8:39 PM
Ronson
STUDY TOUR REPORT
DARJEELING
AND GANGTOK
In
Fulfilment of Course GEOG/2/CC08
Submitted
by
Laltanpuia
II Semester
Roll No.
GEOG/12/206
Regd No.
1704/07-08
Under
the supervisor of
Prof.
(DR. CH.UDAYA BHASKARA RAO)
DEPARTMENT
OF GEOGRAPHY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
MIZORAM
UNIVERSITY
AIZAWL: MIZORAM
2013
CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
NO.
Certificate (i)
Acknowledgements (ii)
List of Figures (iii)
List of Plates (iv)
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION 2
1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE S OF STUDY TOUR 3
1.3 TOUR DIARY 4
1.4 TOUR PROGRAMME 5
CHAPTER
2: STUDY
AREAS
2.1 DARJEELING
2.2
GANGTOK
CHAPTER
3: VISITED PLACES IN DARJEELING
3.1
CHOWRASTA
3.2 MAHAKAL TEMPLE
3.3 PEACE PAGODA
3.4
LLYOD BOTANICAL GARDEN
3.5 TEA GARDEN
3.6
ROCK GARDEN
3.7 TENZING ROCK CLIMBING
3.8 DARJEELING RANJEET VALLEY ROPEWAYS
3.9 TIGER HILL
3.10 BATASIA LOOP
CHAPTER
4: VISITED
PLACES IN GANGTOK
4.1 RIVER TEESTA
4.2 NATHU LA
4.3 LAKE TSONGMO
CHAPTER
5: CONCLUSION
BLIBLIOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT
OF GEOGRAPHY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
MIZORAM UNIVERSITY, AIZAWL
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Laltanpuia Roll
No. Geog/12/206, Regd. No. 1704/07-08, has participated in the study tour
conducted by the Department of Geography and Resource Management, Mizoram
University for II semester students during 13rd February – 23rd February, 2013.
I further certify that the report being
brought out in this form is the result of his endeavour and hard work, under my
supervision. I recommend the report for evaluation.
(DR. CH.UDAYA BHASKARA RAO)
Supervisor
(i)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am very grateful to Dr.Rintluanga
Pachuau, Head, Department of Geography and Resource Management, Mizoram
University for organizing study
tour. I express my sincere gratitude to
Mr.Benjamin L. Saitluanga Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and
Resource Management, Mizoram University, for
his unfailing support and
for conducting study tour
successfully.
I would like to express my heartfelt
thanks to Mr.Vanlalhmuaka,
Attendant, for his co-operation and
support throughout the tour.
I am grateful to my superviser Dr.
Ch.Udaya Bhaskara Rao, Assistant
Professor, for his valuable suggestions and encouragement to successfully complete the study tour report.
I express my sincere thanks to all
teachers in the department for selecting places like Darjeeling and
Gangtok for study tour.
I am thankful to my class mates for their constant
motivation and encouragement.
(LALTANPUIA)
(ii)
List of Figures
Sl.
No. Title Page
No.
1. Route Map of Study Tour 1
2. Darjeeling City Map 7
3. Gangtok City Map 13
(iii)
List of Plates
Slno Title Page No
1. A VIEW OF DARJEELING CITY 8
2. A VIEW OF GANGTOK CITY 14
3. CHOWRASTA 18
4. MAHAKAL TEMPLE 19
5. PEACE PAGODA 20
6. LLYOD BOTANICAL GARDEN 21
7. TEA GARDEN 22
8. ROCK GARDEN 25
9. TENZING ROCK CLIMBING 26
10. DARJEELING RANJEET VALLEY ROPEWAYS
27
11. TIGER HILL 28
12. BATASIA LOOP 30
13. RIVER TEESTA 31
14. NATHU LA 33
15. LAKE TSONGMO 35
(iv)
Fig.
1
Route map of study tour
CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
Geography being a multi-disciplinary
science of spatial studies requires verification of
facts through observation. It requires an understanding of several natural
processes as well as man induced socio- cultural events in
different regions. Field studies with observations are essential for establishing
various geographical facts and processes which influence them.
It
is essential to comprehend the most complex geographical phenomena by observing
and analyzing the physical features as well as
human activities of a certain area through field surveys. Study tour provides such
opportunity to find out some facts of geographical importance
and also to make judgments.
To
have detailed information of an area for better understanding, it is necessary
to study selected area intensively. Keeping in view, Mizoram University has
designed a curriculum stipulated study tour, to enable the students of
Geography at post graduate level to have exposure of various geographical
phenomena and associated processes outside Mizoram also.
The
course stipulates study tour to expose the students to various
geographic features, cultures and
socio-economic conditions along
with the processes of growth and development in different parts of
the country. The Department of Geography accordingly conducts the study tour
which includes writing of tour report. Thus, this is for fulfilment of course
GEOG/2/CC-08 Curriculum Stipulated Study Tour.
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY TOUR
The main objectives of the study tour
are :
1) To study the diversity of places in topography, climate, socio-economic conditions and cultures
of the studied area.
2) To understand how the physical environment
influences the life of people, their culture and society, habits and mode of
occupation.
3) To have an overview of the impact of tourism on
the economy of the visited places.
TOUR DIARY
We the students of Department of Geography and
Resource Management, Mizoram University studying II semester, with a number of 26 students and
2 teachers as tour in-charge visited the important places in Darjeeling and Gangtok
cities.
