“The Hidden Valley of Rice”

SIKKIM
Efforts By:
1.Inder Kaur(116/2011)
2.Inu Khunger(128/2010)
3.Priyal Kandpal(287/2019)
Name of School: NEO Convent Sr. Sec. School
Class and Sec: IX B
Session:2020-21
Subject: Social Science
 WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR
ACKNOWLEDGMENT SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TEACHER
MRS MITALI MA’AM ,WHO GAVE US
THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT ON THE
TOPIC "SIKKIM" WHICH ALSO
HELPED US IN DOING A LOT OF
RESEARCH AND I AM REALLY
THANKFUL TO THEM.
IT GIVES US IMMENSE PLEASURE
TO THANK CBSE FOR
INTRODUCING SUCH PRACTICAL
PROJECTS THAT LET STUDENTS
LEARN FROM MORE THAN JUST
BOOKS.
 ❏ Sikkim is former Buddhist kingdom growing by the
mountains shadow. The British during their days in the
Indian sub continent had a peaceful understanding with

Introduction the Sikkimese people. After the British left in 1947,

Sikkim was an Indian protectorate until its incorporation

Of
into India as a state in 1975.
❏ The Tibetan name for Sikkim is Drenjong which means
"valley of rice", while the Bhutias call it Bayul

Sikkim Demazong, which means '"the hidden valley of rice“

❏ The Buddhist guru Padmasambhava visited Sikkim in the
8th century AD, introduced Buddhism and foretold the era
of the Sikkimese monarchy. Sikkim's Namgyal dynasty
was established in 1642. Over the next 150 years, the
kingdom witnessed frequent raids and territorial losses to
Nepalese invaders. In the 19th century, it allied itself with
British India, eventually becoming a British protectorate.
 History:
The Emperors And
Historical
Monuments
Of
Sikkim
 Sikkim was a Buddhist kingdom under the Namgyal-
Chogyal dynasty from 1642 to 1975.Time and again the

History of Sikkim little kingdom had to defend itself against attacks from
Nepal. 1835 the area of Darjeeling - that had been part
of Sikkim until then - was annexed by British India.
Sikkim was a protectorate first of British India and after
its independence in 1947 of India. With foreign policy
and national defense in the hands of India the political
influence of Sikkim became more severely restricted
when the new Constitution came into force in 1955.
Bureaucrats planned to bring the monarchy to an end in
1973 and India in turn, increased its influence. The
Chogyal (king who governs with righteousness) Palden
Namgyal Thodup was crashed in 1975 and Sikkim
merged with India as its 22nd state.
 Thutob Namgyal (1860 – 11 February 1914) was the ruling chogyal
(monarch) of Sikkim between 1874 and 1914. Thuto ascended to the
The Emperors throne succeeding his half-brother Sid Keong Namgyal who died
issueless. Differences between the Nepalese settlers and the
indigenous population during his reign led to the direct intervention
of the British, who were the de facto rulers of the Himalayan nation.
The British ruled in favour of the Nepalese much to the discontent of
Thutob Namgyal the chogyal, who then retreated to the Chumbi Valley and allied
himself with the Tibetans.The British sent a military force (
Sikkim expedition), and after a series of skirmishes between the
Tibetans and the British near Jelep La, the Tibetans were pushed
back and the Chogyal was put under the supervision of
John Claude White, who had been appointed Political Officer in
1889. In 1894, he shifted the capital from Tumlong to the present
location, Gangtok. He was knighted in 1911. Alex McKay states,
"The 9th Chogyal of Sikkim, Sir Thutob Namgyal, was increasingly
supportive of modernisation. After his death in 1914, Sidkeon
Namgyal Tulku, who had been groomed for the post by the British,
succeeded him but died after ruling for just 10 months.
 Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal (1879–5 December 1914) was the
ruling Maharaja and Chogyal of Sikkim for a brief period in
1914, from 10 February to 5 December.He was the second son
2. Sidkeong Tulku of Maharaja Sri Panch Sir Thutob Namgyal, and was educated
at St. Paul's School, Darjeeling and at Pembroke College,
Oxford. A polyglot, he was learned in Chinese, English, Hindi,

