence,Jawaharlal Nehru, as the Vice-President of the Executive Council, pushed through a resolution in theIndian Constituent Assemblyto the effect that Sikkim and Bhutan, as Himalayan states, were not 'Indian states' and their future should be negotiated separately.A standstill agreement was signed in February 1948.
Meanwhile, Indian independence and its move to democracy spurred a fledgling political movement in Sikkim, giving rise to the formation ofSikkim State Congress(SSC), a pro-accession political party. The party sent a plate of demands to the palace, including a demand for accession to India. The palace attempted to defuse the movement by appointing three secretaries from the SSC to the government and sponsoring a counter-movement in the name ofSikkim National Party, which opposed accession to India.
The demand for responsible government continued, and the SSC launched a civil disobedience movement. The ChogyalPalden Thondup Namgyalasked India for help in quelling the movement, which was offered in the form of a small military police force and an IndianDewan. In 1950, a treaty was agreed between India and Sikkim which gave Sikkim the status of an Indianprotectorate. Sikkim came under thesuzeraintyof India, which controlled its external affairs, defence, diplomacy and communications.In other respects, Sikkim retained administrative autonomy.
A state council was established in 1953 to allow for constitutional government under the Chogyal. ChogyalPalden Thondup Namgyalwas able to preserve autonomy and shape a "model Asian state" where theliteracy rateandper capita incomewere twice as high as neighbouringNepal,Bhutanand India.Meanwhile, theSikkim National Congressdemanded fresh elections and greater representation for Nepalis in Sikkim. People marched on the palace against the monarchy.In 1973, anti-royalist agitations took place, which needed to be quelled using Indian security forces.
In1975, the Prime Minister of SikkimKazi Lhendup Dorjee, appealed to the Indian Prime Minister,Indira Gandhifor Sikkim to become a state of India. In April of that year, the Indian Army took over the city ofGangtokand disarmed the Chogyal's palace guards. Thereafter,a referendumwas held in which 97.5 per cent of voters supported abolishing the monarchy, effectively approving union with India. India is said to have stationed 20,000–40,000 troops in a country of only 200,000 during the referendum.On 16 May 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union, and the monarchy was abolished.To enable the incorporation of the new state, theIndian Parliamentamended theIndian Constitution. First, the35th Amendmentlaid down a set of conditions that made Sikkim an "Associate State", a special designation not used by any other state. A month later, the36th Amendmentrepealed the 35th Amendment, and made Sikkim a full state, adding its name to theFirst Scheduleof theConstitution.
In 2000, the seventeenthKarmapa,Urgyen Trinley Dorje, who had been confirmed by theDalai Lamaand accepted as atulkuby the Chinese government, escaped fromTibet, seeking to return to theRumtek Monasteryin Sikkim. Chinese officials were in a dilemma on this issue, for any protests to India would mean an explicit endorsement of India's governance of Sikkim, which China still recognised as an independent state occupied by India. The Chinese government eventually recognised Sikkim as an Indian state in 2003, in return for India declaringTibetas a part of the territory of China;New Delhihad accepted Tibet as part of China in 1954, but China appears to have believed that the agreement had lapsed.The 2003 agreement led to a thaw inSino-Indian relations.On 6 July 2006, the Sikkimese Himalayan pass ofNathu Lawas opened to cross-border trade, becoming the first open border between India and China.The pass, which was first opened during the 1904Younghusband Expeditionto Tibet,had remained closed since the 1962Sino-Indian War.
On 18 September 2011,a magnitude 6.9Mwearthquakestruck Sikkim, killing at least 116 people in the state and inNepal,Bhutan, Bangladesh andTibet.More than 60 people died in Sikkim alone, and the city ofGangtoksuffered significant damage.
Situated in theHimalayanmountains, the state of Sikkim is characterised by mountainous terrain. Almost the entire state is hilly, with an elevation ranging from 280 metres (920 ft) in the south at the border with West Bengal to 8,586 metres (28,169 ft) in the northern peaks near Nepal and Tibet. The summit ofKangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, is the state's highest point, situated on the border between Sikkim andNepal.For the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture because of the rocky, precipitous slopes. However, some hill slopes have been converted intoterrace farms.