Our study tour has been started from
the capital of Mizoram, Aizawl on 13th February, 2013 at 3:30 pm. We have
travelled by Capital Travels bus to
Guwahati on the national highway No. 54. After passing Cachar valley, we travelled through the
Meghalaya plateau there we experienced contrasting weather and physical conditions as compared to
Mizoram. We arrived Guwahati on 14th
February at 2:30 pm. We stayed overnight at Muanna Hotel, there. Next day we have
visited Brahmaputra river and had a ride on a boat. On that night at 9:30 pm we travelled
by Train to the New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
We
arrived at New Jalpaiguri on 16th February at 6:00 am. At 8:30 am we
departed from New Jalpaiguri by Tourist Bus and at 2:30 pm we have reached Darjeeling and stayed in a Hotel named Morning Glory for 3 days and 4 nights.
There we visited Chowrasta, Japanese
Peace Pagoda, Rock garden and Tea
garden, Lloyd Botanical Garden, Tenzin Rock climbing, Darjeeling Rangeet Valley
Ropeway, Tiger Hill and Batasia Loop.
We
departed from Darjeeling on 19th February at 8:30 am by Tourist Bus to Gangtok. We arrived Gangtok
on the same day at 2:00 pm and stayed in Hotel
Kanchan Norbu for two days and two nights. There we have visited snow covered
areas.
We
left Gangtok for New Jalpaiguri on 21st February at
6:45 am by bus and reached New Jalpaiguri
at 12:30 pm and departed at 7:30 pm by
train to Guwahati. We reached Guwahati on 22nd February at 5:00 am and we left
Guwahati for Aizawl by bus at 9:15 am and reached Aizawl at 7:00 am. The study
tour route along with the places visited is presented in figure.1.
Tour Programme
|
SL.NO
|
DATE
|
STATION FROM
|
DEPARTURE TIME
|
MODE OF TRANSPORT
|
STATION TO
|
ARRIVAL DATE & TIME
|
|
1.
|
13.2.13
|
AIZAWL
|
3:30 pm
|
BUS (Capital
Travels)
|
GUWAHATI
|
14.2.13. 2:30 pm
|
|
2.
|
15.2.13
|
GUWAHATI
|
9:30 pm
|
TRAIN
|
NEW JALPAIGURI
|
16.2 13. 6:00 am
|
|
3.
|
16.2.13
|
NEW JALPAIGURI
|
8:30 am
|
BUS (Tourist Bus)
|
DARJEELING
|
16.2.13. 2:30 pm
|
|
4.
|
19.2.13
|
DARJEELING
|
8:30 am
|
BUS (Tourist Bus)
|
GANGTOK
|
19.2.13. 2:00 pm
|
|
5.
|
21.2.13
|
GANGTOK
|
6:45 am
|
BUS(Sakuntala
Travels)
|
NEW JALPAIGURI
|
21.2.13. 12:30pm
|
|
6.
|
21.2.13
|
NEW JALPAIGURI
|
6:30 pm
|
TRAIN (Assam
Express)
|
GUWAHATI
|
22.2.13. 5:00 am
|
|
7.
|
22.2.13
|
GUWAHATI
|
9:15 am
|
BUS (Capital
Travels)
|
AIZAWL
|
23.2.13. 7:00 am
|
CHAPTER 2
STUDY AREAS
DARJEELING
2.1 Introduction
Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a popular tourist destination, located
in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of
6,710 ft (2,050 m). It is noted for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darjeeling is
the headquarter of Darjeeling district which has a
partially autonomous status within the state of West Bengal. The development of the town dates back to the
mid-19th century, when the colonial British administration set up a sanatorium and a military depot. Subsequently,
extensive tea plantation was done in the region, and tea growers developed
hybrids of black tea and created new fermenting techniques. The resultant
distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognized and ranks among the
most popular of the black teas. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connects the
town with the plains and has one of the few steam locomotives still in service in India.
Darjeeling
has several British-style public schools, which attract students from India
and neighbouring countries. The varied culture of the town reflects its diverse
demographic milieu consisting of Nepalese, Tibetan, Bengali and other
ethno-linguistic groups. Darjeeling, with its neighbouring town of Kalimpong, was a centre of the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s. The town's fragile
ecology has been threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources,
stemming from growing tourist traffic and poorly planned urbanization.
Physical Setting
Darjeeling is located between 88°16′ - 88°
26’ east longitudes and 27°3′ – 27° 50’ north latitudes (Fig.2).
Darjeeling is the main town of the Sadar subdivision and also the headquarters of the
district. It is located at an average elevation of 2,050metres in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region on the
Darjeeling-Jalapahar range that originates in the south from Ghum. The range is
Y-shaped with the base resting at Katapahar and Jalapahar and two arms diverging north of the Observatory hill. The
north-eastern arm dips suddenly and ends in the Lebong spur, while the north-western arm passes
through north point and ends in the valley near Tukver Tea estate.
Fig.2.1 Darjeeling city map
Plate
No. 1 : A view of Darjeeling city.
The hills are nestled within higher
peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Kanchenjunga,
the world's third-highest peak, 8,598 metres high, is the most prominent
mountain visible. In days clear of clouds, Nepal's Mount Everest,
8,848metres high, can be seen. The hills of Darjeeling are part of the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya. The soil is
chiefly composed of sandstone
and conglomerate formations, which are the solidified and upheaved detritus of
the great range of Himalaya.
However, the soil is often poorly consolidated (the permeable sediments of the
region do not retain water between rains) and is not considered suitable for
agriculture. The area has steep slopes and loose topsoil,
leading to frequent landslides during the monsoons.
According
to the Bureau of Indian Standards,
the town falls under seismic zone-IV, near the convergent boundary of the Indian
and the Eurasian
tectonic plates and is subject
to frequent earthquakes.
Climate
Darjeeling's has five distinct
seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter, and the monsoons. The annual mean
maximum temperature is 15.98 °C while the mean minimum temperature is 8.9 °C
with monthly mean temperatures range from 5–17 °C. The lowest temperature
recorded was −5 °C on 11 February 1905. The average annual precipitation is
309.2 cm, with an average of 126 days of rain in a year. The highest
rainfall occurs in July. The heavy and concentrated rainfall that is
experienced in the region, aggravated by deforestation and haphazard planning,
often causes devastating landslides, leading to loss of life and property.