Namgyal Lepcha, Nepali and Tibetan.He was recognised as the

reincarnation (tulku) of his uncle, Sidkeong Namgyal, the abbot
of Phodong Monastery. Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal reconstructed
the monastery.After his education in Oxford, he returned to
Sikkim where he was closely associated with the administration
of the country. He worked to dissolve the greed that occurs in
vested interests and tried to unify Buddhists by renovating
monasteries and their roles.When Alexandra David-Néel was
invited to the royal monastery of Sikkim, she met Sidkeong
Tulku Namgyal, at that time Maharaj Kumar (crown prince).
She became Sidkeong's "confidante and spiritual sister".
 Tashi Namgyal (26 October 1893 – 2 December 1963) was the
ruling Chogyal (King) of Sikkim from 1914 to 1963. He was
3. Tashi Namgyal the son of Thutob Namgyal.Namgyal was the 11th ruler of the
Namgyal dynasty of Sikkim, succeeding his half brother
Sid Keong Tulku Namgyal, who had ruled from February to
December in 1914, till his death from heart failure. Born in
Tibet and crowned by the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso,
he was a strong advocate for closer links with India. He was
educated in St. Paul's School, Darjeeling. He was married in
October 1918 to Kunzang Dechen, and they had 3 sons and 3
daughters. The eldest son died in a plane crash during World
War Two. On his death he was succeeded as Chogyal by his
second son Palden Thondup Namgyal.During his reign, he
was known for land reform and free elections. He also
favoured closer links between Sikkim, India and Tibet. Many
people attribute his death to Indian agents.
 Rabdentse was the second capital of the former
The Monuments Kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. The capital
city was destroyed by the invading Gurkha army and
only the ruins of the palace and the chortens are seen
here now. However, the ruins of this city are seen close

Rabdentse to Pelling and in West Sikkim district in the

Northeastern Indian state of present-day Sikkim;
Pemayangtse Monastery is one of the oldest
monasteries in Sikkim which is close to the ruins.
From the vantage point of this former capital, superb
views of the Khangchendzonga ranges can be
witnessed. This monument has been declared as of
national importance by the
Archaeological Survey of India.It was first established
in 1670 by Chadok Namgyal son of
Phuntsog Namgyal by shifting from the first capital of
Yuksom that was consecrated in 1642.
 It is Situated atop the Solophok hill, 5 km southwest of

2. Siddheshwar Namchi, this temple complex comprises replicas of the highly

revered Hindu pilgrimage sites namely Rameshwaram,
Dwarka, Rameshwaram and Jagannath Puri. A towering 87 ft
Dham Shiva statue, a 6.5 long sculpture of Lord Kirateshwar and the
replicas of the twelve Jyotirlingas can also be found here.
Whether you find it moving or kitschy, the views and photo
opportunities are spectacular. Built by the government of
Sikkim to promote Sikkim as an all-embracing and empathetic
state in India and overseas, it looks more like a theme park is
constructed in an area of 28.958 hectare of land. Although the
kind of air that fills the atmosphere of the four holy regions is
missing from Namchi Char Dham, it is still a popular tourist
destination visited by the tourists from both India and
overseas. This place is always abuzz with religious discourses,
cultural activities seminars, etc. You may be required to walk a
fair distance without footwear.
 The Pemayangtse Monastery is a Buddhist monastery
in Pemayangtse, near Pelling in the northeastern

3. Pemayangtse Indian state of Sikkim, located 110 km west of

Gangtok. Planned, designed and founded by Lama
Lhatsun Chempo in 1647, it is one of the oldest and
Monastery premier monasteries of Sikkim, also the most famous
in Sikkim .Originally started as a small Lhakhang, it
was subsequently enlarged during the reign of the third
Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal and Khenchen Rolpai
Dorjee in the year 1705 and consecrated by the third
Lhatsun Chenpo Dzogchen Jigme Pawo in the year
1710 C.E. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order
of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries
of that Order in Sikkim. The monks of this monastery
are normally chosen from the Bhutias of Sikkim.
Geographical Sikkim is a state in northeastern India. It borders the
Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and

Location northeast, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and

West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to
India's 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 35% of the state is covered by the
Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
 According to the Constitution of India, Sikkim has a
parliamentary system of representative democracy for its
governance; universal suffrage is granted to state
residents. The government structure is organised into

Government And three branches:

Executive: As with all states of India, a governor stands

Politics Of Sikkim at the head of the executive power of state, just as the
president is the head of the executive power in the
Union, and is appointed by the President of India. The
governor's appointment is largely ceremonial, and his or
her main role is to oversee the swearing-in of the Chief
Minister. The Chief Minister, who holds the real
executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition
garnering the largest majority in the state elections. The
governor also appoints cabinet ministers on the advice of
the Chief Minister.
Legislature: Sikkim has a unicameral legislature,
the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, like most other
Indian states. Its state assembly has 32 seats,
including one reserved for the Sangha. Sikkim is
allocated one seat in each of the two chambers of
India's national bicameral legislature, the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Judiciary: The judiciary consists of the Sikkim

