A landlocked Indian state, Sikkim is nestled between Nepal, China, and Bhutan. Her rugged and dramatic terrain has elevation variations ranging from 285 m. to 540 m. Small but beautiful Sikkim is the pearl of the Eastern Himalayas, with its majestical 8534 m. high Kanchenjunga in the West, the Tibetan Plateau in the North and the kingdom of Bhutan in the East. Sikkim means crested land in Nepali.

A term coined by the invading Gorkhas, it is derived from the Sanskrit word Shikhim that means “crested”, and is the most widely accepted origin. An alternative etymology suggests that the name originate in the Limboo words Su, which means “new” and Khim, 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.

Guru Rinpoche is considered the patron saint of Sikkim. His statue in Namchi is the tallest statue of a saint in the world at 118 feet. The earliest event related to Sikkim is the passage of Guru Rinpoche through the land in 9th Century. He is supposed to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim, and also foretold the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later.

Sikkim was an independent state ruled by the Chogyal monarchy until 1975, when a referendum to make it India’s twenty-second state succeeded. In 1642, the fifth generation of Guru Tashi, Phuntsog Namgyal, was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim. In 1835 the king of Sikkim was forced to gift Darjeeling to the British. In 1918 Sikkim regained independence but the king lost his absolute power. When India became independent in 1947, it took over the protectorate. And in 1975 India annexed as its 22nd state. Today Gangtok or the “Lofty Hill”, is the capital of Sikkim.

Sikkim has four districts overseen by a Central Government appointee, the District Collector. He is in-charge of the administration of the civilian areas of the districts. The four districts are East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim. The district capitals are Gangtok, Geyzing, Mangan and Namchi respectively. The Indian Army controls a large territory of the state since the state is a sensitive border area. Many areas are restricted and permits are required to visit them. Sikkim has total eight towns and nine sub-divisions.

Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast flowing rivers, and hills Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and singular experience. Within a matter of hours one can move from the sub-tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach up to the area of perpetual snow.