Pakyong

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Pakyong
City
Pakyong Airport, Gangtok.png
View of Pakyong Airport in Pakyong (Sikkim)
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Pakyong
Location in Sikkim, India
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Pakyong
Pakyong (India)
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Pakyong
Pakyong (Asia)
Coordinates: 27°14′22″N88°35′46″E / 27.2394°N 88.5961°E / 27.2394; 88.5961 Coordinates: 27°14′22″N88°35′46″E / 27.2394°N 88.5961°E / 27.2394; 88.5961
Country Flag of India.svg  India
State Sikkim
District Pakyong
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyPakyong Municipal Council
Elevation
1,120 m (3,670 ft)
Languages
 • Official Sikkimese, Nepali (Gorkha), Lepcha, Limbu, Newari, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa, Tamang and Sunwar
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
737 106
Telephone code03592
Vehicle registration SK 07
Climate Cwb
Lok Sabha Sikkim Constituency
Vidhan Sabha Gnathang-Machong, Rhenock, Namcheybung
Website eastsikkim.nic.in

Pakyong is a city and district headquarters of Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre for Orchids" (ICAR Institute) is also located here. [1]

Contents

There is a missionary run school called St. Xavier's, [2] which ranked as one of the top two schools in Sikkim during the 1990s. Notable among its alumni are the Padma Shri awardee footballer Baichung Bhutia, who captain India.

History

The existence of British bunkers at British Killa suggests the presence of armed bunkers sometime in the past.

The name Pakyong comes from the Lepcha words pa yong meaning "bamboo of the bow", as it was a common practise of the Lepchas to name a place after the essential items found at a place.

On 24 September 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pakyong Airport. Regular air service started on 4 October 2018.

Geography

Located in East Sikkim at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft),[ clarification needed ] it shares its borders with Bhutan and Tibet. Topography is hilly and a good agricultural area.

The villages surrounding Pakyong are Namcheybong, Ganchung, Kaputhang, Raigoan, Pachey, Samsing, Dikling, Tareythang, Pacheykhani, Pachak, Bering, Bering, Dugalakha, Linkey, Parkha, Machong, Daamlakha, Chalamthang, Barapathing, Changeysenti, Amba, Mamring, Baasilakha and Karthok.

Economy

The local economy is confined to the school and minor local businesses. Ginger is cultivated and floriculture is popular. The geography makes this viable. Goondruk, Kinema, Sinki are popular fermented foods sold in the local market. "Dalle Khorsani" (red chili) is popular among the local vegetable cultivators. Cow milk, curd, Chhurpi (residue of boiled buttermilk) are other means of earning income.

The crops like Large Cardamom, Broom Plant (Kuccho) and Ginger are traded in the town at their respective seasons.

There are many banks operating in the district headquarter Pakyong.

Transport

Roadways

Pakyong lies on National Highway-717A connecting Bagrakote to Gangtok via Labha, Algarah. [3]

The town is well connected to all major parts of Sikkim and its neighbouring states. Direct Taxi and Jeep services access almost all cities and towns of Sikkim and cities/towns of West Bengal like Siliguri, Kalimpong, Jaigaon, Birpara, Panitanki, Malbazar, Bagdogra etc.

In Pakyong, NH-717A is joined by the Following major roads:


Buses:

SNT Bus daily service connecting Pakyong to Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri) via Rangpo, Melli, Sevoke etc originates from Pakyong.

Frequent SNT buses connecting Gangtok via Ranipool are available from the town after every half hour. SNT buses connecting Rongli, Rhenock, Rorathang to Gangtok also runs via Pakyong.

Railway

The nearest railway station is Siliguri Junction which is 120 kilometres away and New Jalpaiguri Junction 126 kilometres away, The under construction Rangpo railway station is 21 kilometres away from the town.

Airways

Pakyong Greenfield Airport has two parking bays and a terminal building, which can handle about 100 passengers at a time. The airport is located on top of a hill above Pakyong at 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level and it is spread across over 201 acres. The entire airport, including the runway, has been built on land which was itself created by building an embankment wall as high as 263 ft in deep valleys. [4]

Demographics

Ethnic Nepalis, who settled in the region during British rule, comprise the majority of the population. Lepcha, native to the land, and Bhutias also constitute a sizable portion of the populace. Immigrant resident communities not native to the region include the Marwaris who form the backbone of the business community and own most of the shops; the Biharis who work in various trades, Bengalis involved in carpentry.

