Brief About North Sikkim District
Origin of Name: Sikkim (or Sikhim) means
crested land in Nepali. The term, which was coined by the invading
Gorkhas, is derived from the Sanskrit word Shikhim which means
"crested", and is the most widely accepted origin. Sikkim would
thus owe its name to its almost entirely mountainous terrain.
An alternative etymology suggests that the name originates in
the Limbu words Su, which means "new", and Khyim, which means
"palace". Hence the term Sikkim may also mean "New Palace", in
reference to the palace built by the state's first ruler, Panchen
Namgyal. The Tibetan name for Sikkim is 'Bras mo ljongs, which
means the "valley of rice".
History : The earliest recorded event
related to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche
through the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have
blessed the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim, and foretold
the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later.
In the 14th century, according to legend, Khye Bumsa, a prince
from the Minyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation
one night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes.
His descendants were later to form the royal family of Sikkim.
In 1642, the fifth generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog
Namgyal, was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim
by the three venerated Lamas who came from the north, west, and
south to Yuksom, marking the beginning of the monarchy. Flag of
the former monarchy of Sikkim.Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in
1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom
to Rabdentse. In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by the Bhutanese with
the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had been denied
the throne. The Bhutanese were driven away by the Tibetans, who
restored the throne to the Chogyal ten years later. Between 1717
and 1733, the kingdom faced many raids by the Nepalese in the
west and Bhutanese in the east, culminating with the destruction
of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese.
Geology : The hills of Sikkim mainly
consist of gneissose and half-schistose rocks, making their soil
brown clay, and generally poor and shallow. The soil is coarse,
with large amounts of iron oxide concentrations, ranging from
neutral to acidic and has poor organic and mineral nutrients.
This type of soil tends to support evergreen and deciduous forests.
A large portion of the Sikkim territory is covered by the Precambrian
rock and is much younger in age than the hills. The rock consists
of phyllites and schists and therefore the slopes are highly susceptible
to weathering and prone to erosion. This, combined with the intense
rain, causes extensive soil erosion and heavy loss of soil nutrients
through leaching. As a result, landslides are frequent, isolating
the numerous small towns and villages from the major urban centres.
Climate : The climate ranges from sub-tropical
in the south to tundra in the northern parts. Most of the inhabited
regions of Sikkim, however, enjoy a temperate climate, with the
temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer or dropping
below 0 °C (32 °F) in winter. The state enjoys five seasons: winter,
summer, spring, and autumn, and a monsoon season between June
and September. The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim
is around 18 °C (64 °F). Sikkim is one of the few states in India
to receive regular snowfall. The snow line is around 6,000 metres
(19,600 feet). During the monsoon months, the state is lashed
by heavy rains that increase the number of landslides. The state
record for the longest period of non-stop rain is eleven days.
In the northern region, because of high altitude, temperatures
drop below -40 °C in winter. Fog also affects many parts of the
state during winter and the monsoons, making transportation extremely
perilous.
North Sikkim : is a district of
the Indian state of Sikkim. Its capital is Mangan. It is the largest
of the four districts of Sikkim. The people are mainly of Nepali
descent. Other ethnic groups include the Lepcha and Bhutia communities.
Nepali is the most widely spoken language in the district. It
also has one of the lowest populated regions of the state. The
region has many power projects and enjoys almost uninterrupted
electricity. Roads however, are in a poor condition owing to the
frequent landslides. Most of North Sikkim is restricted to travellers
and permits are needed to visit these areas. The area, which shares
a sensitive border with the People's Republic of China is heavily
patrolled by the Indian army. Most of the people of the state
reside near Mangan, the district headquarters which is about 2,000
feet above sea level. Further north the elevation increases with
the vegetation turning from temperate to alpine to tundra. Temperatures
range from about 25° to below -40° in the extreme high reaches
where the altitude is in excess of 6,000 metres. Kanchenjanga
is the highest peak at over 8,000 m, straddling its eastern border
with Nepal.
PLACES in North Sikkim
Kabi Longstok
Twenty kilometers on the way to North Sikkim, before Phodong,
is Kabi Longstok, where the treaty of brotherhood between the
Lepcha Chieftain-Tekong Tek and the Tibetan Chief Khye Bumbsa
was signed. The spot where the treaty was signed is marked by
a memorial stone and is seen on the left side of the road while
traveling from Gangtok to Mangan
Phodong
It is a small town with around ten shops and few hotels almost
on the middle of the Gangtok-Mangan journey. A police outpost,
a senior secondary school, Jawar Navodya Bhidhayala and a physical
health center are near by.
