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Sikkim an erstwhile
Himalayan Kingdom, has been a state of India since it's merger
in 1975. It is wedged in between the Kingdoms of Nepal in the
west and Bhutan in the east. With an area of 7,096 sq kms, it
has a rectangular shape measuring about 114 km. from the north
to South and 64 km. from east to west.
The topography and
location of Sikkim manifests in a diverse range of flora,
which is tropical in the low-lying areas and alpine in the
high reaches of the mountains. The human population throughout
history has been very low, which has helped this place to
maintain a high percentage of forest cover, evident even now.
`A journey to Sikkim necessarily involves awakening the senses
and discovering the pristine and mystic beauty of the land.
Sikkim is a dreamland that one can realize and enjoy, now that
the area is open to all.
The
state offers a wide range of adventure sports opportunities as
well including mountaineering in the Himalayas. For trekking,
one can follow any of the four trek routes: the Monastic Trek,
Rhododendron Trek, Kanchenjunga Trek and Coronation Trek.
River rafting is possible in the rough waters of the Teesta
and the Rangit. Kayaking is arranged on the Teesta only for
special groups. Yak safari is arranged from Dzongri onwards.
In north and west Sikkim, mountain biking is very popular
these days. Jorethang, in west Sikkim, and certain parts of
north Sikkim are popular locales for gliding. As per
regulations foreigners should be in a group of 4 persons or
more for trekking in Sikkim.
Sikkim is bounded by
Tibet (China) in the north, West Bengal in the south, Tibet
and Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The state is
spread below Mount Kanchenjunga (8,534 m), the third highest
peak in the world. The locals worship the mountain as a
protective deity. The elevation of the state ranges from 300m
to over 8,540m above sea level. The nearest airport is Bagdora
(120 km. far away from Gangtok, the capital). There are
regular flights connected to Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati.
There are also regular train services to other parts of
county.
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