In limbu language su means ‘new’ & ‘khyim’ means
‘palace’ or house, in reference to the palace built by
the states first ruler, phuntsok namgyal.
The earliest recorded event of the buddist saint ‘guru
rinpoche’ was around 8th century. In the 14 century,
according to legend, khye bumsa, a prince from the
miyank house in kham in eastern Tibet were later form
the royal family of sikkim. In 1642, the fifth
generation descendants of khey bumsa, ‘phuntsog
namgyal’ was consecrated as the first chogyal (king)
of sikkim by the three venerated lamas of north, west
and south to yuksom, making the beginning of the
monarchy.
In 1817, the Gurkha war resulting entrance of british
east India company came to power.In 1947, a popular
vote rejected sikkims joining the union of India.
Sikkim was to be a Tributory of India, in which India
controlled its external affairs, defence, diplomacy
and communication. once a protectorate of India with a
monarchy government but metamorphosed as the 22nd
state of the Indian Union in the year 1975.
Sikkim has four districts, east sikkim, west sikkim,
north sikkim and south sikkim. Many areas are
restricted by Army and permits are needed to visit
them. Compaired to other Indian roads are drastically
better. The roads are maintained by the border roads
organization, an offshoot of the Indian Army. Due to
rough terrain there is only bagdora Airport, near the
town of siliguri, west Bengal. The closest railway
station is new jalpaiguri. National highway 31A links
siliguri to gangtok. The population of the state is
only 4,20,000 as per the last census.
Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, this beautiful
state of sikkim is sandwiched between the kingdom of
Nepal in the West and Bhutan in the East, Tibet in the
North and the state of West Bengal in the South. With
an area of 7,300 sq. kms, measuring 115 kms from north
to south and 65 kms. From East to West, the elevation
ranging from 244 mts to over 8550 mts., above sea
level. The thumb shaped state of sikkim is
characterized by wholly mountainous terrain. The
summit of the kanchenjunga is the highest point. |
