Pakyong District
District of Sikkim
Mt. Kangchenjunga view from Thambi View Point, Dzuluk, Pakyong District Sikkim.
Mt. Kangchenjunga view from Thambi View Point, Dzuluk, Pakyong District Sikkim.
Map
Pakyong district
Location in Sikkim
Coordinates: 27°23′N 88°59′E / 27.383°N 88.983°E / 27.383; 88.983
Country India
HeadquartersPakyong
Government
 • District magistrateMr. Tashi Chopel[1] [2]
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesSikkim Constituency
 • Vidhan Sabha constituencies
Area
 • Total404 km2 (156 sq mi)
Elevation
1,120 m (3,670 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total74,583
 • Density180/km2 (480/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-SK
Vehicle registrationSK-07
Major Highways
Longest Bridge
Largest Stadium
Largest Wildlife Sanctuary

Pakyong district is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim, administered from Pakyong.[3] The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision. [4] 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, China and the Namchi district of Sikkim.

Demographics

Nathang Valley Pakyong District Sikkim
Snow on Sikkim Silk Route, Pakyong District Sikkim

Pakyong District has the total area of 404 km2 (156 sq mi). The total population as per 2011 census is 74,583.[5]

Transport

Roadways

National Highway 717B (India) switchbacks at Zuluk, Pakyong District Sikkim

The major highways in Pakyong District are as follows:

Pakyong to Siliguri SNT Bus

Railway

The under construction Sivok–Rangpo railway line will end in Pakyong District at the town of Rangpo. It is planned later to be prolonged to Gangtok.

Airways

Pakyong Greenfield Airport the only airport of Sikkim, lies on Pakyong District at the district Headquarter-Pakyong.

Pakyong Airport, Pakyong District, Sikkim
Runway at Pakyong Airport, Pakyong District Sikkim

Assembly Constituencies

Gnathang Krishna Mandir Pakyong District Sikkim

Assembly Constituencies falling under Pakyong District are as follows:

Important Towns and Cities

Dzuluk, an important tourist destination, Pakyong District Sikkim

The major towns and cities of Pakyong District are

Sunrise from Lungthung View Point, Pakyong District Sikkim

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Diverse flora of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakyong District, Sikkim

Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Pakyong District. It is connected to Neora Valley National Park of Kalimpong district of North Bengal via thick forest cover in Aritar Mulkharka Rachela region. Sumin Reserve Forest and Saramsa Garden also lies in Pakyong District which is rich in varieties of floral plants and fauna.

Blue-winged Laughingthrush in Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary Pakyong District Sikkim

Flora and fauna

Fire-tailed myzornis at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary
White-capped redstart at Lingtam Pakyong District Sikkim

Variety of plants and wildlife are found in Pakyong District. The important ones are red panda the state animal, blood pheasant the state bird Dendrobium nobile the state flower and Rhododendron the state tree are found in the wildlife sanctuaries of Pakyong District.

Drongo Cuckoo in Budang, Sumin Reserve Forest Pakyong District Sikkim
Grey-sided laughingthrush at Pendam, Sumin Reserve Forest, Pakyong District Sikkim

Other important wild animals include Snow Leopard, Himalayan black bear, Clouded leopard, Large Indian civet etc.[8] Forest Department, Government of Sikkim has also confirmed the presence of Royal Bengal Tiger in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of Pakyong District in January 2019.[9]

Blue-fronted redstart at Rolep Pakyong District Sikkim
White-crested laughingthrush at Aritar Pakyong District Sikkim

Rivers and Lakes

Rivers

Teesta River near Majitar, Pakyong District Sikkim

River Teesta, the largest river of state flows in Pakyong district from Singtam to Rangpo.

Rangpo River the third largest river of Sikkim originates from Lake Menmecho at Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District and flows through Pakyong Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision villages and towns of Pakyong District before meeting river Teesta at Rangpo Town.

River Jaldhaka which originates near Dzuluk in Pakyong District and flows towards Bhutan, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Other major rivers of Pakyong District are Richu Khola, Rongli Khola, Pachey Khola, Reshi Khola etc.

Lakes

Lampokhari (lake) of Aritar, Pakyong District Sikkim
Gnathang Heart Lake, Gnathang Pakyong District Sikkim

Important lakes of Pakyong District are :

Sports

Gnathang Valley Pakyong District Sikkim during Winters perfect for Snowboarding

Mining Cricket Stadium located at Rangpo, Pakyong district is the largest cricket stadium of entire Sikkim. The stadium belongs to Sikkim Cricket Association and hosts important cricket tournaments like Ranji Trophy, CK Nayudu Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy etc.It is the home ground of Sikkim cricket team.[10][11] Other major sports grounds of Pakyong district are St. Xavier's Football ground - Pakyong, Rongli Mela Ground, Rhenock SSS Ground, Chujachen SSS Ground, Central Pendam SSS Ground etc.

Education

Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology Gate, Majitar Pakyong District Sikkim

Pakyong District has many educational institutions. Some important ones among them are as follows:

Achievements

Thambi View Point Dzuluk, Pakyong District Sikkim

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "सिक्किम सरकार ने नवनिर्मित सोरेंग और पाकयोंग जिलों के लिए दो नए जिला आयुक्तों के नामों की घोषणा की". dailynews360.patrika.com.
  2. ^ "District Collectors". sikkim.gov.in.
  3. ^ "3 sub-divisions of East Sikkim to form Sikkim's newest district Pakyong -Eastmojo". eastmojo.com.
  4. ^ "Sikkim's New District To Become a Transportation Hub". northeasttoday.in.
  5. ^ "3 sub-divisions of East Sikkim to form Sikkim's newest district Pakyong -Eastmojo". eastmojo.com.
  6. ^ "Doklam effect: Sikkim to get new all-weather highway". newindianexpress.com.
  7. ^ "NHIDCL floats tender for road works in Sikkim". constructionweekonline.in.
  8. ^ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Sikkim". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (9 January 2019). "Caught on camera: Sikkim's Royal Bengal Tiger". The Hindu.
  10. ^ "For first time Sikkim to host Ranji Trophy matches, Himalayan state allotted three fixtures". nenow.in.
  11. ^ "Sikkim to host 3 Ranji Trophy matches for the first time". currentaffairs.adda247.com.
  12. ^ "Pakyong Ranked 8th Among Top 10 District of India". www.voiceofsikkim.com.
  13. ^ "Pakyong Police Station comes 7th in top performing police stations of India". thenortheasttoday.com. 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Vivanta Sikkim wins HICSA best hotel of the year award". www.eastmojo.com.
  15. ^ "Jetsen Dona Lama Shines on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs". indiatodayne.in.
  16. ^ "Jetshen Dohna Lama is the winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs season 9". indiatodayne.in.
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