Civic
administration
The Darjeeling urban agglomeration
consists of Darjeeling
municipality and the Pattabong Tea Garden. Established in
1850, the Darjeeling municipality maintains the civic administration of the
town, covering an area of 10.57 km2 (4.08 sq miles).
The municipality consists of a board of councillors elected from each of the 32
wards of Darjeeling
town as well as a few members nominated by the state government. The board of
councillors elects a chairman from among its elected members. The chairman is
the executive head of the municipality. The Gorkha Janmukti
Morcha
(GJMM) holds power in the municipality as of 2011.
The
Gorkha-dominated hill areas of the whole Darjeeling district is under the
jurisdiction of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) since its formation
in 1988. The DGHC's elected councillors are authorised to manage certain
affairs of the hills, including education, health and tourism. Law and order in
Darjeeling town comes under the jurisdiction of the district police force,
which is a part of the West Bengal Police; a Deputy
Superintendent of Police oversees the town's security and law affairs.
Darjeeling municipality area has two police stations at Darjeeling and Jorebungalow. Since 2005,
there has been no elections to the DGHC and from March, 2008 the West Bengal
government directly runs the DGHC through an administrative officer.
Transport
Darjeeling
can be reached by the 88 km (55 miles) long Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway
from New Jalpaiguri, or by National Highway 55, from Siliguri, 77 km (48 miles) away. The
Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway
is a 60 cm (24 in) narrow-gauge railway that was
declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 for being "an outstanding
example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the social
and economic development of a multi-cultural region, which was to serve as a
model for similar developments in many parts of the world", becoming only
the second railway in the world to have this honour. Bus services and hired
vehicles connect Darjeeling with Siliguri and Darjeeling has road connections
with Bagdogra, Gangtok and Kathmandu and the neighbouring towns of Kurseong and Kalimpong. However, road and railway
communications often get disrupted in the monsoons because of landslides. The
nearest airport is in Bagdogra, located 90 km (56 miles)
from Darjeeling. Within the town, people usually traverse by walking. Residents
also use bicycles, two-wheelers and hired taxis for travelling short
distances. The Darjeeling Ropeway, functional
since 1968, was closed in 2003 after an accident killed four tourists. It was
proposed to be reopened in 2007, and finally opened in February 2012.
Population
According to provisional results of 2011 census of India, Darjeeling
urban agglomeration has a population of 132,016, out of which 65,839 were males
and 66,177 were females. The sex ratio is 1005 females per 1,000 males. The 0–6
year’s age group of population is 7,382. Effective literacy rate for the
population older than the age group of 6 years is 93.17 per cent.
According to the 2001 census, the Darjeeling
urban agglomeration, with an area of 12.77 km2 had a population
of 109,163, while the municipal area had a population of 107,530. The
population density of the district was 12,000 per km2. The sex ratio is
1,017 females per 1,000 males which is higher than the national average of 933
females per 1000 males. The three largest religions in this area are Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, in that order. The majority of the
population are Gorkhas of ethnic Nepali background.
Indigenous ethnic groups include the Limbu, Rai, Magars, Gurung Tamangs, Lepchas, Bhutias, Sherpas and Newars. Other communities that inhabit Darjeeling
include the Marwaris, Anglo-Indians, Chinese, Biharis, Tibetans and Bengali. The most commonly spoken languages
are Nepali, Hindi, Bengali and English. Darjeeling has seen a
significant growth in its population, its decadal growth rate being 47% between
1991 and 2001.
Darjeeling
has seen a significant growth in its population, its decadal growth rate being
47% between 1991 and 2001. The colonial town had been designed for a population
of only 10,000, and subsequent growth has created extensive infrastructural and
environmental problems. The district's forests and other natural wealth have
been adversely affected by an ever-growing population. Environmental
degradation, including denudation of the surrounding hills has adversely
affected Darjeeling's appeal as a tourist destination.
Economy
The two most significant contributors
to Darjeeling's economy are tourism and the tea industry. Darjeeling tea, due to the
unique agro-climatic conditions of Darjeeling, has a distinctive natural
flavour, is internationally reputed and recognised as a geographical indicator.
Darjeeling produces 7% of India's tea output, approximately 9,000,000 kilograms
every year. The tea industry has faced competition in recent years from tea
produced in other parts of India as well as other countries like Nepal.
Widespread concerns about labour disputes, worker layoffs and closing of
estates have affected investment and production. Several tea estates are being
run on a workers' cooperative model, while others are being planned
for conversion into tourist resorts. More than 60% of workers in the tea
gardens are women. Besides tea, the most widely cultivated crops include maize, millets, paddy, cardamom, potato and ginger.
Darjeeling
had become an important tourist destination as early as 1860. It is reported to
be the only location in eastern India that witnesses large number of foreign tourists. It is also a popular
filming destination for Bollywood and Bengali cinema. Satyajit Ray shot his film Kanchenjunga (1962) here, and
his Feluda series story, Darjeeling
Jomjomaat was also set in the town. Bollywood movies Aradhana (1969), Main Hoon Na (2004), and more
recently Barfi! (2012) have been
filmed here. Tourist inflow into Darjeeling has been affected by the political
instability in the region, and agitations in the 1980s and 2000s have hit the
tourism industry hard.
GANGTOK
Introduction
Gangtok is the capital
and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of
1,800 metres. The total population of town
1,98,658 belongs to different ethnicities such as Indian-Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered by the "Gangtok
Municipal Corporation". Nestled within higher peaks of the Himalaya and
enjoying a year-round mild temperate climate, Gangtok is at the centre of
Sikkim's tourism industry.