Thanks to the school, the town has attracted a cosmopolitan population with people from as far south as Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Culture

Nepali (Sikkimese) is the most widely spoken language. English and Hindi are understood in most parts of the state. Other languages include Bhutia (Sikkimese), Tibetan and Lepcha(Sikkimese).

All major Indian festivals, such as Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Ramnavami, Janmashtami, Teej, Maha Shivaratri, Naga Panchami, Vasant Panchami, Raksha Bandhan and Makar Sankranti (the popular Hindu festivals) and Buddhist festivals like Losar, Loosong, Bhumchu, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen and Drupka Teshi along with Christmas, Easter, Eid al-Fitr etc are celebrated, with most government offices and schools closing accordingly.

It is common to see school kids walking with guitars strung on their backs. Western Hip-Hop music is popular. Football and cricket are the two most popular sports and the St Xavier's School ground serves as the tournament venue, most notably the Independence Day Cup, which have in the past featured teams from as far as Calcutta, Nepal and Bhutan.

Local favourites like momo, thukpa, chowmein, gyathuk and wonton are available in restaurants. Momo is a popular snack, with vegetables, chicken, beef or pork filling, steamed and served with soup. The hills traditionally have a liberal attitude towards alcohol and in many of the local functions like marriages etc., it plays an important role. A common local beverage is raksi .

Attractions

Attractions include Dikling mane-lakhang, Shivalaya temple, Pacheykhani cave, Changey monastery, Pakyong Greenfield Airport, Devi Mandir, Karthok Monastery and a Monks’ Retreat Centre. Wednesday bazaar 'haat' is popular.

RDD complex is surrounded by pine trees and a small park. Trekking is available in Jhandi dara, located at the topmost part of Pakyong. Nearby Noab gaon is also called the virgin valley and is the hill whose top is the British killa.

Education

St. Xavier's School, JNV Pakyong, Dikling Sr. Sec School, Pakyong Bazar JHS, Pachey Senior Secondary School educate students. Pakim Palatine College provides higher education to local students and students from towns such as Gangtok, Rorathang, Rhenock, Ranipool and from Bhutan. Puspanjali school is one of the best developing autonomous educational institutions. Schools educate children in village areas too. Government Senior Secondary School Mamring was established in 1952.

Others

Pakyong Police Station of Pakyong in Pakyong District of Sikkim is ranked seventh among the top ten best performing police stations in the country according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 2020. [5]

Related Research Articles

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Sikkim is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 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 least populous and second smallest among the Indian states. Situated in the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is notable for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates, as well as being a host to Kangchenjunga, the highest peak in India and third highest on Earth. Sikkim's capital and largest city is Gangtok. Almost 35% of the state is covered by Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangtok</span> Capital of Sikkim, India

Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of 1,650 m (5,410 ft). The city's population of 100,000 are from different ethnicities of Sikkimese people such as Indian Gorkhas, Bhutia and Lepchas. Within the higher peaks of the Himalayas and with a year-round mild temperate climate, Gangtok is at the centre of Sikkim's tourism industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangtok district</span> District in Sikkim, India

Gangtok District, is an administrative district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was renamed in 2021 as a result of administrative reorganisation of the state, which also saw three subdivisions of the East Sikkim district spawned off as a separate Pakyong district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangpo</span> Town in Sikkim, India, bordering West Bengal

Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Highway 10 that links Siliguri to Gangtok. It is about 300 m above sea level with a sub-tropical climate. It is the 'Gateway to Sikkim' and all vehicles entering Sikkim have to stop at the Rangpo Police check-post. Foreign tourists require documents to enter Sikkim state and have to show them at the police check post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangpo River</span> River in *Sikkim *West Bengal, India

River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and Rangpo. The river demarcates the border between Pakyong District of Sikkim and Kalimpong district of West Bengal from Rorathang to Rangpo. At the town of Rangpo the river joins river Teesta. River Rangpo is the third largest river of Sikkim after Teesta and Rangeet. Atal Setu Bridge the longest roadway bridge of sikkim lies over River Rangpo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singtam</span> Town in Sikkim, India

Singtam is a town which lies mostly in Gangtok District and partly in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the state capital Gangtok. The town lies on the banking of the rivers Teesta and Ranikhola, which join together just below the town. NH10 and NH510 meet in Singtam. The Indreni Bridge and Sherwani Bridge over the river Teesta are in the town. Singtam District Hospital, the district hospital of Pakyong District, lies at Golitar, Singtam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhenock</span> Town in Sikkim, India

Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude of 1,040 metres. The word Rhe-nock means Black Hill. Situated in the extreme east of Sikkim, Rhenock witnessed the establishment of the first police outpost in the state.

