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Information on Sikkim

The Lepchas, Bhutias and the Sherpas are the people inhabiting the state.

Based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Crops include maize, rice, wheat and barley. Beans, ginger, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and tea are the other also grown. Sikkim is one of the world's main producers of cardamom.

About one-third of Sikkim is forested. Wild life found are Black bear, panda, numerous species of deer and the Tibetan antelope.

Copper, lead, zinc, coal, graphite and limestone

Established in 1642,Sikkim was ruled by Phuntsog Namgyal who was recognized by Dalai Lama as the first chogyal (temporal and spiritual king). The Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim till 1975.

In the mid-18th century, there were a series of territorial wars with Bhutan, as its king opposed the accession of a minor king in Sikkim. Nepal too, wanted to occupy parts of western Sikkim and part of the Terai region. There was also the largest migration of Nepalese to Sikkim during this period.

In the early 19th century British wanted to gain an access to Tibet. Sikkim supported them and in return regained the Nepalese-occupied territories. By 1817,Sikkim became a de facto protectorate of Britain. In the year 1835 the British East India Company obtained Darjeeling from Sikkim . Incidents between the British and Sikkimese led to the final annexation in 1849 of the Terai region. Subsequently the military defeat of Sikkim resulted in the Anglo-Sikkimese Treaty of 1861,which established Sikkim as a princely state under British paramountcy. The British were given rights of free trade and to build roads through Sikkim to Tibet.

After India's independence, in the year 1950 a treaty was signed between Sikkim and India making Sikkim an Indian protectorate, with the centre assuming responsibility for Sikkim's external relations, defence, and strategic communications. However after a few years in a special referendum, more than 97 % of the electorate voted for the merger of Sikkim with India and Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union on May 15,1975.