Sikkim in a nutshell
Sikkim short and sweet
Below you will find everything you need to know about Sikkim clearly summarized in a table. If something is not clear, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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| Location | In the northeast of India on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. Borders Nepal to the west, Tibet to the north and northeast, Bhutan to the southeast and the Indian state of West Bengal to the south. |
| Area | 7,096 sq km |
| Inhabitants | 690,000 (2023 Census) |
| Capital | Gangtok (approx. 1,700 m above sea level, approx. 30,000 inhabitants |
| Districts | 4: North, East, South and West |
| Topography | Himalayan mountains with altitude differences of more than 8200 m. In the south, the Teesta Valley reaches down to 300 m, while the land in the northwest rises up to 8,598 m (Mt. Kanchenjunga) |
| Flora & Fauna | More than 4,000 different plant species including 450 orchid species, 300 fern species and over 40 rhododendron species. 144 mammals, including snow leopards, red pandas, black bears, jungle cats, jackals and musk deer; over 450 bird species and over 400 butterfly species. |
| Climate | Tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine regions. Monsoon rains in summer |
| Snow line | About 5,000 m |
| Forest boundary | About 3,700 m |
| Average temperature at approx. 1,800 m | April to September: 11°C to 22°C. October to March: 5°C to 19°C. The lowest temperatures are in December and January. |
| Rainfall in Gangtok Rainfall in North Sikkim | 362 cm per year. The wettest month is July 60 cm per year |
| Languages | Nepali, Bhotia, Lepcha, Limbu, Tibetan, English, Hindi, Bengali |
| Ethnicities | Nepalese (approx. 75%), Lepchas and Bhotias (approx. 15%). Also Indians and Tibetans |
| Religions | Buddhism (approx. 30%), Hinduism (approx. 65%), shamanism, Christianity (approx. 3%). Also Muslims, Sikhs and Jains |
| Food | Rice is a staple food. Tibetan noodle dishes, meat patties (momos) and Indian and Chinese cuisine are also widespread. A specialty of Sikkim cuisine are dishes made from nettles, fermented leafy vegetables and orchids. |
Main economic sector | Tourism, military, dams (power generation), tourism; agriculture: corn, tour, wheat, barley, buckwheat, millet, livestock, vegetables, mandarins, guava, medicinal plants, etc. |
Main agricultural exports: | Black cardamom, ginger, tea, mandarins, etc. |
| Journey | Flight to Kolkata or Delhi in India. From Delhi or Kolkata by flight (Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, etc.) to Bagdogra or by train from Delhi (approx. 21 hours) or Kolkata to NJP (New Jalpaiguri) station. From Bagdogra airport by jeep to Sikkim (130 km in approx. 5 hours) or from NJP railroad station by jeep to Sikkim (124 km in 4.5 hours) |
| Visa / entry permit | You need a visa to enter India. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you apply for a visa. The tourist visa for India can be obtained online using the following link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ In addition, there is an entry permit for Sikkim and most other north-eastern Indian states as well as special permits for certain regions close to the border and for trekking trips. We will take care of these for you according to your travel program. The permit to enter Sikkim is issued for 15 days. If your tour within Sikkim lasts longer, we will take care of the necessary extension. Please note: After you have left Sikkim, you can only reapply for an entry permit for Sikkim after one month. Extensions are usually granted for a maximum of 60 days in total. |