Sikkim

The Lepchas originally peopled Sikkim, a tribal people thought to have migrated from the hills of Assam around the 13th century. The Lepchas were forest foragers and small-patch cultivators who worshipped nature spirits and were a pacific people in temperament. They still make up some 19% of the total population of Sikkim. The Tibetans started to immigrate in to Sikkim during the 15th and 16th centuries due to religious strife between the various Lamaist sects at that time.

For Many years, Sikkim was regarded as one of the last Himalayan "Shangri Las" because of its remoteness Spectacular Mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and ancient Buddhist monasteries.

Land :

Sikkim is thumb-shaped state characterized by wholly mountainous terrain. Kangchenjunga is the highest point in Sikkim which falls on the border between Sikkim and Nepal. The land is unfit for agriculture in most of the part in sikkim because of the precipitous and rocky slopes. However, certain hill slopes have been converted into farm lands using terrace farming techniques.

People :

The people of Sikkim are known as Sikkimese. In Sikkim, the leading communities are the Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. Sikkim is a fine specimen of harmony between people from different areas and regions.

Fact of Sikkim

Area : 7,096 km²

Population : 540,493 (aprox)

Capital : Gangtok

Language : Nepali, Bhuani, Lepcha, Limbu, Hindi and English

Altitude : 280 meter to 8585 meter

Ethic Race : Tibet - Mangol, Aryan.

Rainfall : 2739 mm

Temperature :
Summer : 28°C (Maximum), 15°C (Minimum)
Winter : 0°C (Maximum), -40°C (Minimum)

Best Time to Visit : March to June and September to December