Sikkim

Sikkim is the most peaceful state in India. Located in the north east of India this charming place is the perfect holiday destination for all. Natives of this place are warm by nature and good hosts who welcome their guests tremendously. Tourists can notice mix culture in Sikkim as people from different groups live here.

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. This beautiful hilly area provides fun and great time to the travelers. The view of Himalayas makes this town more fascinating. Gangtok is a small town but it provides all the facilities to the people. Good restaurants are available there and this place is perfect for shopping because one can spot malls here. Gangtok is colorful state and people of this town are very trendy. Sikkim also has a variety in foods. Momos and thukpa are the favorite cuisine of the people. It also provides the large varieties to vegetarian and non vegetarian. One can enjoy these meals in restaurants or in resorts.

Sikkim has wide range of art and craft. People are skillful in woolen items such as carpets and blankets. Handloom work is also very popular here. Beside this thangka painting and wooden carving is appraisable.

Adventure holidays are also possible in Sikkim. Activities such as river rafting, trekking and yak safari may delight you. Monasteries are other tourist attraction in this state. Enchey is the oldest monastery here. Since a large number of Buddhist live here, one can find beautiful monasteries all around.

Sikkim is full of flora and fauna. Different types of forests and animals make the city beautiful.

Place : Sikkim
Capital : Gangtok
Area : 7300 Sq. Kms.
Population: 4,06457
Climate Summer: Max. 20.7 C/Min. 13.1 C
Winter Max: 14.9 C/Min. 7.7 C

Best Season Mid February: - late May / October - December
Minerals Copper, Zinc, Lead, Pyrites, Limestone, and coal. Agriculture Maize and Rice. Millet, Buckwheat, Barley, Pulses, are subsidiary crops.

Cash Crop: Cardamom, ginger, Apples, Oranges, Pine-apples People three ethnic group, Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. Religion Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and other religion are also practised.

Flora and Fauna
Sikkim is densely covered by forest due to heavy rainfall. It can be divided into three zones Tropical zone about 100 metres with its vegetation such as bamboo, fern, pandanus, sal and orchid are found. Dense undergrowth and bush vegetation are found in sub-tropical zone. In the temperate Zone in the northern valley is covered by cherry, laurel, oak, chesnut, Maple, pine and magnolia. Rhododendrons which is abundant is found above (2000 metres ) there are about thirty species . In the north different varieties of Primula is found. There are roughly 4000 variety of flowering plants and shrubs in Sikkim of which orchids are about 700 species with varieties of several in hundreds kinds of butterflies. Regarding the records of Sikkim in wild animals Yeti is believed to be still existing in the Himalayas of Sikkim an expedition was also conducted , there are local people and porters who still talk about witnessing Yeti in the high trekking areas. Snow leopard is found in 4000 metres, Himalayan black bear is found in 2000 metres, above this altitude Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Sambar, Marbled Cat, Leopard Cat, Squirrel, Tiger, Panda, Otter, Ovis, Nahura, ovismon Goral and wild boar is also found.

About 500 species of birds are found in Sikkim. Among them the important birds are Pheasants, Partridges Ducks, and Lammergeyer. Trout and Salmon are the principal fish of Sikkim.

GANGTOK is a perfect symbol of the confluence of the past and present - the capital of Sikkim. Built on the flank of the ridge, Gangtok is 1600 meters above sea level. The town's unique ambience derives from the happy blend of tradition and modernity. Alongside the deeply felt presence of Stupas and monasteries, Gangtok also bustles like any other town. But with many of these oasis of quite, those unexpected pockets of peace exist.