Sikkim is the smallest of the Indian states
located in the Northeast and nestled between Nepal, Tibet and
Bhutan. Only in 1975 it became an Indian state, having been India’s
protectorate before. Due to internal political problems and trouble
with the neighboring Nepal it finally gave in to the annexation
with which it had to give up its monarchy. Its population consists
of the Lepchas, the Bhutias and the Nepalis. The Lepchas are it’s
earliest inhabitants whose origin is not surely known. Theories
say the Lepchas originate from the Myanmar border or southern
Tibet. Their original religion is animistic consisting of the
believe in spirits and the worship of mountains, rivers and forests.
Now many of them have converted to Buddhism and some to Christianity.
The Bhutias came to Sikkim in the sixteenth century from Tibet.
They brought with them the Tantric Buddhism and were welcomed
without difficulties by the Lepcha population. In Kabi Longtsok
the Tibetean chieftain Khey Bumsar and the Lepcha shaman Tekung
Tek even signed a blood brotherhood. In 1642 the first Chogyal
(religious monarch) was consecrated in Yuksom.
The Nepalis came in the late nineteen’s
century with the influence of the British in India. The early
Sikkimese territory was much bigger, stretching out in the south
and including Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Darjeeling was gifted
to British India, which was using it as a summer residence.
Sikkim's complete territory is covered with
mountains and valleys with the Kanchendzonga as its highest peak.
In the north it is having a high mountain plateau bordering Tibet.
The two main rivers are the Teesta and the Rangit River. Forty
percent of the territory is still covered by forests although
deforestation has become a major problem. Thanks to good monsoons
and frequent rains Sikkim is green throughout the year. Sikkim’s
bio-diversity is immense; the forests are lush consisting of bamboos,
ferns, oaks, plantains and tree ferns. There are 600 species of
orchids alone and a huge variety of other flowers.
Sikkim is home to the Red Panda, which is its
state animal. There are Yaks, Shapi (a mountain goat variety),
Blue Sheep, Tibetean Wildass and innumerous birds and butterflies.
Being part of the Indian democracy since 1975,
Sikkim is a state with a high literacy rate (more than 70%), a
good and proper road system and a focus on environmental issues.
Soon, Sikkim will be declared an organic state.
After having simplified the process of obtaining
special permits for foreign tourists Sikkim’s tourism is
increasing year by year. With its amazing natural beauty Sikkim
has got the ideal conditions for a tourist destination.
Trekking, rafting, indulging into the Buddhist
culture, walking and studying the botany are only some of the
possibilities for an exciting holiday there.
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