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|| Populations || Short History || General Information || Best Travel Time || |
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The
Lepchas are Sikkims original inhabitants. They are said to have moved
into Sikkim from Mongolia. The Lepchas call their land Nye-Mal-Ale which
simply means, heaven. In lepcha language they call themselves Mutanchi, the
dearest human beings on mother earth. Literature describes them as
kindhearted and shy people. With the arrival of the Tibetan immigrants the
Lepchas began to give up their animistic religion in favour of Buddhism.
Today most Lepchas are farmers and herdsmen and they live mostly in the
North and West as well as in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Hunting and gathering
as well as fishing still play an important role in the live of the Lepchas.
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Under
the Namgyal Chogyal-Dynasty from 1642 up until 1975 Sikkim was a Buddhist
kingdom. In 1835 the king of Sikkim was force to gift Darjeeling to the
British. At the same time Sikkim was made Britains protectorate. In
Darjeeling the British actively encouraged Nepalese immigration. They were
used as work force to plant the first tea garden and made Darjeeling a
resort for the in India stationed British. In 1918 Sikkim regained
independence. However, the king lost his absolute power. When India became
independent in 1947, it took over the protectorate. The foreign policy
representation and the national defence of Sikkim were transferred to India.
When the constitution came into effect in 1955, the political iNF_enluence
of the |
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Spring - March through the beginning of June
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Autumn -
September through mid December This
is peak trekking season: the monsoons are over, the hillsides are lush and
green, the skies azure-blue. Mountain views are crystal clear all day and
are particularly spectacular at sunrise and sunset. Fall is also the time to
many colourful local festivals and busy harvest activity. Nomadic herdsmen
return to villages, their yaks laden with cheese and butter for sale. |
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Winter - December through March Mild winter temperatures and brilliant skies are perfect conditions for trekking at lower elevations. Winter ushers in both the Sikkimese and Tibetan New Years Celebrations, religious dances and archery competitions. Hot springs are now easily Accessible and visited by many. |
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The Buthias are the second oldest people of Sikkim. From the
9th century onward
they began migrating into Sikkim from Tibet. The fraternisation of the
Lepchas and the Bhutias was sealed by a contract and in 1642 the first king
of Sikkim was corona ted in Yoksum, West-Sikkim. The boundary of Sikkim
extended at that time up to the Tibetan Chumbi valley and including
Darjeeling to the south. The holy teacher and monk Padmasambava, also called
Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to Tibet and Sikkim whom he called Bay-Yol-Dre-Ma-Jong,
the hidden land of treasures, fruits and flowers. Padmasambava prophesied
that Buddhism would once again flourish in this country after it will be
destroyed through dark forces in Tibet. Today Mahayana Buddhism is the state
religion. Gompas (monasteries) and Lamas (monks) play an important role in
the daily live of the Bhutias. Most monasteries exist through donations of
the indigenous population. Even today it is a custom amongst traditional
Bhutia families to send the second oldest son to a monastery.
Sikkimese king was reduced. In 1973 bureaucrats mostly belonging to
the Nepalese settlers in Sikkim planned to overthrow the monarchy and bring
it to an end. India increased its iNF_enluence and in 1975 India annexed
Sikkim as its 22nd state. On April 8, 1975 Indian tanks and soldiers
surrounded the palace and placed the king under Indian observance. In the
process of this annexation one member of the Sikkim guard was shot dead. The
next day the Chogyal wrote the following to Mrs. Indira Gandhi who had
ordered the attack: I have no words when the Indian army was sent today in a
surprise attack on Sikkim Guards who are less than 300 strong and were
trained, equipped and officered by the Indian army who looked upon each
other as comrades This is a most treacherous and black day in the history of
democratic India in solving the survival of our little country by use of
arms. The overthrown king spent the rest of his live under Indian
surveillance. The sikkimese national flag was banned and so were books
containing documentation about the annexation. Lal Bahadur Basnet wrote in
an article published in the Times of India on October 15, 1979, we have
always said and still say that the manner of Sikkims merger with India was
not legal and constitutional. The 12th Chogyal Palden Thodup Namgyal who
became known due to his marriage to the American Hope Cooke, died in 1982
with a broken heart. His son Wangchuk Namgyal from first marriage, was
coronated as Sikkims 13th king. His responsibility includes however only
religious matters.
Spring is the best time to experience Sikkims vast variety of flowers. This
colourful and sweet-smelling forest with blooming Rhododendron- and
Magnolia-trees mark the mountain slopes. Orchids and Bougainvilleas are also
at their peak in spring. The landscape is green and full of live. The spring
sun warms the snow-covered mountain peaks, filling again the misty Himalayan
rivers. Villagers are busy planting new crops and shepherding their flocks.