GANGTOK (Capital City of Sikkim): Altitude
5,800ft / 1769m.
Area: 7,300 sq.km
Population: 406,000.
People: Nepalis (75%), Lepchas (20%), and
smaller proportions of Bhutias and Limbus.
Language: Hindi is the official language,
with English as the working language of the government; Nepali,
Lepcha, Bhutia and Limbu are also spoken.
Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism. The people
have faith in the Buddha, the dharma (Buddhas teachings),
and the sangha (assembly of monks).
Economy: The economy of Sikkim is basically
farming. Maize, rice, wheat, potato, large cardamom, ginger
and orange are the principal crops. Ginger, potato, orange
and off season vegetables are the other cash crops. Sikkim
is one of the world's main producers of cardamom.
Sikkim having an average type temperature due to its extreme
altitude, there is an immense variation in climate and vegetation.
Climate: Gangtok Registers an average
of 325cm of rain / annum. Where as Muguthang in the extreme
North experience 60cm of rain Per Annum.
Summer Temperature: Max. 20.7° Celsius.
/ Min. 13.1° Celsius.
Winter Temperature: Max. 12.5° Celsius.
/ Min. 7.7° Celsius.
Best Season: March - May & October
- Mid December.
Clothing Required: Light clothing During
Summers & Heavy wollens during winters.
GETTING THERE AND AWAY:-
Air: Bagdogra Airport is 125 Km from Sikkims
capita, Gangtok. There are several flights by Indian Airlines
to Bagdogra from Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati.
Rail: Siliguri (114 Km), New Jalpaiguri
(125 Km) are the railheads nearest to Gangtok. NJP is well
connected with Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other major
city of India.
Road: Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT)
runs special snow lion bus services from Bagdogra to Gangtok
(124 Km) Private taxis and busses also operate from Bagdogra,
Darjeeling, Kalimpong, to Gangtok. The SNT at Siliguri has
a number of cars, Lusury coaches and jeeps for hire to Gangtok.
ENTRY FORMALITIES: Foreigners can now
visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang, Pemayangtse and the Yuksom-
Dzongri Trek on the basis of restricted area permits which
can be obtained from any one of the following offices :
1. Deputy Director,
Sikkim Tourism, 14 Panchsheel Marg,
Chanakyapuri,New Delhi-110021.
2. Assitant Director,
Sikkim Tourism, S.N.T. Colony,
Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri.
3. Assitant Resident Commissioner,
Government of Sikkim, 4C-Poonam,
5/2 Russel Street, kolkatta - 17.
4. All India Missions and Posts abroad.
5. F.F.R.O. offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta & C.T.O, Chennai.
6. Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.
7. Immigration Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta & Chennai
Airports.
8. Chief Secretary,
Government of Sikkim, Gangtok.
9. Home Secretary,
Government of Sikkim, Gangtok.
10. Inspector General of Police,
Government of Sikkim, Gangtok.
11. Deputy Commissioner, Darjeeling.
12. Deputy Secretary, Home Department,
Government of West Bengal, Kolkatta.
For Visiting Dzongri and Pemayangtse
organised foreign tourists groups of not less than four
are Required.
Permits will be issued for a period of fifteen days only.
