Editing Sikkim (section)

{{short description|State in northeastern India}}
{{other uses}}
{{pp-semi-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox Indian state or territory
| name = Sikkim
| official_name = State of Sikkim
| image_skyline = {{photomontage
 | photo1a      = Buddha statue at Buddha Park of Ravangla, Sikkim, India (1).jpg
 | photo1b      = Sunrise over Kangchenjunga.jpg
 | photo2a      = Ravangla, Sikkim by Masum Ibn Musa (389).jpg
 | photo2b      = Shiva Statue Chardham Temple Sikkim.jpg
 | photo3a      = Rumtek Monastery 04.jpg
 | photo3b      = Temi tea garden.jpg
 | photo4a      = 
 | spacing                  = 1
| color_border              = white
| color                     = white
| size                      = 300
 | foot_montage = 
 }}
| image_caption = (from top, left to right) [[Buddha Park of Ravangla]]; [[Kangchenjunga]]; Monks in Ravangla; Siddheswar Dham; [[Rumtek Monastery]]; [[Temi Tea Garden]]
| type = State
| image_seal = Seal of Sikkim.svg
| etymology = New Palace
| nickname = "Valley of Rice"
| motto = [[Trailokyavijaya|Kham sum wangdu]] (Conqueror of the three worlds)
| image_map = IN-SK.svg
| region = Northeast India
| before_was = [[Kingdom of Sikkim]]
| formation_date = 16 May 1975
| capital = Gangtok
| largestcity = capital
| districts = [[List of districts of Sikkim|6]]
| Governor = [[Om Prakash Mathur]]
| Chief_Minister = [[Prem Singh Tamang]]
| party = [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha|SKM]]
| legislature_type = Unicameral
| assembly = [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly_seats = 32 seats
| rajya_sabha_seats = 1 seat
| lok_sabha_seats = 1 seat
| judiciary = [[Sikkim High Court]]
| area_total_km2 = 7096
| area_rank = 27th
| length_km = 116
| width_km = 65
| elevation_m = 1,650
| elevation_max_m = 8,586
| elevation_max_point = [[Kangchenjunga]]<ref>{{cite web |date=20 February 2009 |title=Kangchenjunga – Peakware World Mountain Encyclcopedia |url=http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=132 |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220064113/http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=132 |archive-date=20 February 2009}}</ref>
| elevation_min_m = 280
| elevation_min_point = border with West Bengal<ref>{{cite web |title=Sikkim Information |url=https://cus.ac.in/index.php/en/information-3/important-links/sikkim-information#:~:text=The%20terrain%20throughout%20Sikkim%20is,from%20subtropical%20to%20high%20alpine |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=cus.ac.in}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Cens2011Up" />
| population_total = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 610,577
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 32nd
| population_density = 86
| population_urban = 25.15%
| population_rural = 74.85%
| 0fficial_Langs = {{hlist|[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|[[Sikkimese Bhutia language|Sikkimese]]|[[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]|[[English language|English]]}}<ref name="langoff1">{{cite web |title=1977 Sikkim government gazette |url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |website=sikkim.gov.in |publisher=Governor of Sikkim |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722164022/https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2018 |page=188}}</ref><ref name="langoff">{{cite web |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |page=109 |title=50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=6 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102211909/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| additional_official = {{hlist|[[Gurung language|Gurung]]|[[Limbu language|Limbu]]|[[Magar language|Magar]]|[[Sunwar language|Mukhia]]|[[Newari language|Newari]]|[[Rai languages|Rai]]|[[Sherpa language|Sherpa]]|[[Tamang language|Tamang]]}}
| GDP_total = {{Increase}}{{INR}}47,000 crore ({{USD}}6.0 billion)
| GDP_year = 2023-24
| GDP_rank = 29th
| GDP_per_capita = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|587743|lk=r}}
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 1st
| HDI = {{Increase}} 0.764 {{color|#090|Very High}}
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_rank = 10th
| literacy = {{Increase}} 81.42%
| literacy_year = 2011
| literacy_rank = 13th
| sex_ratio = 890[[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]
| sexratio_year = 2011
| sexratio_rank = 10th
| iso_code = IN-SK
| registration_plate = SK
| website = www.sikkim.gov.in
| foundation_day = Sikkim Day
| mammal = [[Red panda]]
| bird = [[Blood pheasant]]<ref name="Dhar1999">{{cite book |last1=Dhar |first1=T.N. |last2=Gupta |first2=S.P. |title=Tourism in Indian Himalaya |publisher=Indian Institute of Public Administration |location=Lucknow, India |year=1999 |page=192 |oclc=42717797}}</ref>
| fish = [[Neolissochilus hexagonolepis|Copper Mahseer]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Sikkim declares 'Katley' as State fish |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sikkim-declares-katley-as-state-fish/article36547120.ece |date=19 September 2021 |access-date=30 October 2022}}</ref>
| flower = [[Dendrobium nobile|Noble dendrobium]]<ref>{{cite web |title=States and Union Territories Symbols |url=http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#sik |url-status=dead |work=knowindia.gov.in |access-date=13 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112080035/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#sik |archive-date=12 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Flora and Fauna |url=http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/SikkimAtAGlance/FloraFauna.aspx |url-status=dead |work=sikkimtourism.gov.in |access-date=13 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417083258/http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/SikkimAtAGlance/FloraFauna.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2016 }}</ref>
| tree = [[Rhododendron]]
| image_highway = SH IN-SK.png
| SH_numbers = [[List of state highways in Sikkim|SK SH1 – SK SH27]]
}}