Gangtok
rose to prominence as a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site after the
construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840. In 1894, the ruling
Sikkimese Chogyal, Thutob Namgyal, transferred the
capital to Gangtok. In the early 20th century, Gangtok became a major stopover
on the trade route between Lhasa in Tibet and cities such as Kolkata in British India. After India won its independence
from Britain in 1947, Sikkim chose to remain an independent monarchy, with
Gangtok as its capital. In 1975, after the integration with the union of India,
Gangtok was made India's twenty-second state capital.
Physical
Setting
Gangtok
is located between 88°37′ - 89° 02’east longitudes and 27°20′- 27 33’ north latitudes (Fig.2.2).
It is situated in the lower Himalayas at an altitude of 1,768 metres.
In addition to being the state capital, it is the headquarter of the East Sikkim district. The
town lie on one side of a hill, with "The Ridge", a promenade housing
the governor's residence, at
one end and the palace, situated at an altitude of about 1,829 metres, at
the other. The city is flanked on east and west by two streams, namely Roro Chu and Ranikhola, respectively. These two rivers
divide the natural drainage into two parts, the eastern and western parts. Both
the streams meet the Ranipul and flow south as the main Ranikhola before it
joins the Teesta at Singtam. Most of the roads are steep, with
the buildings built on compacted ground alongside them.
Fig. 2.2 Gangtok city
map
Plate No.2 : A view of Gangtok city
Most of Sikkim, including Gangtok, is underlain by Precambrian rocks which
contains foliated phyllites and schists; slopes are therefore prone to
frequent landslides. Surface runoff of water by natural streams (jhora)
and man-made drains has contributed to the risk of landslides. According to the
Bureau of Indian
Standards,
the town falls under seismic zone-IV (on a scale of I to V, in order of
increasing seismic activity), near the convergent boundary of the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates and is subject
to frequent earthquakes. The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the
snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town from the distance. Mount Kanchenjunga
(8,598 m)—the world's third-highest peak is visible to the west of the
city.
Climate
Gangtok features
a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland
climate.
Because of its elevation and sheltered environment, Gangtok enjoys a mild, temperate climate all year round. Like most
Himalayan towns, Gangtok has five seasons: summer, monsoons, autumn, winter and spring.
Temperatures range from an average maximum of 22 °C in
summer to an average minimum of 4 °C in winter. Summers (lasting from late
April to June) are mild, with maximum temperatures rarely crossing 25 °C. The monsoon season from June to September is
characterised by intense torrential rains often causing landslides that block
Gangtok's land access to the rest of the country. Rainfall starts to rise from
pre-monsoon in May, and
peaks during the monsoon, with July recording the highest monthly average of 64.96 cm.
In winter temperature averages between 4 °C and 7 °C. Snowfall is rare, and in recent times Gangtok
has received snow only in 1990, 2004, 2005 and January 2011. Temperatures below
freezing are also rare.
During this season the weather can be unstable, and change abruptly from bright
sunshine and clear skies to heavy rain within a couple of hours. During spring
and autumn the weather is generally sunny and mild. Owing to its elevation, Gangtok
is often enveloped in fog during the monsoon and winter months.
Civic
administration
Gangtok
is administered by Gangtok Municipal Corporation along with the
various departments of Government of Sikkim, particularly
the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED). These
departments looked after the civic functions such as garbage disposal, water
supply, tax collection, license allotments, and civic infrastructure. An
administrator appointed by the state government headed the UDHD.
As
the headquarters of east Sikkim district, Gangtok houses the offices
of the district collector, an
administrator appointed by the Union Government of India. Gangtok is also the
seat of the Sikkim High Court, which is India's smallest High Court in terms of area
and population of jurisdiction. angtok does not have its own police
commissionerate like other major cities in India. Instead, it comes under the
jurisdiction of the state police, which is headed by a Director General of
Police,
although an Inspector General of
Police
oversees the town. Sikkim is known for its very low crime rate.[27] Rongyek jail in Gangtok is Sikkim's
only central jail.
Gangtok
is within the Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency that elects a
member to the Lok Sabha (Lower House) of the Indian Parliament. The city elects one member in the
Sikkim state legislative assembly, the Vidhan Sabha. The Sikkim Democratic
Front
(SDF) won both the parliamentary election in 2009 and the state
assembly seat in the 2009 state assembly polls.
Transport
Taxis are the most widely available public transport within Gangtok.
Most of the residents stay within a few kilometres of the town centre and many
have their own vehicles such as two-wheelers and cars. The share of personal
vehicles and taxis combined is 98% of Gangtok's total vehicles, a high
percentage when compared to other Indian cities. City buses comprise less than
one percent of vehicles. Those travelling longer distances generally make use
of share-jeeps, a kind of public taxis. Four wheel drives are used to easily navigate the steep
slopes of the roads. The 1 km (0.6 miles) long cable car with three stops
connects lower Gangtok suburbs with Sikkim Legislative assembly in central
Gangtok and the upper suburbs.
Gangtok
is connected to the rest of India by an all-weather metalled highway, National Highway 31A, which links
Gangtok to Siliguri, located 114 km (71 miles)
away in the neighbouring state of West Bengal. The highway also provides a link to
the neighbouring hill station towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, which are the nearest urban areas.
Regular jeep, van, and bus services link these towns to Gangtok. Gangtok is a linear city that has
developed along the arterial roads, especially National Highway 31A. Most of
the road length in Gangtok, is of two lane undivided carriageway with footpath on one side of the road and drain on
the other. The steep gradient of the different road stretches coupled with a
spiral road configuration constrain the smooth flow of vehicular as well as
pedestrian traffic.
