Namchi
Namchi | |
---|---|
UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
PIN | 737 126 |
Telephone code | 03595 |
Vehicle registration | SK-05 |
Namchi
Geography
Namchi is located at 27°10′N 88°21′E / 27.17°N 88.35°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 1,315 metres (4,314 ft).
Namchi is situated at an altitude of 1,675 m (5500 feet) above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 78 kilometres (48 mi) from the state capital Gangtok and 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the town of Siliguri,[1] 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.
It is home of the Buxa Formation of Mamley, the
Mamley national geological monument
Buxa Formation of Mamley (also called Mamley Stromatolite Park) in Mamley, the stromatolite bearing Dolomite Limestones has been declared
Demographics
[needs update] As of the
Most of the people of Namchi are
.Education
Namchi has more than half a dozen private schools with quality education (Seven Hills School, Mt. Carmel School, Namchi Public School, Tendong Educational Institute, New Light Academy, Bethany School etc.[8]) and government higher secondary schools for boys and girls and prominent computer institutes e.g. Informatics Computer Institute (under Government of Sikkim Registered) Multimedia Computer Institute an authorized study center of Manipal Group etc. Just few kilometers away from the town is a reputed Government College for Arts, Education, Science, Commerce. People give a lot of importance and focus on education with a reverence. Namchi Public School, run by Catholic missionaries, is one of the respected educational institutes in the state and one of the best in the south district of Sikkim.[citation needed]
Tourism
Namchi is fast becoming a tourist spot and pilgrimage centre.[
Recently inaugurated (in November 2011), the Siddhesvara Dhaam is a pilgrimage-tourism venture of the Sikkim Government developed as "Pilgrim cum Cultural Centre" boasting an 87-ft statue of
There are replicas of the "Dwadash Jyotirlingas" (the twelve jyothirlingas) of Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshvara, Rameswar at Rameswaram and Grishneshwar surrounding the statue of Lord Shiva and the Char Dhams. There is a grand statue of Kirateshwar Mahadev and a temple of Shirdi Sai Baba too. One can have a view of the Mt Kanchenjunga, Statue of Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse, Darjeeling and other such locations from here. The Dhaam facilitates the devotees for an overnight stay at the "Yatri Niwas" which can accommodate more than 90 people at a time. The Dham has won the National Tourism Awards 2010–11 under the category of "Most Innovative/Unique Tourism Project" by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
A helipad is located 5 km from the town at an altitude of around 5000 ft. From here one can get the most panoramic view of Mt. Kanchendzonga along with other adjacent peaks, a part of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the rolling plains of Bengal.
Near the town, Sikkim's sole tea estate — the Temi Tea Garden is situated. The visitors can enjoy the scenic view of Temi tea garden - the one and the only tea estate in the state which produces top quality tea in the international market. The tea carries a premium the world over and costs around Rs. 800/- a kg. The tea is marked by its exotic odour and flavour. [citation needed]
In the month of February, the Namchi garden hosts it annual flower show. The flower show is the largest in Sikkim, with flowers of vivid colours. The prime attraction of this show is the display of exotic and rare orchids.
One of the highlights of the town is the
Historically, Namchi was the place where Pende Ongmoo, the treacherous 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.
See also
- Manjhitar
- Tribal Rain, a music band from Namchi
References
- ^ a b c "South Skikkim". National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Namchi
- ^ a b "National Geological Monument, from Geological Survey of India website". Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Geo-Heritage Sites". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ a b national geo-heritage of India, INTACH
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Profile - Literacy - Know India: National Portal of India". knowindia.india.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Schools in Namchi Sss Cluster | List of Schools in Namchi Sss Cluster, South Sikkim District (Sikkim)". schools.org.in. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "BHAICHUNG BHUTIA FOOTBALL SCHOOLS: Best Football School in Delhi, Mumbai". www.bbfootballschools.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.