West Sikkim district

West Sikkim is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its headquarter is Geyzing, also known as Gyalshing. The district is a favourite with trekkers due to the high elevations. Other important towns include Pelling and Yuksom. Local people also call it as Pallo-Sikkim and Sano-Sikkim commonly.

History

West Sikkim is the site of the ancient state capital Yuksom. West Sikkim It served as Sikkim’s capital beginning in 1642 for almost 50 years until it was shifted to Rabdentse. The district was under the occupation of the Nepalese for 30 years in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. After Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16), the district was returned to Sikkim.

Geography

West Sikkim covers an area of 1,166 square kilometres (450 sq mi). Attractions include the Khecheopalri Lake, where, according to legend, not a leaf is allowed to fall on the surface of the lake and the Dubdi Monastery, the first monastery of the state.

Assembly Constituencies

The district was previously divided into 8 assembly constituencies.

Yoksam-Tashiding (BL)
Yangthang
Maneybung-Dentam
Gyalshing-Barnyak
Rinchenpong (BL)
Daramdin (BL)
Soreng-Chakung
Salghari-Zoom (SC)

National protected area

Khangchendzonga National Park (Part)

Economy

The economy is mainly agrarian, despite most of the land being unfit for cultivation owing to the precipitous and rocky slopes.

Transport

Roads are in poor condition owing to the frequent landslides.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census West Sikkim district has a population of 136,435, roughly equal to the nation of Grenada. This gives it a ranking of 608th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 117 inhabitants per square kilometre (300/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 10.58%. West Sikkim has a sex ratio of 941 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 78.69%.

The people are mainly of Limbu descent. Other ethnic groups include the Lepcha and Bhutia communities. Nepali is the most widely spoken language in the district.

Religion

Religion in West Sikkim district (2011)

Hinduism			55.18%
Buddhism			26.67%
Christianity			9.53%
Islam			0.71%
Other or not stated (mainly Kirat Mundhum)			7.91%

Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple

Hinduism is followed by majority of the people in the West Sikkim district. Buddhism followed by a considerable population.

The Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage centre in Sikkim is situated in Legship in West Sikkim district.

Languages

Languages of West Sikkim (2011)

Nepali (58.14%)

Limbu (18.59%)

Lepcha (6.96%)

Bhotia (4.95%)

Sherpa (3.06%)

Tamang (2.04%)

Rai (1.75%)

Hindi (1.47%)

Others (3.04%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 58.14% of the population in the district spoke Nepali, 18.59% Limbu, 6.96% Lepcha, 4.95% Bhotia, 3.06% Sherpa, 2.04% Tamang, 1.75% Rai and 1.47% Hindi as their first language.

Flora and fauna

West Sikkim houses a great diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are used by Indigenous and local communities. Since most of the district is hilly it enjoys a temperate climate. Above 3,800 m (12,000 ft) the slopes are full of rhododendron forests.

In 1977 West Sikkim district became home to Khangchendzonga National Park, which has an area of 1,784 km² (688.8 sq mi). It shares the park with North Sikkim district.