Sikkim

Capital

Gangtok

Official Language

English, Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha

Area

7,096 km²

Districts

6

Largest City

Gangtok

Geography & Nature

Eastern Himalayan mountains, the Teesta and Rangit valleys, alpine environments and Khangchendzonga shape the state's terrain.

• Reported area: 7,096 km². Survey of India — Administrative Boundary Data.
• Forest and tree cover: 3,406.73 km²; India State of Forest Report 2023.

Districts & Cities

6 districts listed by the NIC directory on 2026-10-14.

• Major urban centres: Gangtok, Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan.
• Largest city/town: Gangtok. Largest city/town using Census 2011 municipal or town boundaries; urban-agglomeration rankings can differ. Current city names are used.

State Administration

Sikkim has a Governor and an elected government led by a Chief Minister. Its legislature has a Legislative Assembly. The capital is Gangtok.

• Administrative capital: Gangtok.
• Principal official language(s): English, Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha. These are the principal official languages; other regional languages also have state recognition.

Government Institutions

Government institutions in Sikkim include executive departments, district administration, public agencies and local bodies. The official directory provides routes to their published websites.

• The Legislative Assembly provides the elected legislative institution.
• District administrations and municipal or village institutions provide local public services.

People & Demographics

The official MoEFCC profile reports approximately 0.0611 crore people on a Census 2011 basis. This is a historical, rounded population figure rather than a current population estimate.

• Principal official language(s): English, Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha.
• These are the principal official languages; other regional languages also have state recognition.
• Census tables provide the detailed rural/urban, literacy, age and mother-tongue breakdowns.

Economy & Industries

Tourism, horticulture, organic agriculture, pharmaceuticals and hydropower support the economy.

• Economic centres include Gangtok, Namchi, Gyalshing.
• Use the government's economic surveys and departmental publications for dated output, employment and investment figures.

Infrastructure

Mountain highways, local roads, hydropower systems and Pakyong Airport link settlements across steep terrain.

• Transport, electricity, water and digital networks support public services and economic activity.
• Project status and operational details are published by the responsible government departments and operators.

Education & Healthcare

Sikkim University and NIT Sikkim are public higher-education institutions; government hospitals and medical teaching facilities support care.

• Schools, universities, government hospitals and primary care facilities serve different parts of the region.
• Check the relevant institution or department for current programmes, admissions and services.

Culture & History

Buddhist monasteries, Lepcha and Bhutia heritage, Nepali traditions and Pang Lhabsol reflect a diverse cultural landscape.

• Heritage sites, languages, crafts and community traditions vary across districts.
• The official tourism and culture portal provides place-specific information.

Schemes & Public Services

The Sikkim government and citizen-service portal provide access to applications, certificates, departmental services and scheme information.

• Common service areas include revenue certificates, welfare applications, education, transport and local-government services; availability varies by portal.
• Open the official service listing for the current application process and requirements.