District Profile

Namchi District of Sikkim lies at an altitude of 400 mtr to 2000 mtr with unique and countryside escape of endless waves of  agricultural fields and the terraced slopes, intercepted by spring patched forests and encompasses a total area of around 75000 hectares. Area wise, it is the smallest district of Sikkim and population-wise, second one. Its total population is 1,46,742 (as per 2011 census) among which 76,663 are male and 68,241 female. Namchi or Namtse (meaning Sky High) is the headquarter of the district, which is nestled among the hills having elevation of 5500 fts and which commands panoramic view of snowcapped mountains and vast stretches of valley. Namchi is around 78 km away from the capital Gangtok and is the closest major Sikkim city to Siliguri (around 85 km), which is gateway to enter in Sikkim from West Bengal. The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) (around 105 km) and nearest Airport is Bagdogra (around 110 km) from Namchi. The Melli check post is the entry point to District from West Bengal.

 Simple and religious people, some of the oldest monasteries, great scenic beauty, agricultural society and peace & tranquility is the identity of the district and it is known as fastest growing industrial area. The district has variety of climatic conditions and average annual rainfall of 162.5 cms. Maximum temperature recorded so far on the average is 17-27 Degree Celsius and minimum 02-21 Degree Celsius. Ngadak Gumpa in Namchi and Ralong Gumpa in Ravangla are among the oldest monasteries of Namchi district. Siddhesvara Dham is situated atop Solophok hilltop, 5 km from Namchi, has a 108 ft tall statue of Shiva, replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, models of sacred Chardham Hindu Temples of Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram and a 18-feet statue of Kirateshwar a hunter incarnation of Shiva. 135 ft statue of Guru Padmasambhava is built at Samdruptse in Namchi which is surrounded by lush green forest and is located below the famous Tendong Hills. Other important places are Ravangla, Tendong Hills, Mainam Hill, Borong and Jorethang. Namchi has been identified as the land or orchids and other variety of flowers.

Namchi, Ravangla, Jorethang and Yangang are sub-divisions of the district and Namchi, Jorethang, Melli and Ravangla are important towns. Kitam Bird Sanctuary, which is around 14 km from Namchi at an altitude of 2200 ft, is the only low altitude sanctuary in Sikkim, spread over 6 kms of area. Namchi district has 8 Assembly Constituencies, 30 Zilla Territorial Constituencies, 54 Gram Panchayat Units and 331 Wards. Further, there is also a Namchi Municipal Council with 7 wards and Nayabazar Jorethang Nagar Panchayat with 5 wards.

In the vein of other districts of Sikkim, the Namchi district is not behind in any case whether talking about its natural splendor or fresh towns. Namchi, being the headquarters of the Namchi district, enjoys the authority over the region. The striking tourist attractions of the district offer many reasons to visit the place for once. Subsequently, there are many tours that can be taken in the district.

On account of accessibility of plain lands, the district is also the most commercialized district of Sikkim. Temi Tea Garden distinguishes the Namchi district for being among the leading tea producer of India. Ranging between the altitudes of 400 meters to 2000 meters, the District observes temperate climate for most of the time. There are numerous sight-seeing points, monasteries, gardens, hills, waterfalls and trekking zones that really allure anyone to come here. The natural splendor in the district is not less bewitching and engages the spectator in its heavenly charm. In this section, we will discuss the various tourist attractions of the district to give you a comprehensive idea about the touring places.