Namchi

Central Park, Namchi

Namchi नाम्ची
—  city  —
Namchi नाम्ची Location of Namchi नाम्ची in Sikkim and India
Coordinates	27°10′N 88°21′E / 27.17°N 88.35°E / 27.17; 88.35Coordinates: 27°10′N 88°21′E / 27.17°N 88.35°E / 27.17; 88.35
Country	India
State	Sikkim
District(s)	South Sikkim
Population	978 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 1,315 metres (4,314 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 737 126 • Telephone • +03595 • Vehicle • SK-02

Namchi is the capital of the South Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The appellation Namchi means Sky (Nam) High (Chi) in Bhutia.

Geography

Namchi is located at 27°10′N 88°21′E / 27.17°N 88.35°E / 27.17; 88.35.^[1] It has an average elevation of 1315 metres (4314 feet).

Namchi is situated at an altitude of 1,675 m (5500 feet) above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 92 km from the state capital Gangtok and 90 km from the town of Siliguri, the nearest railhead and airport. Namchi lies off the road between Melli and Jorethang. Namchi is well connected to other towns in Sikkim and West Bengal. Jeeps and buses regularly ply between Namchi to Gangtok, Pelling, Jorethang, Kalimpong and Siliguri. Namchi commands panoramic view of the snow capped mountains and vast stretches of valley. It is also headquarters of South district. The area is fast growing into a tourist destination with its enomous potential for all round tourist activities.

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[2] Namchi had a population of 978. Males constitute 59% of the population and females 41%. Namchi has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 73%. In Namchi, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Most of the people of Namchi are Hindus and Buddhists. Languages spoken are Nepali, English and Hindi.

Education

Namchi has more than half a dozen Private schools with quality education(Mt. Carmel School,Namchi Public School , Tendong Educational Institute,victory educational institute, New Light Academy etc) and government Higher Secondary Schools for Boys and Girls. Just few kilometers away from the town is a reputed Government College for Arts and Education. People give a lot of importance and focus on education with a reverence. Namchi Public School run by catholic missonaries is one of the respected educational institute in the State and one of the best in the south district of sikkim.

Tourism

Namchi is fast becoming a major tourist spot and pilgrimage centre. The Namchi monastery, Ralong monastery and Tendong Hill are important Buddhist pilgrimage centres. The world's largest statue (at 118 feet) of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim, is on the Samdruptse hill (The Wish Fulfilling well) opposite Namchi. It was completed in February 2004. It is also said that the Samdruptse hill is actually a Dormant Volcano. Myths say that the buddhist monks have been going on top of the hill and offering prayers to the volcano to keep it calm. There is also a Rock Garden just few kilometers up from the town on the way to Samdruptse. The Rock Garden displays a wide variety of Flora and is a local recreation and picnic spot. It offers a magnificent view of Mt. Kanchendzonga (aka Mt. Kanchenjanga, the world's third highest peak).

Statue of Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. The statue in Namchi is the tallest statue of the saint in the world at 36 metres (120 ft).

A helipad is located 5 km away from town at an altitude of around 5000 fts. From here one can get the most panaromic view of Mt. Kanchanzonga with the surrounding mountain a part of Darjeeling Kalimgpong and the rolling plains of Bengal. The visitors can savour the breathtaking view of temi tea garden the one and the only tea estate in the state which produces top quality tea in the international market.

Narrow Road Connecting Rangpo with Namchi

Near the town, Sikkim's sole tea estate — the Temi Tea Garden is situated. The tea carries a premium the world over and costs around Rs. 200/- a kg. The tea is marked by its exotic odour and flavour.

In the month of February, the Namchi garden hosts it annual flower show. The flower show is the largest in Sikkim with flowers in a riot of colours. The prime attraction of this show is the display of exotic and rare orchids.

One of the highlights of the town is the football stadium – the Baichung Stadium built by the Sikkimese government in honour of its most famous citizen, footballer Baichung Bhutia. "The Gold Cup" football tournament is held in Bhaichung Stadium almost every year. Football teams from all over India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan vie for the honour which draws lot of crowds from all over Sikkim. Namchi is also the base of the chief minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling.

Historically, Namchi was the place where Pende Ongmoo, the trecherous princess who poisoned one of the Chogyals of Sikkim, was caught and killed for her deed. Legend says her spirit still haunts the foothills of Ghurpisey.

The latest tourist attraction is the completion of Char Dham - a Pilggimage center of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. It contains the temples of the four most important shrines of India. A Ropeway is also being constructed from Samdruptse to Namchi town and then to Char Dham for People to see panaromic views of the hills.

References

1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Namchi
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

External links

• Samdruptse Website