Sikkim is one of the primeval lands unlike other Himalayan lands, and remains pristine and well-preserved. The land offers the magical feel of a Himalayan fairytale. Where one dreamy day blends into next. It is an amazing place of hidden valleys, mystical monasteries, snow clad lakes and landscape covered with flowers and forests and snow capped mountains. Khanchenjunga (8586m), the jewel in Sikkim 's crown is the word's third highest Peak, which overlooks the state from the western side. This majestic 5 summited mountain forms the spectacular backdrop. Sikkim was previously an independent kingdom, ruled by a dynasty, which descended from the Tibetan Royal family. Until the end of nineteenth century, when Sikkim came under the protection of Britain , very little was known about the country, which was completely closed to outsiders. India took over as the protector of the independent state of Sikkim in 1950 and in 1975 Sikkim became the 22nd state of India . Bordered by Tibet , Bhutan , Nepal and West Bengal, Sikkim's jagged and spectacular terrains has elevation variations ranging from 284m to 8540m. A great variety of landscapes, ranging from intensively farmed lowland valleys in the south, to a higher alpine environment in the center of the country and unto the Himalayan peaks on the northern and western margin. This mystic land casts an enthralling spell that captivates a visitor in utmost thrill.

SIKKIM, a small Himalayan State lying between 27 to 28 degrees North latitude and 88 to 89 degrees East longitude is the second smallest state in India. It is barely 7,096 sq km in size yet has an elevation ranging from 300 m to 8585 m above sea level. It's Geography is dominated by the most majestic mountain chain in the world which includes the world's third highest mountain.

General Information
Area	7096 sq km
Capital Town	Gangtok
Districts	4
District Headquaters	North - Mangan, South - Namchi , East - Gangtok , West - Gyalshing
Population	5,40,493 (Census -2001)
Languages	Nepali, English, Hindi, Bhutia (Sikkimese), Bhutia (Tibetan), Lepcha, Limboo.
Literacy	69.68%
Urbanisation Ratio	9.10% (Census -1991)
Best Season to visit	March to June and September to December
Maximun Summer Temperature	28 ° C
Minimum Winter Temperature	0 ° C
Average Rainfall	325 cm. RF / Year
State Animal	Carnivora, even though the vast majority of its diet is vegetable in nature. There is some argument as to whether pandas are more closely related to the raccoon family or to the bear family, but most experts think they belong to a family of their own, Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
State Bird	Blood pheasant appearance resembles a partridge in both size and shape. A good runner but poor flier. There are eleven subspecies Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus)
State Flower	Dendrobium nobile has been one of the most commonly grown dendrobium species, it is widespread throughout parts of India, China and Southeast Asia and is very variable in colour. It has been recorded as growing and flowering in full sun at altitudes below 1500 meters. A fresh clean fragrance is an added bonus.Noble Orchid( Dendrobium nobile)
State Tree	Rhododendron niveum
Cash Crop	Cardamom (Amomum Sublatum), tea, ginger, potatoes, oranges, medicinal plants, flowers and flower bulbs .

Climate

Cold Winters in the month of November to February with minimum temperatures dipping to 4 centigrade during January - February. It is between the month of March and early May when sunshine is quite abundant. Though summer is officially from May to October, Sikkim is almost always wet due to the heavy monsoons, with rains at times continuing for days on ends. Longest recorded nonstop rain is 11 days. September to October is Autumn. A peculiar feature of Sikkim weather is that though there is a classification of sorts of the various seasons, actually experiences a cold winter from end of November to February and monsoons throughout the year with a little respite during May - June and October - November. Even the winter months can be irritatingly wet and damp with the unpredictable showers.

How to Reach

Rail: The closest Railhead is at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, 148 km and Siliguri which are connected to Calcutta , New Delhi Guwahati and other major Indian cities.

Air: The closest Indian Airport isat a distance of 124 kms from Gangtok at Bagdogra in Siliguri in West Bengal, where scheduled flights operates from Kolkata(Calcutta), Delhi and Guwahati and connecting flights onwards. Travel time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours.

From Kathmandu you can fly to Bhadrapur in the east Nepal(1 hour), then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 35 kms), to Siliguri (37 kms) and to Gangtok (110 kms, 4 hrs). Or fly to Biratnagar also in the east.

Sikkim Helicopter Service: The Bagdogra airport is connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service which takes approx. 30 minutes to reach Gangtok. Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation(+91-3592-222634) operates this service daily at 11:00 AM from Gangtok to Bagdogra and at 2:00 PM from Bagdogra to Gangtok at a price of Rs.1500/- per person. It is a five seater chopper and mountain flights and other such tours to North Sikkim are conducted.

Road: Gangtok is well connected by road to Siliguri 114 kms. 4 hours, which functions as the major transit point for the North and North Eastern sections of the Indian Sub-continent. Gangtok is further well connected by road with Darjeeling(4 Hrs), Kalimpong and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing (6 Hrs).