S I K K I M

| Location/Geography | Climate | Flora | Fauna | People |

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY

Sikkim an erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom, has been a State of India since it merger in 1975. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it is wedged between the Kingdoms of Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east. With an area of 7,096 sq. kms it has a rectangular shape measuring about 114 kms from north to south and 64 kms from east to west. The elevation varies between 300mtrs to 8500 mtrs.

The greater Himalayas form a natural boundary with Tibet and the Singalila range with Mt. Khangchendzonga (8545 mtrs), the third highest peak in the world , runs north to south separating Sikkim from Nepal. On the eastern front the Chola range borders with Tibet and the Pangola range further down separate Sikkim from Bhutan. Finally, the vast plains of Bengal open out in the south to form a horseshoe picture of the high ranges bordering Sikkim.

A spectacular bird's eye view of Sikkim with its mountains ranges can be seen from Menam peak (3200mtrs) and Tendong peak (2580 mtrs) in south Sikkim. These peaks are accessible from Ravangla for two/three day's trek.

The two major rivers, Teesta and Rangit, flow from north to south creating deep gorges which divide Sikkim into three longitudinal strips. The valleys in the north are wider at Yumthang (3600 mtrs) and Lachung (2700 mtrs) which are easily accessible by road. These Rhododendron areas deep in the northern mountains are inhabited by Lachungpas, who have preserved and maintained their unique culture and a society governed by a traditional village council- "Dzomsa".

The Teesta and Rangit rivers also offer the thrill of riding the wild water and angling for some local variety of fish.

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CLIMATE

Due to sharp variance in the topography and the fact that the State is closer to the tropics, the climatic conditions also vary from tropical to the alpine.

Mid June to September is generally considered as summer/monsoon when the precipitation is maximum between 130 cm-430 cm. The maximum temperature ranges between 21ºC-37ºC and the minimum between 13ºC - 23ºC.

October and November loosely form the autumn season with clear blue skies and lush green hillsides after a long monsoon.

The winter stretches from December to February with the minimum temperature falling between 0ºC - 9ºC and maximum from 13ºC - 28ºC.

March to May is the spring season with warm days and cool nights. All seasons except the summer / monsoon season is good times to visit Sikkim.

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FLORA

The unique topography and location of Sikkim manifest in a diverse range of flora, which is tropical in the low-lying area and alpine in the high reaches of the mountains. Fortunately, the human population throughout history has been very low which has helped this place to maintain a high percentage of forest cover, evident even now.

Sikkim is very well known mainly for its orchids of which there are more than 400 species and rhododendrons numbering more than 35 species. Most of the orchids are found in the lower areas and the rhododendrons grow in the mid altitude and stretch upto the snow line where they are small shrubs, which grows up to barely a few inches high. The rhododendrons are best seen in Varsey, Lachung valley and the slopes of Menam. During March/April these areas are a riot of colors. This can also be experienced on the trek to Dzongri and beyond Goechala (5000 mtrs).

The orchids bloom almost throughout the year depending on the species but most of them flower during springs and autumn. The rhododendron s start flowering by mid March in the lower levels and continues upto May in the higher elevation.

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FAUNA

The snow leopard, "Shapi", the Tibetan sheep. The blue sheep, Kiang the Tibetan Wild ass, the Red Panda are some of the rare mammals found in the higher altitude of Sikkim.
Besides, the State is also home to a large number of insects and birds. Of the total 1400 types of butterflies are found in the Indian sub-continent, almost 50% of them are found in Sikkim. For a naturalist, this place is indeed a treasure trove of many rare species of fauna, which can be encountered in such a relatively small area.

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PEOPLE

The people of Sikkim can be ethnically categorized into Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepalese. The Lepchas are considered to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim who practiced nature worship and lived off the forest. With the coming of the Bhutias, this tribal community was overwhelmed culturally and religiously. Lepcha culture and ways of life can be seen in some villages even now.

The Bhutias, Buddhist by faith are said to have come from the eastern region of Tibet sometime in the 14^th century. They found the land warm and fertile and named it "Dema-zong" or the "Valley of Rice". Moreover, Sikkim was very prominently mentioned by Guru Padmasambhava (the great 7^th century Buddhist saint who strengthened Buddhism in Tibet) in his scriptures, as a very sacred place. It was also in consonance with his scriptures the first "Chogyal" or the religious king was consecrated at Yuksom in 1641. Since then the Namgyal Dynasty ruled Sikkim uninterrupted till 1975.

The Nepal community is a generalized term for the many castes and sub-communities like Brahmins, Chhetris, Newars, Kamis, and Damais, who are Aryans in origin and the Rais, Limbus, Gurungs, Magars, and even Sherpas who are basically Mongoloid. This community came into Sikkim from 19th century though the Limbus are said to have come much earlier. They were more agriculturists unlike the Bhutias who were mainly dependent on animal husbandry back home or the Lepchas who were forest folks. The fertile valley was terraced to grow paddy and maize and later cardamom as a cash crop.

The ethnic Sikkim is best seen in the villages rather than the towns, which have become more cosmopolitan in demography and culture.

Buddhism has had a deep impact since time immemorial in history when Guru Padmasambhava traveled to Tibet. This has manifested in 200 monasteries and holy shrines. The oldest amongst the monasteries is the one at Dubdi, about an hour's walk from Yuksom. But Pemayangtse monastery has been more prominent due to the privilege bestowed to the Chief Abbot to coronate the successive Chogyal. In recent time, the Rumtek monastery is widely known as the seat of the Kagyupa sect and also the head quarter of the worldwide Karma Kagyu centre. The Bhutias are Buddhist and so are most the Lepchas. The Nepalese are Chiefly Hindus but many people in the villages, regardless of their religion still have strong beliefs in the spirits which are said to inhabit the mountains and hills, rocks and caves, streams and rivers and even trees and forests which are to be appeased by the "Jhankri" or the "Bongthings".

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