Sikkim an erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom,
has been a state of India since it's merger in 1975.
It is wedged in between the Kingdoms of Nepal in
the west and Bhutan in the east. With an area of
7,096 sq kms, it has a rectangular shape measuring
about 114 km. from the north to South and 64 km.
from east to west.
The topography and location of Sikkim manifests
in a diverse range of flora, which is tropical in
the low-lying areas and alpine in the high reaches
of the mountains. The human population throughout
history has been very low, which
has helped this place to maintain a high percentage
of forest cover, evident even now. `A journey to
Sikkim necessarily involves awakening the senses
and discovering the pristine and mystic beauty of
the land. Sikkim is a dreamland that one can realize
and enjoy, now that the area is open to all.
The state offers a wide range of adventure
sports opportunities as well including mountaineering
in the Himalayas. For trekking, one can follow any
of the four trek routes: the Monastic Trek, Rhododendron
Trek, Kanchenjunga Trek and Coronation Trek. River
rafting is possible in the rough waters of the Teesta
and the Rangit. Kayaking is arranged on the Teesta
only for special groups. Yak safari is arranged
from Dzongri onwards. In north and west Sikkim,
mountain biking is very popular these days. Jorethang,
in west Sikkim, and certain parts of north Sikkim
are popular locales for gliding. As per regulations
foreigners should be in a group of 4 persons or
more for trekking in Sikkim.
Sikkim is bounded by Tibet (China)
in the north, West Bengal in the south, Tibet and
Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The state
is spread below Mount Kanchenjunga (8,534 m), the
third highest peak in the world. The locals worship
the mountain as a protective deity. The elevation
of the state ranges from 300m to over 8,540m above
sea level. The nearest airport is Bagdora (120 km.
far away from Gangtok, the capital). There are regular
flights connected to Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati.
There are also regular train services to other parts
of county