The nearest railhead connected to the
rest of India is the station of New Jalpaiguri, a suburb of Siliguri, situated
124 km (77 miles) away from Gangtok. Work has also commenced for a
broad gauge railway link from Sevoke in West Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkimthat is
planned for extension to Gangtok.
The
closest airport is Bagdogra Airport, (IATA airport
code IXB), 16 km (10 miles) from Siliguri. Gangtok is linked to
Bagdogra airport by a daily helicopter service that operates only once a day
and carries four passengers. Pakyong Airport, a greenfield airport under
construction southeast of Gangtok, is expected to be operational by 2013.
Population
According to 2011 census of India, the population
of Gangtok was 1, 98,658. Males constitute 53% of the
population and females 47%. The density of population is 5,675/km2 .The
Gangtok subdivision of the east Sikkim district has a population of 2,81,293,
Gangtok has an average literacy rate of 82.17%, higher than the national
average of 74%. The male literacy is 85.33%, and female literacy is 78.68.
About 8% of Gangtok population live in the nine notified slums and squatter
settlements, all on Government land. More people live in areas that depict
slum-like characteristics but have not been notified as slums yet because they
have developed on private land. Of the total urban population of Sikkim,
Gangtok Notified Town Area has a share of 55.5%. Including Gangtok, east district
has a share of 88% of the total urban population. The quality of life, the pace
of development and availability of basic infrastructure and employment
prospects has been the major cause for rapid migration to the city. With this
migration, the urban services are under pressure, intensified by the lack of
availability of suitable land for infrastructure development.
Ethnic
Indian-Nepalis, who settled in the region during
British rule, comprise the majority of Gangtok's residents. Lepchas, native to the
land, and Bhutias also constitute
a sizeable portion of the populace.Additionally, a large number of Tibetans have immigrated
to the town. Immigrant resident communities not native to the region include
the Marwaris,who own most of
the shops; the Biharis, who are employed in mostly blue collar jobs and the Bengalis.
Economy
The hospitality industry is the largest
industry in Gangtok as the city is the main base for Sikkim tourism. Summer and
spring seasons are the most popular tourist seasons. Many of Gangtok's
residents are employed directly and indirectly in the tourism industry, with
many residents owning and working in hotels and restaurants. Ecotourism has emerged as an important economic
activity in the region which includes trekking, mountaineering, river rafting
and other nature oriented activities. An estimated 351,000 tourists visited
Sikkim in 2007, generating revenue of about Rs 50 crores (Rs 500 millions). The Nathula Pass, located about
50 km (31 mi) from Gangtok, used to be the primary route of the wool,
fur and spice trade with Tibet and spurred economic growth for Gangtok till the
mid-20th century. The government is the largest employer in the city, both directly and as contractors. Gangtok's
economy does not have a large manufacturing base, but has a thriving Cottage industry in watch-making, country-made alcohol and handicrafts.Among the handicrafts
are the handmade paper industry made from various vegetable fibres or cotton
rags. The main market in Gangtok provides many of the state's rural residents a
place to offer their produce during the harvest seasons. The majority of the
private business community is made up of Marwaris and Biharis. As part of
Sikkim, Gangtok enjoys the status of being an income-tax free region as per the
state's 1948 Income tax law. As Sikkim is a frontier state, the Indian army maintains a
large presence in the vicinity of Gangtok. This leads to a population of
semi-permanent residents who bring money into the local economy.
CHAPTER-3
PLACES VISITED IN DARJEELING
3.1 CHOWRASTA
Plate No. 3: Chowrasta
Chowrasta in Darjeeling is a spread around a large, open and
asphalted area, surrounded with shops, small and big restaurants, cafeterias
and pony stables. Chowrasta, a wide promenade atop a ridge lined with
shops and restaurants is taken to be the heart of the town. Here people gather
to chat, spend time basking in the sun or just to snatch a moment of peace. The
Brabourne Park is attached to the Chowrasta and now features a musical
fountain. This place is an open place and free from vehicular movements from
where one can watch the scenic beauty of the mountain range and take charm of
walking at the Darjeeling Mall. Chowrasta is the central place of the Mall
Road. Chowrasta at Darjeeling is situated at a good
height from the low lying areas and offers breath takingly beautiful views of
the mountains. People can take leisurely horse rides here and take a few rounds
of the Darjeeling Chowrasta. Chowrasta in Nepali means a place where four road
meet. The promenade is also popularly known as “Mall”. Situated on the upper
ridge of the town Chowrasta truly reflects the charm of this hill station. One
will invariably find locals relaxing on the benches, gossiping and lazing around
the square. The roads
leading to Chowrasta are filled with shops of garments, curious & local
handicrafts, information centre, studios, cafes and restaurants and also an
arena for pony rides. Located on top of Nehru Road, this is a nice flat land where tourists
and locals come to lounge in the sun, take a seat on one of the many benches
along the periphery, and watch the wonderful views of the mountain peaks and
valleys all around.
3.2 MAHAKAL TEMPLE
Plate
No.4: Mahakal Temple
The
Mahakal temple atop the Observatory Hill is a most revered place for the locals
and you will be surprised to find a Hindu priest sharing a common altar with a
Buddhist monk. The oldest site in Darjeeling is said to be the Observatory
Hill, where a Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or 'place of the
Thunderbolt' once stood. Darjeeling derives its name from this spot. In 1782,
three Siva-Lingas representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar are said to have
manifested themselves here. From then on, the Mahakala temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva came into being and is today greatly venerated as devotees from all
sections of the community go up for worship. Prayers are chanted by a Hindu
priest while a Buddhist monk reads from the Buddhist Holy Scriptures. Devotees
circum ambulate the shrine three times, barefoot while ringing the bells that
are placed around it. You will see hundreds of prayer flags hung all over the
shrine and on trees, fluttering in the breeze. Watch out though for the
mischievous monkeys that swarms around the hill side. The holy site is popular
with both Buddhist as well as Hindu worshippers. The whole scene is one of
great peace and tranquillity.