Numerous snow-fed streams have carved out river valleys in the west and south of the state. These streams combine into the majorTeesta Riverand its tributary, theRangeet, which flow through the state from north to south.About a third of the state is heavily forested. The Himalayan mountains surround the northern, eastern and western borders of Sikkim. The Lower Himalayas, lying in the southern reaches of the state, are the most densely populated.
The state has 28 mountain peaks, more than 80glaciers,227 high-altitude lakes (including theTsongmo,GurudongmarandKhecheopalri Lakes), five majorhot springs, and more than 100 rivers and streams. Eightmountain passesconnect the state to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
Sikkim's hot springs are renowned for theirmedicinal and therapeutic value. Among the state's most notable hot springs are those at Phurchachu,Yumthang, Borang, Ralang, Taram-chu and Yumey Samdong. The springs, which have a highsulphurcontent, are located near river banks; some are known to emithydrogen.The average temperature of the water in these hot springs is 50 °C (122 °F).
The hills of Sikkim mainly consist ofgneissandschistwhichweatherto produce generally poor and shallow brownclaysoils. The soil is coarse, with large concentrations ofiron oxide; it ranges from neutral toacidicand is lacking in organic and mineral nutrients. This type of soil tends to supportevergreenanddeciduous forests.
The rock consists ofphyllitesand schists, and is highly susceptible to weathering and erosion. This, combined with the state's heavy rainfall, causes extensive soil erosion and the loss of soil nutrients throughleaching. As a result, landslides are frequent, often isolating rural towns and villages from the major urban centres.
The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, autumn, and monsoon season. Sikkim's climate ranges fromsub-tropicalin the south totundrain the north. Most of the inhabited regions of Sikkim experience atemperateclimate, with temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18 °C (64 °F).
Sikkim is one of the few states in India to receive regular snowfall. Thesnow lineranges from 6,100 metres (20,000 ft) in the south of the state to 4,900 metres (16,100 ft) in the north.The tundra-type region in the north is snowbound for four months every year, and the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) almost every night.In north-western Sikkim, the peaks are frozen year-round;because of the high altitude, temperatures in the mountains can drop to as low as −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter.
During the monsoon, heavy rains increase the risk oflandslides. The record for the longest period of continuous rain in Sikkim is 11 days.Fogaffects many parts of the state during winter and the monsoons, making transportation perilous.
Sikkim is situated in anecological hotspotof the lower Himalayas, one of only three among theecoregions of India.The forested regions of the state exhibit a diverse range offaunaandflora. Owing to its altitudinal gradation, the state has a wide variety of plants, from tropical species to temperate, alpine and tundra ones, and is perhaps one of the few regions to exhibit such a diversity within such a small area. Nearly 81 per cent of the area of Sikkim comes under the administration of its forest department.
Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of flowering plants, 515 rareorchids, 60primulaspecies, 36rhododendronspecies, 11oakvarieties, 23bamboovarieties, 16coniferspecies, 362 types offernsand ferns allies, 8tree ferns, and over 900 medicinal plants.A relative of thePoinsettia, locally known as "Christmas Flower", can be found in abundance in the mountainous state. TheNoble Dendrobiumis the official flower of Sikkim, while therhododendronis thestate tree.
Orchids,figs,laurel,bananas,saltrees and bamboo grow in theHimalayan subtropical broadleaf forestsof the lower altitudes of Sikkim. In the temperate elevations above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) there areEastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, where oaks,chestnuts,maples,birches,alders, andmagnoliasgrow in large numbers, as well asHimalayan subtropical pine forests, dominated byChir pine.Alpine-typevegetation is typically found between an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,500 to 16,400 ft). In lower elevations are foundjuniper, pine,firs,cypressesand rhododendrons from theEastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. Higher up areEastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadowsand high-altitude wetlands, which are home to a wide variety of rhododendrons and wildflowers.
The fauna of Sikkim include thesnow leopard,musk deer,Himalayan tahr,red panda,Himalayan marmot,Himalayan serow,Himalayan goral,muntjac,common langur,Asian black bear,clouded leopard,marbled cat,leopard cat,dhole,Tibetan wolf,hog badger,binturong, andHimalayan jungle cat. Among the animals more commonly found in the alpine zone areyaks, mainly reared for theirmilk, meat, and as a beast of burden.
