Sikkim

Sikkim འབྲས་ལྗོངས།
State
Kanchenjunga
Seal
Location of Sikkim in India
Map of Sikkim
Coordinates: 27°33′N 88°30′E / 27.550°N 88.500°E / 27.550; 88.500
Country	India
Region	North-east India
Established	16 May 1975
Government
• Legislature	Unicameral (seats)
Area
• Total	7,110 km2 (2,750 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	610,577
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Official languages	Nepali (lingua franca) English Bhutia and Lepcha (since 1977) Limbu (since 1981) Newari, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, and Tamang (since 1995) Sunwar (since 1996)
^National Anthem of Sikkim [1]

Sikkim (Hindi: सिक्किम) has been a state in India since 1975. It has the smallest number of people and second smallest land size (7,110 square kilometres or 2,750 square miles) of any major divisions in the Republic of India. The third highest mountain in the world, Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,597 metres or 28,205 feet above sea level), is in Sikkim. Its neighbours are Bhutan to the east, Nepal to the west, the Tibet Autonomous Region of P.R.C. to the north and the Indian province of West Bengal to its south. The state capital is Gangtok and other big towns are Gayzing, Pelling, Yuksam and Jorethang. The languages spoken here are Sikkimese, Lepcha, Tibetan, Nepali, Hindi and English. Tourism makes a lot of the money in this small organised state of India, because it is not close to the sea.

Sikkim has been cut off from the outside world for a long time. It was settled by Tibetans in the 16th century. It became a British Protectorate in 1890. Sikkim was transferred to India in 1949 by the British. It was annexed in 1975.

The majority is formed of Bhutias (Tibetan and Bhutnese in origin) and aboriginal Lepchas, who are mainly pastoral nomads. The Sikkimese predominantly practice Hinduism, but the former Chogyal House (“King under the religious laws”) and the official class are Buddhist. Sikkim is known for its Buddhist monasteries. Tibeto-Burmese languages and dialects are commonly spoken. Sikkim is bordered by the Tibet autonomous region of China to north