3.3 PEACE PAGODA
Plate
No.5: Peace Pagoda
Darjeeling or Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is one of the Peace Pagodas designed to provide a focus for
people of all races and creeds to help unite them in their search for world
peace. It is located in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. Like most of the other Peace
Pagodas, it was built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885–1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist
Order.The foundation stone of the pagoda was laid on 3 November 1972 by
Nichidatsu Fujii, and was inaugurated on 1 November 1992. The pagoda was
designed by M. Ohka, and it took 36 months for constructing it. The height of
the pagoda is 28.5 metres (94 ft) and diameter is 23 metres (75 ft).
It also showcases the four avatars of the Buddha.
3.4 LLYOD BOTANICAL GARDEN
Plate No.6: Llyod Botanical Garden
Lloyd's
Botanical Garden was established in 1878 when 40 acres (160,000 m2)
of land was acquired at Darjeeling to form a botanic garden as a distant annexe
of the Calcutta Botanical
Garden.
The land was provided by William Lloyd, in whose name the botanical garden has
been named.
It comprises
several species of bamboo, oak, magnolia, arisaema, cotoneaster, wild geranium, and rhododendron-forest native plants of the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, Sikkim region, and other neighbouring regions. Also,
several exotic plants are preserved. The Cacti and Succulent collection of 150 species is
displayed in the Conservatory. The collection of native Orchids from the Singalila Ridge in present-day Singalila National
Park
is rare and notable.
Located at an
altitude of almost 1800 meters, the Lloyd Botanical Gardens houses many rare
species of flora. The collection of flora gives a clear picture of the
vegetation that is dominant in the Himalayan region, especially Sikkim and
other neighbouring places. Lloyd Botanical Gardens is known for its collection
of orchids (in the Orchid House) and different herbs. There is a separate
conservatory for cactus and some succulent species of plants as well as about
150 floral species.
3.5 TEA GARDEN
Plate No.7: Pure Bio-Organic
Darjeeling Tea Garden
The
many tea estates (also called "tea gardens") in Darjeeling each
produce teas with different characteristics in taste and aroma. The Touzi
Section of the West Bengal
government deals with the control and supervision of all
tea gardens in the district of Darjeeling as per the provisions of West Bengal
Estates Acquisition Act, 1953. All the tea gardens are leased out for a term of
30 years as per Form I, Schedule F of the WBEA Act. The Touzi Section realizes
revenues in the form of land rent, penalty, and fines payable by a tea garden
to the Collector.
The Touzi Section deals with the
control & supervision of all Tea Gardens in the district of Darjeeling as
per the provisions of West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953. This Section
also realizes revenues in the form of land rent, penalty, fines payable by a
tea garden to the Collector. The other miscellaneous functions of the Section
are to grant permission for bringing virgin land under tea plantation,
uprooting tea bushes, felling shade trees for the fuel wood, repair and
construction of labour quarters and various other uses. Such permissions are
bases as the field enquiry reports submitted by respective Block Land &
Land Reforms Officers. All the tea gardens are leased out for a term of thirty
years as per Form I, Schedule F of the WBEA Act, 1953. Since the penal
provisions for illegal felling and illegal extension of retained leasehold land
were not stringent enough, a large no. of gardens used to resort to such
unlawful activities and get away scot-free. However, with the introduction and
addition of several clauses in the lease Format, effort to curb such activities
was made by the Government. For instance, the new clause 14(c) has imposed Rs. 5000/- as fine for every tree felled
illegally plus such a tree can be forfeited by the Collector. It also empowers
the Collector to impose a fine of Rs. 20000.00 (maximum) for breach of
provisions like use of land for tea & other purposes without prior
approval, of the Collector. The Darjeeling Collectorate has brought all the
penal sections into immediate effect in right earnest, thus fulfilling the
purposes with which these clauses have been introduced by the Government.
Table 2.1: Information on Land of Tea
Gardens (area in acres)
|
Total no of Tea
Gardens
|
114
|
|
Retained Area
|
141056.02
|
|
Area Under Tea
|
74843.82
|
|
Area Under Housing,
etc.
|
12499.98
|
|
Un used Area
|
16308.93
|
|
Area under Forest
|
17217.27
|
|
Doubtful Area
|
20186.02
|
Darjeeling Tea occupies a place of
pride for the whole of India. The aroma and taste of Darjeeling orthodox tea is
unparalleled in the world. There are a total of 78 tea estates in the hills
which have been accorded the status for its produce, as Darjeeling Tea by the
Tea Board of India. These estates cover over 17,500 hectares producing over 9
million kg of tea engaging about 50 percent people of the district. The
Darjeeling Tea industry is the mainstay of the economy up in the hills and
provides a rewarding life to its workers by way of a steady livelihood and
other facilities like housing, statutory benefits, allowances, incentives,
crèches for infants of working mothers, children's education, integrated
residential medical facilities for employees and their families and many more.
In Darjeeling the first trial
plantation of seed was planted at an altitude of 700 ft. by Dr. A Campbell and
in 1845 an experimental nursery in Darjeeling was set up by the Government. In
1847 the Government planted a nursery at Lebong and the rest, as they say, is
history. Tea plantations in Darjeeling are restricted to Darjeeling and
Kurseong sub-divisions only. Kalimpong sub-division was left out as it already
had agricultural holdings and reserved forest.
Tea is grown at an altitude ranging
from 600 to 2000 meters above mean sea level and requires a minimum of 50"
to 60" of rainfall in a year and for this Darjeeling did not lack. The
cool and moist climate , the soil, the rainfall and the slopping terrains all
combine to give Darjeeling tea its unique "Muscatel flavour" and
"Exquisite Banquet". The combination of natural factors give
Darjeeling tea its unique distinction not found anywhere else in the world.
