Sikkim सिक्किम |
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State | ||
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Coordinates (Gangtok): 27°20′N 88°37′E / 27.33°N 88.62°ECoordinates: 27°20′N 88°37′E / 27.33°N 88.62°E | ||
Country | India | |
Admission to Union | 16 May 1975 | |
Capital | Gangtok | |
Largest city | Gangtok | |
Districts | 4 | |
Government | ||
• Governor | Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil | |
• Chief Minister | Pawan Chamling (SDF) | |
• Legislature | Unicameral (32 seats) | |
• Parliamentary constituency |
Rajya Sabha 1 Lok Sabha 1 |
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• High Court | Sikkim High Court | |
Area | ||
• Total | 7,096 km2 (2,740 sq mi) | |
Area rank | 29th | |
Population (2011) | ||
• Total | 607,688 | |
• Rank | 29th | |
• Density | 86/km2 (220/sq mi) | |
Languages | ||
• Official |
Nepali (lingua franca) English |
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• Additional official | Bhutia, Gurung, Lepcha, Limboo, Manger, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sikkimese, Sherpa, Tamang | |
Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) | |
ISO 3166 code | IN-SK | |
HDI | 0.684 (medium) | |
HDI rank | 7th (2005) | |
Literacy | 82.2% (13th) | |
Website | sikkim.gov.in | |
Assembly of Sikkim abolished monarchy and resolved to be a constituent unit of India. A referendum was held on these issues and majority of the voters voted yes. On 15 May 1975 the President of India ratified a constitutional amendment that made Sikkim the 22nd state of India. |
Language | Nepali |
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Song | "Music of Sikkim" |
Animal | Red Panda |
Bird | Blood Pheasant |
Flower | Noble dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) |
Tree | Rhododendron |
State day | 16 May (day of accession to India) |
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State animal | Red panda |
State bird | Blood pheasant |
State tree | Rhododendron |
State flower | Noble dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) |
Population growth history | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1951 | 138,000 |
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1961 | 162,000 | 17.4% | |
1971 | 210,000 | 29.6% | |
1981 | 316,000 | 50.5% | |
1991 | 406,000 | 28.5% | |
2001 | 541,000 | 33.3% | |
2011 | 607,688 | 12.3% | |
Sources: Census of India |
Sikkim (/ˈsɪkᵻm/) is a northeastern state of India. It borders China in its north and east, Bhutan in its east, Nepal in its west and the Indian state of West Bengal in its south. Sikkim is also located close to the Siliguri Corridor near Bangladesh. Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest among the Indian states. A part of the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is notable for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates, as well as being a host to Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India and third highest on Earth. Sikkim's capital and largest city is Gangtok. Almost 25% of the state is covered by the Khangchendzonga National Park.
The Kingdom of Sikkim was founded on the Silk Road by the Namgyal dynasty in the 17th century. It was ruled by a Buddhist priest-king known as the Chogyal. Once a vassal state of Qing China, it became a princely state of British India in 1890. After the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet, Sikkim continued its protectorate status with the dominion and republic of India. It enjoyed the highest literacy rate and per capita income among Himalayan states. In 1975, the Indian military deposed the Sikkimese monarchy. A referrendum in 1975 led to Sikkim joining India as its 22nd state.