Phodong Monastry
Phodong Monastry belonging to Kargyupa Sect(karmapa), is situated
about a kilometer uphill by a jeepable road that bifurcates from
the north Sikkim highway a little bit ahead of Phodong towards
Mangan. The monastry was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal
somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The
main annual Puja (worship) is performed on the 28th and 29th day
of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar when the religious
Chaams or the dances are also performed
Labrang Monastry. Another Kilometer uphill from the Phodong
Monastry on the same jeeepable road is the Labrang Monastry which
was built about one hundred years later then Phodong Monastry
but belongs to the Nyingmapa sect.
Ruins of Tumlong Palace.
The capital of Sikkim was shifted from Rabdanste to Tumlong in
the beginning of neneteenth century. It is the fourth capital
of Sikkim and remained capital for around ninety years. The ruins
of the palace of Maharaja is seen just below the road between
Phodong Monastry and Labrang Monastry
Mangan Mangan
is the capital of North Sikkim. It is 65 kilometers from Gangtok.
It lies at an altitude of 3950 ft. .The Bazar(market) with around
fifty different types of shops is situated on the north sikkim
highway. The district collectorate where the district collector
and other government department function is situated around two
kilometers uphill from market at a place called Pentok and is
approached by a link road. On the sides of this link road while
traveling towards Pentok lies a public ground and Mangan Senior
Secondary School. Just opposite to Mangan, separated by river
Teesta, is seen a sloppy villages namely Lingdong, Barfok, Hee-Gyathang
falling under Dzongu area. From the Pentok area, the picturesque
view of mount Silnoulchu (a Range of mount Kanchendzonga) is also
seen.
Singhik ViewPoint
Singhik is situated four kilometers away from Mangan towards
the north. It has few shops on the roadside and a junior high
school. The view point lies just on the road side from where is
seen a very picturesque view of mount Silnoulchu . Right downwards
from the viewpoint is seen the confluence of River Teesta and
River Kanaka. Other sorrounding places too look very beautiful
from the viewpoint. A nice and clean guesthouse, suitable for
a night halt is also available near by
Chungthang
Chunghthang is 30 kilometers away from Mangan further north.
It is around 95 kilometers away from Gangtok. It is a small town
on the way to Yumthang surrounded by high mountains that seem
to be almost touching the sky. At an altitude of about 5,600 ft,
Chungthang lies at the confluence of the Lachen Chu (Teesta) and
the Lachung Chu {“ Chu” means river in bhutia language}. The north
Sikkim highway bifurcates here to take different routes for Lachen
and Lachung. Spot of interest in Chungthang is a legendary rock
having an imprint which is believed to be the foot mark of Guru
Padmasambha. There is a small opening in the rock which remains
filled with spring water. Adjacent to the rock there is a small
stretch of paddy field defying the condition that demands the
growth of paddy in this area.
Yumthang Valley & Hot Spring.
Situated at an altitude of 12000 ft., Yumthang is a valley between
the snow clad hills all around. It is around 75 kilometers from
district headquarter, Mangan and around 95 kilometers from Gangtok.
The route to Yumthang from Lachung-adjoining the Singba Forest
Reserve has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with rhododendrons
that bloom in different colour at their best during the month
of May. The natural scenic beauty around Yumthang, look very much
similar to that of Switzerland. The valley has a grassy plane
area in the middle, a river on the side and a forest Dak Bunglo
(Guest House), surrounded all sides by snow clad mountains. It
is a big fun over here playing with the snow and throwing it at
each other.
Before entering the valley a small pedestrian road goes through
a small bridge right way which connects the Yumthang Hot Spring.
Hot water rich in sulphur, emanates from a small spring and is
diverted inside a hut where two pools are made for the bathers.
In such a cold place, it is a very pleasant experience to bath
in the water, which is so hot in its natural form.
People
A majority of population of North Sikkim comprises of Bhutias,
Lepchas and less number of Nepalis. The Lepchas are predominantly
concentrated in the Dzongu Areas, Bhutias are seen from Kabi-Tingda
to Lachen-Lachung. Nepalies are found mixed up around Phodong,
Mangshila and Mangan. Bhutias and Lepchas are usually Bhuddist
and Nepalis are Hindus, whereas around 1 % of populations from
all tribes have lately converted to Christians.
NORTH DISTRICT- POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION
Though North sikkim geographically comprises of 75 % of Sikkim,
because of very less population of the district, the total area
is dived into only three Assembly Constituencies- namely Lachen-Mangshila
which covers the area from Lachen to Mangshila, Kiba-Tingda which
ranges from east district boarder to Phodong and Dzongu-Lying
in the south-west boarder. The first election to these constituencies
were held in 1974 and the list of elected MLAs since then