Theavifaunaof Sikkim include theimpeyan pheasant,crimson horned pheasant,snow partridge,Tibetan snowcock,bearded vultureandgriffon vulture, as well asgolden eagles,quails,plovers,woodcocks,sandpipers,pigeons,Old World flycatchers,babblersand robins. Sikkim has more than 550 species of birds, some of which have been declaredendangered.
Sikkim also has a rich diversity ofarthropods, many of which remain unstudied.Some of the most understudied species are Sikkimese arthropods, specificallybutterflies. Of the approximately 1,438 butterfly species found in theIndian subcontinent, 695 have been recorded in Sikkim.These include the endangeredKaiser-i-hind, theYellow Gorgonand theBhutan Glory.
List of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Sikkim:
According to theConstitution of India, Sikkim has aparliamentary systemofrepresentative democracyfor its governance;universal suffrageis granted to state residents. The government structure is organised into three branches:
In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy, theIndian National Congressgained a majority in the 1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of instability, a popular ministry headed byNar Bahadur Bhandari, leader of theSikkim Sangram Parishad Party, was sworn in. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994 elections,Pawan Kumar Chamlingof theSikkim Democratic Frontbecame the Chief Minister of the state. Chamling and his party had since held on to power by winning the 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections.However, the 2019 legislative assembly elections were won by theSikkim Krantikari Morchaparty and the chief minister since then isPrem Singh Tamang.The current Governor of Sikkim isLakshman Acharya.
Sikkim is among India's mostenvironmentally consciousstates, having bannedplastic water bottles"in all government functions and meetings" andpolystyreneproducts (throughout the state).
Sikkim has six districts –Gangtok District,Mangan District,Namchi District,Pakyong District,Geyzing DistrictandSoreng District. The district capitals areGangtok,Mangan,Namchi,Pakyong,GyalshingandSorengrespectively.These six districts are further divided into 16 subdivisions; Pakyong, Rongli, Rangpo and Gangtok are the subdivisions of the Gangtok and Pakyong Districts. Soreng, Yuksom, Gyalshing and Dentam are the subdivisions of the Geyzing and Soreng district. Chungthang, Dzongu, Kabi and Mangan are the subdivisions of the Mangan district. Ravongla, Jorethang, Namchi and Yangyang are the subdivisions of the Namchi district.
Each of Sikkim's districts is overseen by a state government appointee, thedistrict collector, who is in charge of the administration of the civilian areas of the district. The Indian Army has control over a large part of the state, as Sikkim forms part of a sensitive border area withChina. Many areas are restricted to foreigners, andofficial permitsare needed to visit them.
Sikkim's nominal stategross domestic product(GDP) was estimated at US$4.6 billion in 2019, with GDP per capita being $7,530 (₹ 5,50,000) thus constituting thethird-smallest GDP among India's 28 states.The state's economy is largelyagrarianbased on the terraced farming ofriceand the cultivation of crops such asmaize,millet,wheat,barley,oranges,tea, andcardamom.Sikkim produces more cardamom than any other Indian state and is home to the largest cultivated area of cardamom.Sikkim achieved its ambition to convert itsagriculture to fully organicbetween 2003 and 2016, and became the first state in India to achieve this distinction.
Because of its hilly terrain and poor transport infrastructure, Sikkim lacks a large-scale industrial base.Brewing, distilling,tanningandwatchmakingare the main industries and are mainly located in the southern regions of the state, primarily in the towns ofMelliandJorethang. In addition, a small mining industry exists in Sikkim extracting minerals such ascopper,dolomite,talc,graphite,quartzite,coal,zinc, andlead.Despite the state's minimal industrial infrastructure, Sikkim's economy has been among the fastest-growing in India since 2000; the state's GDP expanded by 89.93% in 2010 alone.In 2003, Sikkim decided to fully convert toorganic farmingand achieved this goal in 2015 becoming India's first "organic state".
In recent years, the government of Sikkim has extensively promotedtourism. As a result, state revenue has increased 14 times since the mid-1990s.Sikkim has furthermore invested in a fledglinggamblingindustry promoting bothcasinosandonline gambling. The state's first casino, the Casino Sikkim, opened in March 2009.In the year 2010 the government subsequently issued three gambling licences for casinos and online sports betting in general.The Playwin lottery has been a notable success in the state.
