SIKKIM & DARJEELING HIMALAYAN TREKKING.....
Nestled
between Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet, Sikkim, a tiny and a remote independent
Buddhist Kingdom was ruled by the Choegyal Dynasty whose root goes back to
the 13th century. The Choegyal Dynasty started with Kye Bumsa, a tibetan
warlord who happened to come to this land of
Demazong meaning
"Valley
of Rice". During the British Raj in India, Sikkim was given the
status of
Protectorate State. In 1975, under the Choegyal, Sikkim
became the
22nd state of Indian Union. Measuring just 40
by 70 miles (2800 square kilometers), its terrain rises from just above sea
level to the icebound summits of
Kanchenjunga (28,208ft), third
highest peak in the world, revered by the locals as their protective deity.
Each year, in order to appease the Lord Khanchenjunga, a state sponsored
religious festival of Phang Labsol is held at the four major monasteries of
Sikkim.
Referred to as the
‘Garden Kingdom of the
Himalayas’, flora and fauna of Sikkim with over 600 varieties of
Orchids, 30 species
of Rhododendrons and Primal, is considered
one of the botanical minefields in the world. Seventy percent of the
landscape is still untouched by the modern civilization . Forest life as
such are still magically primeval and refreshingly intact, spared the
chopper’s ace due to the eco-consciousness of the people advocated
widely.
The
people of Sikkim are of three distinct heritages:
Lepcha, believed
to have originated from the border area of Assam and Burma; the
Bhutia,
of Tibetan origin, settled in Sikkim after the 15th century; and the
Nepalese,
who migrated from Nepal in the middle of the 17th century. Communities,
cultures, religions and customs of different hue intermingle freely and the
Sikkimese’s natural friendliness adds immeasurably to the visitor’s
enjoyment. Highlighting a visit to Sikkim are the stunning monasteries which
form an integral part of Sikkim: it is here that Gods mix with the mortals.
Built in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition (Nyingma and Kargyu sects), set
amidst thick forests and on isolated hilltops, these monasteries are host to
a number of festivals, which are singular experience in pomp and pageantry.
GANGTOK, the hillside capital of Sikkim (5,800ft) retains a
small-town feeling, neat and clean, but undergoing rapid modernization. An
open air vegetable bazaar and bustling handicraft center selling hand-woven
carpets, intricately carved chokste(tables), and exquisitely carved silver
and gold jewelry attract visitors. Attractive hotels and restaurants feature
Sikkimese, Tibetan and Chinese dishes.
GENERAL INFORMATION:HOW TO GET TO
SIKKIM:- The primary means of communication within Sikkim is by road. A
daily helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra is the only other
alternate option. However Sikkim is well connected to rest of the country by
rail and air through Siliguri in West Bengal which is about 115 kms from
Gangtok and forms the railhead to Sikkim. Bagdogra, the airport of Siliguri
has daily flights to Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati. Sikkim is also
well-connected by road with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Phuntsoling, the
border town of Bhutan.
CLIMATE:- Sikkim has an unusual
variety of climate influenced by varying altitudes so much so, it is
possible to drop from arctic heights to the tropical lowlands within a
matter of couple of hours. Places with moderate altitude (4,000ft –
10,000ft) like Gangtok have a more or less good climate. During the spring
(March-May) and autumn(September-November), the weather is pleasant.
June-August, the monsoons bring torrential rain for days together and winter
(December-February), the days become cold and nights chilly but the snow
line remains above 12,000 ft.
GOVERNMENT:-
Sikkim became a constituent unit of India on 10 April, 1975 after abolishing
the institution of the Chogyal (the king) who had ruled since the
first king had been consecrated in the year 1642 in Yuksom. The people of
Sikkim submitted a general referendum in favour of the resolution, after
which the two houses of the Indian parliment passed the 38th Consitution
Amendment Bill, which made Sikkim the 22nd state of the Indian Union. As a
democratic state, election to the 32 seats in the state legislature is held
after every 5 years .
RELIGION:- The main religions are
Hinduism, Buddhisim and Christianity whereby the Hindus constitute nearly
67%, Buddhists 30% and Christianity 2%.
Important festivals are
Saga Dawa (4th month of th
e lunar calendar), Phang Labsol ( 15th day
of the 7th month of the lunar calendar), Loosong (Sikkimese New Year held
during the December usually), Lossar (Tibetan New Year which normally is
celebrated in the month of February
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