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Sikkim Information Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, this beautiful state
of Sikkim is sandwiched between the kingdom of Nepal in
the West and Bhutan in the East, Tibet in the North and
the state of West Bengal in the South. With an area of
7,300 sq. kms, measuring 115 kms from north to south and
65 kms. From East to West, the elevation ranging from
244 mts to over 8550 mts., above sea level,
approximately latitude of 27 degree North and longitude
of 88 degree East.
 This small state belies its richness of culture,
customs, heritage, flora and fauna. Sikkim, once a
protectorate of India with a monarchy government but
metamorphosed as the 22nd state of the Indian Union in
the year 1975. The population of the state is only
4,20,000 as per the last census. Amidst the grandeur of
the mountain peaks, lush green valleys cascading
waterfalls and fast flowing rivers, beautiful
monasteries and terraced hills, Sikkim offers her
visitor a rare and exotic experience.
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). He presided over a social system based
on Tibetan Lamaistic Buddhism. His descendents ruled
Sikkim for more than 330 years. During the 1700’s Sikkim
suffered massive invasion from Nepal and Bhutan and lost
much territory as a result. The Nepalese also migrated
to Sikkim and settled as farmers. By the 1800’s Sikkim’s
population was very mixed, and internal conflict
resulted.
Sikkim assisted the British in a successful war against
Nepal in the year1814-1815 and won back some of its
land. The British India Company purchased the health
resort of Darjeeling from Sikkim. During the mid 1800’s,
Sikkim violently resisted attempts to bring it under
British Rule, but in 1861 it finally became a
protectorate. The British had assess to Tibet through
Sikkim, and Sikkim’s independent status was recognized.
The Indian government took responsibility of Sikkim’s
external affairs, defense and communication of Skim in
the year 1950. In 1973, India took Sikkim into the union
as an associate member. In 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd
state of India.
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