Sikkim the 22nd state of India, was a kingdom headed by the Chogyal till it merged with India in 1973. Now a prosperous state within the Indin Union, Sikkim is relatively tiny in size, around 40 miles wide and 80 miles long.Nevertheless, Sikkim is a treasure house of Flora and fauna, including 500 species of natural orchids and around the same number of Butterflies. Relatively new to the concepts of democracy, Sikkim is governed by an elected representative. Sikkim also is known as "Denzong" meaning Valley Of Rice as it is the first cultivable area south of the Tibetan Plateau. The third highest mountain in the world, Khan-chen-dzonga,is on the western fringe of Sikkim.
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