High Court and a system of lower courts. The
High Court, located at Gangtok, has a Chief
Justice along with two permanent justices. The
Sikkim High Court is the smallest state high court
in the country.
In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy,
the Indian National Congress gained a majority in the
1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of instability, a
popular ministry headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari,
leader of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party, was
sworn in. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and
1989 elections. In the 1994 elections, Pawan Kumar
Chamling of the Sikkim Democratic Front became
the Chief Minister of the state. Chamling and his
party had since held on to power by winning the
1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections. However, the
2019 legislative assembly elections were won by the
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party and the chief
minister since then is Prem Singh Tamang. The
current Governor of Sikkim is Ganga Prasad.
Flora And Fauna:
Vegetation And
Wildlife Found In
Sikkim
 Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of
flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula

Flora In Sikkim species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak

varieties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer
species, 362 types of ferns and ferns allies, 8
tree ferns, and over 900 medicinal plants.A
relative of the Poinsettia, locally known as
"Christmas Flower", can be found in abundance
in the mountainous state. The
Noble Dendrobium is the official flower of
Sikkim, while the rhododendron is the state tree.
 Cymbidium commonly known as boat orchids, is a

1. Cymbidiums genus of evergreen flowering plants in the orchid

family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic
, lithophytic, terrestrial or rarely leafless saprophytic
herbs usually with pseudobulbs. There are usually
between three and twelve leaves arranged in two ranks
on each pseudobulb or shoot and lasting for several
years.The genus Cymbidium was first formally
described in 1799 by Olof Swartz who published the
description in Nova acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum
Upsaliensis. The genus name Cymbidium is derived
from the Latin word cymba meaning "cup" "bowl" or
"boat with the diminutive suffix -idium, hence "little
boat", apparently in reference to the shape of the
labellum in some species.
 The Vanda orchids are totally tropical and are cross
compatible with other genera like Ascocentrum, Aerides,
2.Vanda Rhynchostylis, Neofinetia, Renanthera and even
Phalaenopsis. All orchids having the same characteristics
as the Vanda genus is called as a vandaceous orchid and
they grouped together to form the Vanda Alliance. Genera
like Vandas, Aerides, Ascocentrum, Renanthera,
Rhynchostylis, Aranda, Mokara, Kagawara are included in
the Vanda Alliance. They are ideal for cut flowers, hanging
baskets, pots or tree logs. The present investigation was
carried out with 18 hybrids of Vanda orchids which were
grown with recommended package of practices under
greenhouse condition. Observations were taken on 65
morphological characteristics which could be used in
future for crop improvement programme for developing
new Vanda hybrids.
 Cattleya consists of 113 species from tropical
America. Cattleya hybrids also produce the
3.Cattaleya biggest orchid flowers. In addition to cut flowers
and pot plants, Cattleya orchids are ideal
components for flower decorations including
bouquets and flower arrangements. Besides, this
orchid is used for making clay flowers. The
present investigation was carried out with 9
hybrids of Cattleya orchids which were grown
with recommended package of practices under
greenhouse condition. Observations were taken on
53 morphological characteristics which could be
used in future for crop improvement programme
for developing new Cattleya hybrids.
 The fauna of Sikkim include the snow leopard,
musk deer, Himalayan tahr, red panda,
Fauna of Sikkim Himalayan marmot, Himalayan serow,
Himalayan goral, muntjac, common langur,
Asian black bear, clouded leopard, marbled cat,
leopard cat, dhole, Tibetan wolf, hog badger,
binturong, and Himalayan jungle cat. Among the
animals more commonly found in the alpine
zone are yaks, mainly reared for their milk, meat,
and as a beast of burden.
 The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as
the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain

1. Snow Leopard ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as

Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because the global
population is estimated to number less than 10,000
mature individuals and is expected to decline about
10% by 2040. It is threatened by poaching and
habitat destruction following infrastructural
developments.It inhabits alpine and subalpine zones
at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800
ft), ranging from eastern Afghanistan, the Himalayas
and the Tibetan Plateau, to southern Siberia,
Mongolia, and western China. In the countries in the
northern part of its range, it also lives at lower
elevations.
 Himalayan musk deer occurs in parts of northern Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and in northern India such as in

2. Musk Deer
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and
Arunachal Pradesh. It inhabits high alpine environments above
altitudes of 2,500 m (8,200 ft).White-bellied musk deer are very well
adapted for high altitudes; they demonstrate such adaptations as well-
developed dew claws, broad toes that provide increased stability on
steep slopes, and a dense coat of coarse hairs with air-filled cells to
insulate against the extreme temperature. While they lack antlers, a
trait notable among all musk deer, they do possess a pair of enlarged
and easily broken canines that grow continuously. The maximum
length of these tusks is about 10 cm (4 in). These deer have a stocky
body type; their hind legs are also significantly longer and more
muscular than their shorter, thinner forelimbs. In place of running or
leaping, this species tends to "bound." Finally, fawns of this species
have white spots to help with camouflage, but as they mature these
spots disappear.
 The red panda has reddish-brown fur, a long,
shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its
3. Red Panda shorter front legs; it is roughly the size of a
domestic cat, though with a longer body. It is
arboreal and feeds mainly on bamboo, but also
eats eggs, birds, and insects. It is a solitary
animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and
is largely sedentary during the day. It is also
called the lesser panda, the red bear-cat, and the
red cat-bear.In India, it is found in Sikkim,
western Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling district of
West Bengal and parts of Meghalaya. It is also
the state animal of Sikkim.
 Resembling the most north-eastern states, Sikkim
Economy- The Type Of economy is primarily agrarian. However, there are
other factors too, that define the state's economy, like
Economic Activities agriculture, horticulture, tourism, mining, forestry,
industries, etc. An interesting fact about the economy
is that the factors are interdependent, for instance, the
tourism industry is reliant on forestry and vice versa.
Small scale industries are undergoing expansion in
Sikkim; however, scarcity of mineral resources is a
hindrance in their development. Other factors that
contribute to the economy of Sikkim are horticulture,
fisheries, mining, forestry, industries, power, and
liquor. The State Government is emphasizing on
upgrading the horticulture, agriculture, livestock and
fisheries.
 Tourism is regarded as the main element of
the state's economy. Amidst salubrious
Tourism climate, amazing natural vistas and cultural
heritage, Sikkim has definitely great
prospects in tourism. This picturesque state
has many places of tourists' interest, like
Nathu La Pass, snow-clad peaks,
monasteries, unspoiled forest areas,
waterfalls, and valley of flowers. Thus, with
so many tourist attractions, Sikkim makes
an ideal location to spend peaceful holidays.
 Agriculture is known to be an important
element of the economy of Sikkim.
Agriculture Seeing that most of the people live in
the rural areas, agriculture serves as
their main livelihood. The main cash
crops of Sikkim are cardamom, tea and
coffee, which also bring the maximum
revenue to the state funds. The
agricultural growth remains limited
because of complex topography and
other natural barriers.
 Handicrafts, jewelry, tea, and big cardamom

Business are the main source of business in Sikkim.

Some of the major markets are the Old Market,
New Market and Lal Market, which form the
basis of buying and selling in Sikkim. Where
handicrafts range from souvenirs, showpieces,
canvas wall hanging, paintings, wood carvings,
and carpets & rugs; jewelry is often
concentrated on Dragon designs set with
precious stones. Without any ado, the tea of
Sikkim is an integral part of its business.
 The economy of Sikkim is linked with agriculture that serves as
the source of livelihood and economic security of sizeable native
population. The growth, however, has been restricted because of
AGRICULTURE IN biotic and abiotic factors. It is estimated that over 80 per cent of
the rural population depends on agriculture and allied sectors for

SIKKIM
economic, food, and nutritional security. The agriculture systems
practiced in Sikkim are integrated in natures that have evolved
through years of experimentation by the farmers. A marginal
improvement in the lifestyle of the farmers has been witnessed
with the adoption of modern technologies.
Sikkim State has some inherent strength that largely supports
organic farming. The policies and programmes on organic
farming, in tune with our natural endowment envisage making
Sikkim a Model Organic State.
The march towards organic farming has led to substantial
departmental intervention. A large number of initiatives have
been taken by the Agriculture and Horticulture departments
 Agriculture- Crops
Crop Area (000’ Production (000’ Productivity
hectares) tones) (kg./ha)
Rice 9.50 17.64 1856.24
Wheat 0.17 0.19 1079.26
Maize 38.46 67.97 1769.34
Finger Millet 2.47 2.55 1031.65
Barley 0.42 0.45 1072.64
Buckwheat 3.43 3.35 976.24
Pulses 5.35 5.10 954.21
Oilseeds 6.28 5.80924.55
 Sikkims geographical location with its altitudinal
variation allows it to have tropical, temperate and
Climate Of Sikkim alpine climatic conditions within its small area of
7,096 kms.Temperature conditions vary from sub-
tropical in the southern lower parts to cold deserts in
the snowy north. It is also the most humid region in the
whole range of the Himalayas, because of its proximity
to the Bay of Bengal and direct exposure to Southern
monsoon. Sikkim's climate ranges from subtropical in
the south to tundra in the north. Most of the inhabited
regions of Sikkim experience a temperate climate, with
temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in
summer. The average annual temperature for most of
Sikkim is around 18 °C (64 °F).
 Sikkim is the least populous state in India.
Current Population of Sikkim in 2020 is
Population- Rank As estimated to be 672,905. However the same
Per Indian Population figure was recorded as 665,821 in 2019.
With a decent annual growth in its
population, Sikkim is one of the smallest
states of India in terms of Population. In
2018, its population was estimated to be
658,361. Sikkim witnesses an increase of
1.23% in its population on yearly basis.
According to Census of India, Population of
Sikkim in 2017 was 651,586.
 Literacy rate in Sikkim stands at 82.2%,
which is relatively good in comparison
Literacy Rate to other states of India. The figure
includes 87.3% of males and 76.4% of
females. There are large of schools and
colleges available in Sikkim for the
people. Government schools are also
available in large number as compared
with private institutions. Government of
Sikkim has started several steps to
improve education systems in the state.
Birth Rate & Infant ● Birth rate per 1000 population declined
by 43.85% i.e. 24.6 in 1994 to 17.1 in
Mortality Rate 2014 (SRS).
● Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) per 1000 live
births declined by 142% i.e. 46 in 1994 to
19 in 2014 (SRS).
 Sikkim Culture: Sikkim is a beautiful land of
manifold tribes and races of people
Festivals,Dances,M living together. All these diverse
usic & Food tribes and communities have their
unique features in addition to their
particular dance forms, festivals,
languages, culture, and craft forms.
The miscellany of ethnic groups,
religion, and languages is seen all
over Sikkim.
 Sikkim is a state in northeast Asia where
numerous festivals are celebrated throughout
Festivals Of Sikkim the year. Majority of the people of Sikkim
follow Buddhism so the festival celebrated
here are associated with the Buddhist and
they are celebrated with a lot of pomp and as
per the Buddhist calendar. Saga Dawa,
Lhabab Duchen Festival, Losar Festival,
Phang Lhabsol, Bumchu Festival, Losoong
Festival, Dashain Festival, Tihar Festival,
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival, are the
mainly celebrated festivals of sikkim.
 Sikkim food mainly comprises noodles, Gundruk and
Sinki soups, thukpas, tomato achar pickle, traditional

Food of Sikkim cottage cheese, fermented soybean, Bamboo shoot,

fermented rice product and some other fermented dishes
owing to its very cold climate. Rice is, however, the
staple food of the state. Momos, also known as
dumplings and wontons are favorites among the
Sikkimese people as well as the tourists. When it comes
to non-vegetarian food, they prefer fish, beef, and pork.
Momos, Thukpa, Phagshapa, Sael roti, Niguru with
Churpi, Gundruk and Sinki, Chang, Thenthuk, Kinema
Curry, Chhurpi Soup, Bamboo Shoot Curry, Gya Kho,
Shimi ko Achar, Kodo Ko Roti, Jaanr, Mesu are famous
variety of foods in Sikkim Which is loved by everyone
in the Sikkim.
 Folk songs and dances are an inveterate part
of the Sikkimese culture. Most of the tribal
Music and Dance of dances depict the harvest season and they are
performed for prosperity. The dances of
Sikkim Sikkim are accompanied by traditional
musical instruments, chanting, and the
dancers carry bright costumes and traditional
masks. Some of the most famous dance
forms are Rechungpa, Gha To Kito, Chi
Rmu, Be Yu Mista, Tashi Zaldha, Enchey
Chaam, Lu Khangthamo, Gunung Mala
Gnunghey, and Kagyed Dance.
 The people of Sikkim are pro when it comes to
craft making as they have very special skills in the
Art of Sikkim same. The womenfolk of the state are amazing
weavers and they attract the tourists by their
excellent craft work. The handmade carpets and
papers of the state are in huge demand in and
outside of Sikkim. One of the most popular
handicraft objects of Sikkim includes a choksey
table, woolen carpet, canvas wall hanging,
thankas delineating painting on various aspects of
the state.The state has various handicrafts in the
form of cane and bamboo products. Melli,
Gangtok, and Namchi are the very popular places
of Sikkim for handloom products and cottage
industries.