'''Sikkim''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|k|ᵻ|m}} {{respell|SIK|im}}; {{IPA|ne|ˈsikːim|lang}}) is a [[States and union territories of India|state]] in northeastern [[India]]. It borders the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] of [[China]] in the north and northeast, [[Bhutan]] in the east, [[Koshi Province]] of [[Nepal]] in the west, and [[West Bengal]] in the south. Sikkim is also close to the [[Siliguri Corridor]], which borders [[Bangladesh]]. Sikkim is the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|least populous]] and [[List of states and union territories of India by area|second-smallest]] among the Indian states. Situated in the [[Eastern Himalaya]], Sikkim is notable for its [[biodiversity]], including [[Alpine climate|alpine]] and [[subtropical]] climates, as well as being a host to [[Kangchenjunga]], the [[List of mountains in India|highest peak in India]] and [[List of highest mountains on Earth|third-highest on Earth]].<ref name="oneill_khecheopalri">{{cite journal |last=O'Neill |first=Alexander |display-authors=etal |title=Establishing Ecological Baselines Around a Temperate Himalayan Peatland |journal=Wetlands Ecology & Management |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=375–388 |date=25 February 2020 |s2cid=211081106 |bibcode=2020WetEM..28..375O |doi=10.1007/s11273-020-09710-7}}</ref> Sikkim's [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city is [[Gangtok]]. Almost 35% of the state is covered by [[Khangchendzonga National Park]] – a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=O'Neill |first=Alexander |title=Sikkim claims India's first mixed-criteria UNESCO World Heritage Site |url=http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/112/05/0893.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Current Science |volume=112 |issue=5 |pages=893–994 |date=29 March 2017 |access-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329020240/http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/112/05/0893.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

The [[Kingdom of Sikkim]] was founded by the [[Chogyal|Namgyal dynasty]] in the 17th century. It was ruled by [[Buddhist]] priest-kings known as the [[Chogyal]]. It became a [[princely state]] of the [[British Indian Empire]] in 1890. Following Indian independence, Sikkim continued its [[protectorate]] status with the [[Dominion of India|Union of India]] after 1947 and the Republic of India after 1950. It enjoyed the highest literacy rate and per capita income among [[Himalayan states]]. In 1973, anti-royalist riots took place in front of the Chogyal's palace. In 1975, after the [[Indian Army]] took over the city of Gangtok, a [[1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum|referendum]] was held that led to the dissolution of the monarchy and Sikkim's joining India as its 22nd state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/india-china-standoff-why-is-sikkims-merger-with-india-being-questioned-by-china-4745142/|title=Why is Sikkim's merger with India being questioned by China? |date=11 July 2017 |access-date=11 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711065854/http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/india-china-standoff-why-is-sikkims-merger-with-india-being-questioned-by-china-4745142/ |archive-date=11 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Modern Sikkim is a [[multiethnic]] and [[multilingual]] Indian state. The [[Official languages of India|official languages]] of the state are [[English language|English]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Bhutia language|Bhutia]], and [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]].<ref name="langoff1" /> Additional official languages include [[Gurung language|Gurung]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Magar language|Magar]], [[Sunwar language|Mukhia]], [[Newari language|Newari]], [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]] and [[Tamang language|Tamang]] for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.<ref name="langoff" /> [[Indian English|English]] is taught in schools and used in government documents. The predominant religion is [[Hinduism]], with a significant [[Vajrayana Buddhist]] minority. Sikkim's economy is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. {{As of|2019}}, the state had [[List of Indian states by GDP|the fifth-smallest GDP among Indian states]],<ref name="mospi">{{cite web|url=http://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/StatewiseDomesticProduct_3aug18.xls|title=MOSPI GSDP|website=MOSPI}}</ref> although it is also among the fastest-growing.<ref name="Unidow">{{cite web|url=http://unidow.com/india%20home%20eng/statewise_gdp.html |title=State-Wise GDP |publisher=Unidow.com |year=2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724114441/http://unidow.com/india%20home%20eng/statewise_gdp.html |archive-date=24 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="StatMin">[http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm Indian Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231836/http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm |date=3 March 2016}}. Retrieved 24 September 2011.</ref>