The opening of theNathu Lapass on 6 July 2006, connectingLhasa,Tibet, to India, was billed as a boon for Sikkim's economy. Trade through the pass remains hampered by Sikkim's limited infrastructure and government restrictions in both India and China, though the volume of traded goods has been steadily increasing.
Sikkim did not have any operationalairportfor a long time because of its rough terrain. However, in October 2018,Pakyong Airport, the state's first airport, located inPakyong Townat a distance of 30 km (19 mi) from Gangtok, became operational after a four-year delay.It has been constructed by theAirports Authority of Indiaon 200 acres of land. At an altitude of 4,700 feet (1,400 m) above sea level, it is one of the five highest airports in India.The airport is capable of operatingATRaircraft.
Before October 2018, the closest operational airport to Sikkim wasBagdogra AirportnearSiliguriin northernWest Bengal. The airport is located about 124 km (77 mi) fromGangtok, and frequent buses connect the two.A dailyhelicopterservice run by the Sikkim Helicopter Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra; the flight is thirty minutes long, operates only once a day, and can carry four people.The Gangtokhelipadis the only civilian helipad in the state.
National Highway 10(NH 10;formerly NH 31A) linksSiligurito Gangtok. Sikkim Nationalised Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately run bus, touristtaxi, andjeepservices operate throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri. A branch of the highway fromMelliconnects western Sikkim. Towns in eastern, southern and western Sikkim are connected to thehill stationsofKalimpongandDarjeelingin northern West Bengal.The state is furthermore connected toTibetby the mountain pass ofNathu La.
List of National Highways of Sikkim:
Sikkim lacks significant railway infrastructure. The closest major railway stations areSiliguri JunctionandNew Jalpaiguriin neighbouring West Bengal.However, the New Sikkim Railway Project has been launched to connect the town ofRangpoin Sikkim withSevokeon the West Bengal border. This line isSevoke-Rangpo Railway LinefromSivok railway stationtoRangpo railway station.The five-station line is intended to support both economic development and Indian Army operations and was initially planned to be completed by 2015,though as of 2023 its construction has met with delays.In 2019, the railway line up to Rangpo was expected to be completed in 2021.In the second phase the line will be extended up toGangtok.In addition, theMinistry of Railwaysproposed plans in 2010 for railway lines linkingMirikin West Bengal toNamchi,Daramdin,Ranipool, andGangtok.
Sikkim's roads are maintained by theBorder Roads Organisation(BRO), an offshoot of the Indian Army. The roads in southern Sikkim are in relatively good condition, landslides being less frequent in this region. The state government maintains 1,857 kilometres (1,154 mi) of roadways that do not fall under the BRO's jurisdiction.
Sikkim receives most of its electricity from 19hydroelectric power stations.Power is also obtained from theNational Thermal Power CorporationandPower Grid Corporation of India.By 2006, the state had achieved 100 per cent rural electrification.However, the voltage remains unstable and voltage stabilisers are needed. Per capita consumption of electricity in Sikkim was approximately 182kWhin 2006. The state government has promotedbiogasandsolar powerfor cooking, but these have received a poor response and are used mostly for lighting purposes.In 2005, 73.2 per cent of Sikkim's households were reported to have access to safe drinking water,and the state's large number of mountain streams assures a sufficient water supply.
On 8 December 2008, it was announced that Sikkim had become the first state in India to achieve 100 per cent sanitation coverage, becoming completely free of public defecation, thus attaining the status of "Nirmal State".
Sikkim is India's least populous state, with 610,577 inhabitants according to the2011 census.Sikkim is also one of the least densely populated Indian states, with only 86 persons per square kilometre. However, it has a high population growth rate, averaging 12.36% per cent between 2001 and 2011. Thesex ratiois 889 females per 1,000 males, with a total of 321,661 males and 286,027 females recorded in 2011. With around 98,000 inhabitants as of 2011, the capitalGangtokis the most significant urban area in the mostly rural state; in 2005, the urban population in Sikkim constituted around 11.06 per cent of the total.In 2011, the averageper capita incomein Sikkim stood at₹81,159 (US$1,305).
The official languages of the state areNepali,Sikkimese,LepchaandEnglish. Additional official languages includeGurung,Limbu,Magar,Mukhia,Newar,Rai,SherpaandTamangfor the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.
Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.English is also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages includeDzongkha,Groma,Hindi,Majhi,Majhwar,Thulung,Tibetan, andYakha.
The majority of Sikkim's residents areNepali Indians.Thenative Sikkimeseinclude theBhutias, who migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th century, and theLepchas, who are believed to pre-date the Bhutias and are the oldest known inhabitants.Tibetansreside mostly in the northern and eastern reaches of the state. Migrant resident communities known asPlainsmen SikkimeseincludeBengalis,BiharisandMarwaris, who are prominent in commerce inSouth SikkimandGangtok, only those who are the native residents since 1946.
According to the 2011 census, 57.8% followHinduism, making it the state's majority religion.Buddhismis followed by 27.4% of the population, whileChristianityis followed by 9.9%.Between 2001 and 2011, Christianity was the fastest growing religion in the state, going from 6.67% to 9.91% of the population.It was thus the fourth state with the highest Christian growth in the period, behind onlyArunachal Pradesh,ManipurandMeghalaya.As of 2014, theEvangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkimis the largest Christian denomination in Sikkim.Hinduism, on the other hand, declined from 60.93% to 57.76% of the population in the same period.Sikkim was the fourth state with the biggest decline in the percentage of Hindus, behind onlyArunachal Pradesh,ManipurandAssam.Vajrayana Buddhism, which accounts for 27.3% of the population, is Sikkim's second-largest, yet most prominent religion. Prior to Sikkim's becoming a part of the Indian Union, Vajrayana Buddhism was the state religion under the Chogyal. Sikkim has 75Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s.The public and visual aesthetics of Sikkim are executed in shades of Vajrayana Buddhism and Buddhism plays a significant role in public life, even among Sikkim's majority Nepali Hindu population. Other religious minorities includeMuslimsof Bihari ethnicity andJains, who each account for roughly 1% of the population.The traditional religions of thenative Sikkimeseaccount for much of the remainder of the population.
Although tensions between the Lepchas and the Nepalese escalated during the merger of Sikkim with India in the 1970s, there has never been any major degree of communal religious violence, unlike in other Indian states.The traditional religion of the Lepcha people isMun, an animist practice which coexists with Buddhism and Christianity.
There are 6 districts in Sikkim, each overseen by a Central Government appointee, thedistrict collector, who is in charge of the administration of the civilian areas of the districts. The Indian Army has control of a large territory, as the state is a sensitive border area. Many areas are restricted andpermitsare needed to visit them. 
The six districts are:
Sikkim's Gorkhali majority celebrate all major Hindu festivals, includingTihar(Diwali) andDashain(Dashera). Traditional local festivals, such asMaghe Sankranti,Ramnavmi,Janmastami,Holi,Shivaratri,Navratri,Sakela,Chasok Tangnamand Bhimsen Puja, are popular.Losar,Saga Dawa,Lhabab Duechen,Drupka TeshiandBhumchuare among the Buddhist festivals celebrated in Sikkim. During the Losar (Tibetan New Year), most offices and educational institutions are closed for a week.
Sikkimese Muslims celebrateEid ul-FitrandMuharram.Christmashas been promoted in Gangtok to attract tourists during the off-season.
Westernrock musicandIndian pophave gained a wide following in Sikkim.Nepali rockand Lepcha music are also popular.Sikkim's most popular sports arefootballandcricket, althoughhang glidingand river rafting have grown popular as part of the tourism industry.
Traditional cuisines of theLepcha,Limbu,Magar, andBhutiapeoples incorporate the rich biodiversity of the place. The Buddhist saintPadmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who passed through ancient Sikkim in the eighth century noted the rich produce of the place in his writings,
Noodle-based dishes such asthukpa,chow mein,thenthuk, fakthu, gyathuk andwontonare common in Sikkim.Momos– steameddumplingsfilled with vegetables, chicken, mutton, beef or pork and served with soup – are a popular snack.
Beer,whiskey,rumandbrandyare widely consumed in Sikkim,as istongba, amillet-based alcoholic beverage that is popular inNepalandDarjeeling. Sikkim has the third-highest per capitaalcoholismrate among all Indian states, behindPunjabandHaryana.
