ABOUT SIKKIM

Present Sikkim At A Glance
By: B.A. Sharma


Sikkim is in the first of 7,096 sq.kms. and geographical length of 27.28 latitude North and the 88.89 degree East longitude with a population of 6,00,000 approximate. 114 kms away from Siliguri and 125 kms from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. The road for Sikkim is connected with Darjeeling District of West Bengal. There is a direct air service from Bagdogra (which is 124 kms from Gangtok) to Gangtok. As usual passport for foreigner are necessary for further inner line permit (ILP) validating upto 15 days which sometimes extends as per situation or the mission of the visitors depends upon.
Activities like trekking and rafting are accepted subject to team exercise, not less than two in a group. Accordingly, the written information were found about the biodiversity of flora and fauna from tropical to alpine. There were 407 varieties of orchids and the 690 types of butterflies are found in the state. The medicinal plants are available in the state like Cymbidiums, Catteleya, Dendrobium are poplar orchids, Monal pheasant, Marmots, Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep are well known fauna of Sikkim.
Sikkim is richest tourism storage in the country. The tourism avenue in Sikkim has bonafide stature in the country. The development and speedy fetch ups ontoward constructive wills of the administrator and the premier of the state Shir Pawan Chamleng has scored the peak high.
It is true indeed, thee hidden gems of Sikkim have been properly bushed with good administration in the state. It is also true that the western States like J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand have the treasure of tourism since inception of the term tourism entered into thee nation. Above all the southern and south western states like Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have own pride of tourism, though since time immemorial. However, the fastest growing Sikkim has been developing on eye witnessing of the present generation, is example good governance and the correct plotting of the plans and appropriate allocation of funds, which is commendable on the part of legislation.
Sikkim is consists of 4 districts as: East i.e. Gangtok; west i.e Gyalshing; North i.e Mangan; and south i.e Namchi as their district head- quarter. Gangtok is the State Capital where the secretariat of the State Assembly, the Governor’s House, the Old Raj Darbar (Palace of the Chowgyal) are situated. There were numerous tourist attracted places are situated in the East district as:
i) Enchy Monastry- 200 years old monastery
ii) Rumtek Monastry
iii) Flower complex
iv) Gangtok Ropeway (Nam- Nang)
v) Smile land: Fund & feast in water
vi) Water Garden
vii) Bunjhakhri Falls
viii) Ganesh Tok
ix) Hanuman Tok
x) Zoological Park
xi) Tsomgo Lake
xii) Bab Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple
xiii) Prachin Saraswati Temple
It is to say that from the oldest monastery to the religious touch, to the biodiversity culture to the highest artificially manoeuvring phenomena of the state head- quarter exhibits development. Along with the spottic development for tourism and the economy innumerable competitive hotels and lodges are also similarly developed in the private sectors and ITDC managed. Among the 200 hotels and lodges and the restaurant in the capital M/S Anola, M/S Bayul of MG Marg; M/S Himalayan Height in P.S Road; M/S Hotel Norkhil, Palzor Stadium Road; M/S Orange Village Resort, Seven mile, Samdur; M/S Park Residency, 31- A N.H. Gangtok; M/S Rendezvous, Gangtok; M/S Royal Plaza Hotel, Siyari; M/S Sonam Belek, Tibet Road and M/S Tashi Delek etc. can be taken into account.
The hospitals, schools, collages, Universities, police stations, power houses, fire stations, clubs, post office are all miscellany. There were registered travel agents which gives more convenient to the visitors into the state.
The North District has impacted development as other districts had been developed, North District is not less than attractive in tourism. It has tourist spots like: Kabi Lungchok, Seven Sister Waterfalls, Sirijunga Yuma Mangeem, Ramlungten Lee, Singhik, Chungthang, Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen, Thangu, Gurudangmar lak etc.
South Sikkim has been developed speedily, far than usual routine plan. The attractive places in the south Sikkim can be taken as:
Sandruptse Rock Garden, Namchi, Rabong, Bon Monastery, Bakhim, Tendong Hill, Temi Tea Garden, Maenam Hill, Borong, Sikip, Phur Tsa Chu, Flower Festival at Namchi, Manilakhang, Rabong.
The above all particulars are the places where man goes but no minds returned, though physique returned.
The West Sikkim has own beauty in slim hills with the following attractive spots:
Pemayamtse Monastry, Pelling, Darap, Rapdentse, Sangacholing Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, Khang- Chen- Dzonga Waterfalls, Yuksam, Dubdi Monastery, Phamrong Waterfalls, Rangit Waterfalls, Leg Ship (Shivmandir), Tashiding, Kongri, Labdang, Soreng, Chaakung, Limboo Cultural Centre, Jureli Danra, Varsey, Ringchenpong, Hee Bormik, Singshore Bridge.
Among the above places Rabdantse can be taken very important that this place was second capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim during 1814 AD, which is now found to be ruined place, visible from Pemayamtse road walk. Also Pelling situated on the spur span of Koktang mountain at the height of 6800 ft. due to the fact all western tracked ranges visible from Pelling.
Another hidden treasure of Sikkim in the west is Khecheopalri Lake, which is just 25 kms.from Pelling. There is a faith of both Hindu and Buddhist that, it is an eye ball of the Almighty, where, on the eye ball no dust fall is allowable by nature. For the fact of the manner, the forest surrounded lake water does not allow a leaf of the plants falling on the water, meant for eye of the almighty with the act of lifting by the birds as angels behind Almighty. Even a leaf floats on the water, the birds will immediately lift it out; thus kept the water away from floating anything.
Thus, Sikkim as a whole has no boredom in any pocket or hamlets. On the other hand so much of hotels and restaurants available in Sikkim also giving relief of the visitors by rewinding energy when fatigue been trounced on the trek.
Economy And Development:
Development termed economization of the state. Developing means economically sound in the state. Uprising exposition of development showing very good co- ordination in between politics, economics, business, education, health preservation of nature and good administration. Overall economy (per-capita income) is better than other Norht- East states.
Funding:
Very truly but appropriate budget of the state is a accepted by the Union Government; as its terrain has tremendous speech on every curve of the jetting spurs on the forelore tales. As much as budget provision forwarded to the Union Government the state feel deprived of. Because so much avenue of expenditure can not make up by the budget, since the administration is properly utilizing the funds. So far Sikkim is concerned to funds as per development of the state, the administration is properly looking into the figures of the provision and the implementations.
Festivals In Sikkim:
Festivals are also not behind development of the state. The festivals, the place of festival and festivals belongs to which community are as under:
1. Maghe Sankranti- function organized at Jorethang on the 1st day of the Magh ie. 13-15 of January as per the Gregorian Calendar.
2. Nyempa Guzom- January.
3. Sonam Lochar- February, Bhutia.
4. Guthar Chaam at Rumtek Monastery; 2 days prior to Tibet New Year during February- March.
5. Bhumchu Tashiding- February/ March.
6. Flower Festival- Gangtok, Round the year but March- May and October- November for Orchid Lovers.
7. Sanga Dawa- May June.
8. Dasain (Durga Puja of Nepali) - October.
9. Tyohar (Diwali) Nepali.
10. Losoong- December etc.
Thus, Sikkim is No. 1 state in the North- East.