Ranipool is a small suburban town located in the bank of river Ranikhola at the junction of National Highway 10 and National Highway 717A in Gangtok District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is 12 km before from Gangtok main town. It has three roads which lead to Singtam, Pakyong and Gangtok. It falls under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation. It is named after the Bridge which Connects the National highway to Gangtok and holds quite a significant role in traffic communications.

Rorathang is a town situated in the bank of Rangpo River on National Highway-717A, in Pakyong District of Sikkim, India.

Tareythang is a small village located in Pakyong sub division at the Pakyong District of Sikkim state in India. This village is about 1250 m above sea level with a sub-tropical climate. It is 12 kilometers away from Pakyong. In electoral roll of 2011, Tareythang comes under the Assembly Constituency of Chujachen.

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National Highway 10 is a national highway in North East India that connects Indo/Bangladesh border via Siliguri to Gangtok. It passes through the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim.

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Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around 69 kilometres (43 mi) by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. Rongli is one of the oldest market of Sikkim that lies on the trade route between Kalimpong and Tibet.

Government College, Rhenock, Pakyong district, Sikkim (GCR) is affiliated to Sikkim University. The college caters to the educational needs of students from the nearby areas of Rhenock, such as Rongli, Chujachen, Aritar, Rorathang, Tareythang, Pakyong, Pacheykhani, Mamring, Reshi and Rangpo, and also to the students from other districts of Sikkim as well as neighbouring towns of Kalimpong district of West Bengal. The Government College, Rhenock came into existence in the year 2005 and the college was established by the Government of Sikkim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Bank of Sikkim</span> Publicly owned bank

State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) is a state owned banking institution headquartered at Gangtok, Sikkim, India. The Bank operates within the jurisdiction of the State of Sikkim and in addition to banking services, State Bank of Sikkim handles treasury functions of State Government of Sikkim.

National Highway 717A, commonly referred to as NH 717A is a National Highway in India which is a part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. NH 717-A starts from National Highway 17 at Bagrakote and ends in Gangtok. NH-717A traverses the states of West Bengal and Sikkim in India. It runs through two districts of West Bengal namely Jalpaiguri district, Kalimpong district and two districts of Sikkim, which are Pakyong District and Gangtok District. The highway is being constructed and maintained by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri)</span> Bus terminal in North Bengal, India

The Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus is one of the most important bus terminal in North Bengal. It is located on Hill Cart Road, Siliguri, Darjeeling, adjacent to the Siliguri Junction railway station, about six kilometres (3.7 mi) New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. It is operated by Transport department, Government of Sikkim. Mainly Sikkim based bus service is available on this bus terminus.

Pakyongdistrict is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim, administered from Pakyong. The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision. The remaining Gangtok Subdivision of the former district was named as the Gangtok district, which now bounds the Pakyong district in the northwest. In addition, the district is now bounded by the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, Bhutan, and the Namchi district of Sikkim.

Taksaris of Sikkim also known as Taksari Newars were owners of minting houses, traders, landed class and their families in the former Kingdom of Sikkim. There were six families - mostly Newars - minting coins for the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom. In the period of British influence, Chogyal of Sikkim gave these families large land estates as Thikadars, a system of hereditary leesee landlords with judicial and administrative power over their respective estates.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sikkim.nic.in/nrco.htm [ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "St. Xaviers School - Pakyong - East Sikkim - www.zaverian.com". Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008. St Xavier's School
  3. ↑ "Doklam effect: Sikkim to get new all-weather highway- The New Indian Express".
  4. ↑ "Is this one of the most beautiful airports?". BBC News. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Pakyong Police Station comes 7th in top performing police stations of India". thenortheasttoday.com. 3 December 2020.
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