In 1957, a Nepali monthly magazineKanchenjungabecame the first news outlet for the masses in Sikkim.
The southern urban areas of Sikkim have English, Nepali and Hindi daily newspapers. Nepali-language newspapers, as well as some English newspapers, are locally printed, whereas Hindi and English newspapers are printed inSiliguri. Important local dailies and weeklies includeHamro Prajashakti(Nepali daily),Himalayan Mirror(English daily), theSamay Dainik,Sikkim Express(English),Kanchanjunga Times(Nepali weekly),Pragya Khabar(Nepali weekly) andHimali Bela.Furthermore, the state receives regional editions of national English newspapers such asThe Statesman,The Telegraph,The HinduandThe Times of India.Himalaya Darpan, a Nepali daily published in Siliguri, is one of the leading Nepali daily newspapers in the region. TheSikkim Heraldis an official weekly publication of the government. Online media covering Sikkim include the Nepali newspaperHimgiri, the English news portalHaalkhabarand the literary magazineTistarangit.Avyakta,Bilokan, theJournal of Hill Research,Khaber Khagaj,Panda, and theSikkim Science Society Newsletterare among other registered publications.
Internet cafésare well established in the district capitals, butbroadbandconnectivity is not widely available.Satellite televisionchannels through dish antennae are available in most homes in the state. Channels served are largely the same as those available in the rest of India, although Nepali-language channels are also available. The main service providers includeAirtel digital TV,Tata Sky,Dish TV,DD Free Dishand Nayuma.
In 2011, Sikkim's adultliteracy ratewas 82.2 per cent: 87.29 per cent for males and 76.43 per cent for females.There are a total of 1,157 schools in the state, including 765 schools run by the state government, seven central government schools and 385 private schools.There is one Institute of National Importance,onecentral universityand four private universitiesin Sikkim offering higher education.
Recently, Government of Sikkim has approved the open school board named Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education,BOSSEto provideSecondary Education, Senior Secondary as well as Skill & Vocational Education up to pre-degree level and to provide opportunity to continue education to such students who have missed the opportunity of school education. Sikkim has aNational Institute of Technology, currently operating from a temporary campus inRavangla, South Sikkim,which is one among the ten newly sanctionedNITsby theGovernment of Indiaunder the 11th Five year Plan, 2009.TheNIT Sikkimalso has state of art super computing facility namedPARAM Kanchenjungawhich is said to be fastest among all 31NITs.Sikkim Universityis the only central university in Sikkim. The public-private funded institution is theSikkim Manipal Universityof Technological Sciences, which offers higher education inengineering,medicineandmanagement. It also runs a host ofdistance educationprograms in diverse fields.
Medhavi Skills Universityis aprivate universitylocated in the state of Sikkim, India. It was established in 2021 under the Sikkim Private Universities, (Amendment) Act, 2021. The university aims to provide skill-based education to students and bridge the gap between academia and industry.
There are two state-run polytechnic schools – the Advanced Technical Training Centre (ATTC) and the Centre for Computers and Communication Technology (CCCT) – which offerdiplomacourses in various branches of engineering. ATTC is situated at Bardang,Singtam, and CCCT at Chisopani, Namchi.
Sikkim Universitybegan operating in 2008 atYangang, which is situated about 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Singtam.Many students, however, migrate toSiliguri,Kolkata,Bangaloreand other Indian cities for their higher education.
The campus of theNational Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), under theMinistry of Electronics & Information Technologyof the Government of India, is atPakyongin East Sikkim, and offers formal and informal education in the IT/ITES sector.
The major towns and cities of Sikkim are as follows:
Gangtok,Pakyong,Namchi,Jorethang,Rangpo,Singtam,Gyalshing,Mangan,Soreng,Pelling,Rhenock,Rongli,Rorathang,Ravangla,Chungthang,Ranipool,Lachen,Nayabazar,Lachung,Dikchu,Majitar,Legship,Melli,Yuksom,Sherathang,Namthang,Rinchenpong,Singhik,Hee Burmiok,Tashiding,Kumrek,Makha,Yangang, andDamthang.
The popular sports played in Sikkim includefootball,cricket,archery,volleyball,tennis,badminton, andathletics. Adventure sports likeparagliding,Hikingandmountain bikingare also popular in Sikkim. 
The stadiums of Sikkim are as follows: