About Sikkim.

Sikkim :The Eastern Paradise

Sikkim, situated in the eastern Himalayas from longitude 880 03'40" to 880 57'19" East and from latitude 27 003'47" to 28 0 07'34" North, became the 22nd state of India on April 26,1975. It has a total area of 7,096 km2, 114 km from north to south and 64 km from east to west. The entire state is mountainous, with altitudes ranging from 300 to 8,586 meters from sea level. There are 440 villages, eight towns and four districts in Sikkim. The state has three major ethnic groups, namely Lepchas ,Bhutias and Nepalis The climate of the state varies from cold temperate and alpine in northeast to subtropical in the south. Agro-climatically, the state is divided into four zones, viz., * Subtropical zone (below 1,000 metres); * Humid zone (1,000-1,600 metres); * Mid-hill dry zone (again in altitude ranging from 1,000-1,600 meters); and * High hill temperate zone (with an altitude of above 1,600 meters). The genetic diversity, of both forest vegetation and agricultural crops, is enormous. The state has about 600 plant species and more than 4,000 species of flowering plants. *Sikkim's Vision 2015 (Source: Sikkim Herald, August 15, 2007) * 100% literate State * 5000MW of Power Generation * Poverty-Free State * Total Organic State * Self-Reliant State SIKKIM TOURISM POLICY, 2010 *Physical Setting *People *Cultural and Historical background *Festivals in Sikkim *Sikkim cuisines (pdf-42KB) *Climate *Resource and Biodiversity base *Floral Diversity *Faunal Diversity *Analysis of Eco-region Based Conservation in Sikkim *Existing and Proposed Areas in Sikkim for Bio-diversity Conservation *Glaciers of Tista Basin (Sikkim Himalayas) *Tourist Destination in Sikkim *Hotels & Lodges in Sikkim (Courtesy: Tourism Department, Govt. of Sikkim) -East District (with route map) -West District (with route map) -North District (with route map) -South District (with route map) *Travel agents (Courtesy: Tourism Department, Govt. of Sikkim) * Statistics * New Eco-tourism destinations.. (Source-The Mountain Institute, TMI, Sikkim) Yambong Singalila (pdf-400KB) Areylungchok (pdf-407KB) Hee-Bermoik (pdf-19KB) *20 years perspective plan for sustainable tourism development in the state of *Sikkim..pdf-2.22 MB (Source: Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Govt. of India) *Strategic planning of Sikkim (Tourism), May 2008 *Achievements: The Sikkim State: Number of awards in Tourism Till March 2009 Sl. No. Year Name of award Awarder Awardee 1. 1998-1999 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 2. 1999-2000 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 3. 2000-2001 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 4. 2001-2002 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 5. 2002-2003 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 6. 2005-2006 Best Tourism Performing State in the North East Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 7. 2006-2007 Best State for Tourism related Programmes along with Madhya Pradesh Ministry of Tourism, GOI Jointly Tourism Department, Govt. of Sikkim with Madhya Pradesh 8. 2005 Best Eco- Tourism Destination Hospitality India Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 9. 2007 Most Picturesque destination Today’s Traveler Platinum award Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 10. 2008 Best example of Community based Tourism CNBC Awaaz Hee-Bermiok Tourism Development Heritage Conservative Society, West Sikkim 11. 2008 Emerging Tourism State Today’s Traveler's Award Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 12. 2008 BEST TOURISM STATE, Best Adventure Tourism State Safari India National Tourism Awards Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 13. 2008 Sikkim as Best Adventure Tourism Destination Pacific Asia Travel Writer’s Association (INTWAI) International award at ITB, Berlin Government of Sikkim 14. 2008 National Tourism Award 2007-2008 Best State/ Union Territory Tourism related programme Ministry of Tourism, GOI Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim 2007: "Most picturesque destination "award by Today's Traveller ,August 21, 2007 2007: Sikkim bagged a record number of 27 Nirmal Gram Puraskars. 2006: Hospitality India Award 2006: No. 1 state among 12 eastern states 2005: Occupies 3rd position as the best performing state in Panchayati Raj 2005: Best small state for education 2005 :Best small state for investment 2000-04: Tourism National Award for the 5th consecutive year. * State Green Mission * Green Mission in the news * Guidelines to the green Taxis * Government Notifications (Courtesy: Home Department, Govt. of Sikkim) 2007(pdf-234KB) 2006 (pdf-88KB) 2005 (pdf-107KB) 2001 (pdf-73KB) 1993 (pdf-54KB) The Latest updated taxi fares in Sikkim approved by the government