Thus, it is the most sought after and highly valued. In the affluent Western
and Japanese markets, 80% of the total produce is exported every year.
3.6 ROCK GARDEN
Plate
No.8: Rock Garden
The
Rock Garden (also known as Barbotey
Rock Garden) at Chunnu Summer Falls and Ganga Maya Park, near it, are recently added tourist attractions in the hilly town
of Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, India. It is a show piece meant to lure tourists
back to Darjeeling after political agitations disrupted the visit by tourists
in the 1980s. There is another rock garden in Darjeeling known as Sir John
Anderson Rock Garden, which is part of Lloyd's Botanical
Garden.
It
is situated at about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Darjeeling. While
proceeding from the town along Hill Cart Road, one has to turn right, well
before reaching Ghum. The road descends rapidly into the valley.
With sharp bends all the way, there are breathtaking views at many points. Tea
gardens dot the hill slopes.
Constructed
by The Gorkha Hill Council Tourism Department, it was inaugurated by Subhash Ghising, the GNLF
supremo. The Rock Garden is not one in the conventional sense. A multi-level picnic ground terraced
around a natural waterfall, its attraction is in it “being a sort of road-side
facility but with a little too much concrete.”The garden offers a beautiful
view of a hill stream cascading over rocks along the slope, done up with flower
gardens and sitting spaces at different levels. There also is a small lake.
With tourists pouring in large number, tea shops and snack kiosks have come up.
3.7 TENZING ROCK CLIMBING:
Plate No.9: Tenzing Rock Climbing
Tenzing
Rock, a gigantic natural rock in Darjeeling is named after Tenzing Norgay, the
man who created history by climbing the Everest first time along with Edmund
Hillary in 1953. These rocks are used
for rock climbing training by HMI. There is a board right on top of the Tenzing
Rock that says "HMI Rock Climbing Training Area". While facing the
Tenzing Rock, the left side or the left face of the rock is used by the
professional rock climbers and the trainees. Most tourists make a mistake of
going over to the right side where the approach to the top of another parallel
rock is quite shorter. Actually the right face of the rock can be used by
amateur climbers or even tourists for climbing. However one needs to take help
of guides and pay some nominal fee. The gradient of the right face is gentle
and surface is easier for climbing.
Rock Garden
is now developed into a very attractive picnic spot with natural water falls.
The park offers boating facilities and is endowed with great scenic beauty.
Ample eateries are available for visitors to indulge in local delicacies and
one can even buy souvenirs. No fees are charged for taking photographs.
Visitors are however, required to make arrangements for transportation. A two
way travel arrangement is advisable.
3.8 DARJEELING
RANJEET VALLEY ROPEWAY
Plate
No.10: Darjeeling Ranjeet Valley Ropeway
Darjeeling
Ropeway is a ropeway in the town of Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. The ropeway used to be a popular tourist destination in the town.
It consisted of sixteen cars and plied between the "North Point" in
the town of Darjeeling and Singla on the banks of the Ramman river. The journey on the ropeway
offered beautiful views of the hills and the valleys around Darjeeling.
The ropeway, which was
started in 1968 and revamped in 1988, was stopped in October 2003 after four
tourists died when the cable snapped causing two cars to plummet down the hill.
In 2005, the state forest and public works department (PWD) ministers formed a
three-member committee to oversee safety issues. The committee, which included
a PWD engineer and two Kalyani Government Engineering
College teachers, found the services unfit after a
trial run. The ropeway was reopened on 2nd February, 2012.
The ropeway was started
in 1968 by the forest development department and comprised only a single car
which ran one way. Later, it was upgraded to 16 cars and went to and
fro. From an elevation of 2,134 m in Darjeeling’s North Point (Singamari), this bicable ropeway descended to 244 m
at Singla on the banks of the Ramman river, which with Little Rangeet, meets
the Great Rangeet. Stopping at Tukver, Burnesbeg and Singla tea estates, it took 45 minutes to reach Singla
Bazar, 8 km away. The ropeway passed over dense forests, mountain ridges,
waterfalls, flowing rivers, green valleys and tea gardens. The Great Rangeet
flows from the glacier of Kabru, in the
lower regions of the Kanchenjunga, meeting first the Ramman and then the Little Rangeet further down.
Singla offers is a fascinating view of the lovely valleys of these two streams.
The Little Rangeet flows across the lush green Bijanbari valley. While the Little Rangeet is overflowing with trout, the
valley has wildlife, flowers and butterflies. The passenger ropeway was
operated as a joint venture of the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation
and the Conveyor and Ropeway Services Private Ltd. It had been revamped in
1988.
3.9 TIGER HILL
Plate No.11: Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is the summit of Ghoom, the highest
railway station on the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway
– a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for the panoramic view and it
offers Mount Everest along with Kangchenjunga.
It
is 11 km from the town of Darjeeling and can be reached either by jeep or by foot through Chowrasta, Alubari
(incidentally the oldest tea plantation in Darjeeling) or Jorebangla and then
climbing up the incline to the summit, which takes about 2 hours at an easy
pace.
The first rays of the sun shoot ahead and shed
light upon the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga painting it pink and then bathing it
in a beautiful orange colour. From Tiger Hill, Mount Everest (29,002') is just visible, peeping
out through two other peaks standing by its side. Makalu (27,799') looks higher than Mt. Everest,
owing to the curve in the horizon, as it is several miles closer than Everest.
The distance in straight line from Tiger Hill to Everest is 107 miles.
On
a clear day, Kurseong is visible to the south and in the
distance, along with the rivers of Teesta , Mahanadi, Balason and Mechi meandering down to the south. Chumal Rhi
mountain of Tibet, 84 miles away as the crow flies, looks like a great rounded
mass over the snowy Chola Range. One comes face to face with this peak of
superb beauty from Phari Jong which is 129 miles away from Darjeeling
3.10 BATASIA LOOP AND THE WAR MEMORAIAL
Plate No.12: Batasia Loop and the War
Memorial
The
Batasia Loop is a spiral railway created to lower
the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway
in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.
At
this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a
hilltop. It was commissioned in 1919. It is 5 km from Darjeeling, below Ghum. There is also a
memorial to the Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Army who sacrificed
their lives after the Indian Independence in 1947. The Batasia loop situated almost 5 km away from the town is a gigantic
railway loop where the Toy Train makes a 360 Degree turn. It was basically
built to make it possible for the Toy Train to cut the deep ascend. From the Batasia
Loop one can get a panoramic view of Darjeeling town with the Kanchenjunga and other snowy
mountains in the back-drop. A War Memorial
constructed in the memory of the brave sons of the soil who laid down their
lives in the different wars since the independence of the nation adds to its
attraction. There is also a well furbished market where visitors can buy
locally made purses, bags and other decorative items.
CHAPTER-4
VISITED PLACES IN GANGTOK
4.1 TEESTA RIVER
Plate No.13: Teesta River
The
Teesta River or Tista is said to be the lifeline of
the Indian state of Sikkim, flowing for almost the entire length of the
state and carving out verdant Himalayan temperate and tropical river valleys.
The river then forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal before joining the Brahmaputra as a tributary
in Bangladesh. The total
length of the river is 309 km
draining an area of 12,540 km². Before a large part of this was situated
in Nepal. But after Sugauli Treaty it was acceded
to British India.
The
river originates from Tsolamu Lake in North Sikkim.The Teesta River is then fed
by rivulets which arise in
the Thangu, Yumthang and Donkia-La ranges. The river then flows past the town
of Rangpo where Rangpo River merges into it
and where it forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar. Just before the
Teesta Bridge, where the roads from Kalimpong and Darjeeling join, the river is met by its main tributary, the Rangeet River. At this point, it changes course
southwards flowing into West Bengal. The river hits the plains at Sevoke, 22 km (14 miles) north of Siliguri, where it is spanned by the Coronation Bridge which links the
northeast states to the rest of India. The river then courses its way to Jalpaiguri and then to Rangpur district of Bangladesh, before finally merging
with the mighty Brahmaputra at Fulchori.
Through
its course, the Teesta river has carved out ravines and gorges in Sikkim meandering through the hills with
the hill station of Kalimpong
lying just off the river. Variegated vegetation can be seen along this route.
At lower elevations, tropical deciduous trees and shrubs cover the
surrounding hills; alpine vegetation is seen at the upper altitudes. The
river is flanked by white sand which is used by the construction industry in
the region. Large boulders in and around the waters make it ideal for rafting enthusiasts.
Between
Rangpo town and the railway bridge (popularly called Lohapul or iron bridge) on
it as it enters the plains at Sevoke, the Teesta flows with a very strong
current, ideal for white river rafting. Towns like Teesta Bazaar and Melli have facilities for group rafting. Though the
river looks innocuous, the underlying current is very strong. In 1915, G.P.
Robertson, the then Municipal Engineer of Darjeeling, drowned after losing
control of the boat in the turbulence while surveying the river. The boat
struck a partially hidden boulder and was sucked in by a whirlpool, leaving no
trace of the occupants.
During
the monsoons, this humble
river distends its banks; both in size and turbulence. Landslides in this region often dam up parts of
the river in this season.
India
has proposed a series of dams within the Teesta river system that should
produce some 50,000 MW of electricity within the next 10 years. With some of
the largest sediment loads, the creation of a reservoir will lead to an
increased pressure on an active fault area. There are concerns that the
building of these dams may lead to river-induced seismicity. Despite such
worries the construction of the dams had started. Links are suspected between
the dam construction and the deadly 2011 earthquake in Sikkim.
4.2 NATHU LA PASS
Plate No.14: Nathu La Pass
Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous
Region.
The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level forms a part of an offshoot of the
ancient Silk Road. Nathu
means "listening ears" and La means "pass" in Tibetan. On the Indian
side, the pass is 54 km east of Gangtok, the capital of Indian state of Sikkim on JN Marg and only citizens of India can
visit the pass, that too after obtaining a permit in Gangtok.
Nathu La is one of the three open trading
border posts between China and India; the other two are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh (or Lipulech) in Uttarakhand. Sealed by India
after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Nathu La was re-opened in 2006
following numerous bilateral trade agreements. The opening of the pass was
expected to bolster the economy of the region and play a key role in the
growing Sino-Indian trade but that has not happened. Currently, agreements
between the two nations limit trade across the pass to 29 types of goods from India
and 15 from the Chinese side. The opening also shortens the travel distance to
important Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the region.
Nathu La is located on the 563 km Old
Silk Route, an offshoot of the historic Silk Road. The Old Silk Route connects Lhasa in Tibet to the plains of Bengal to the south. In 1815, trade volumes
increased after the British annexed territories belonging to the
Sikkimese, Nepalese, and Bhutanese. The potential of Nathu La was
realised in 1873, after the Darjeeling Deputy Commissioner published a
report on the strategic importance of mountain passes between Sikkim and Tibet.
In December 1893, the Sikkimese monarchy and Tibetan rulers signed an
agreement to increase trade between the two nations. The agreement culminated
in 1894 when the trade pass was opened. Nathu La played a key role in the
1903–1904 British expedition
to Tibet,
which sought to prevent the Russian Empire from interfering in Tibetan affairs
and thus gaining a foothold in the region. In 1904, Major Francis Younghusband, serving as the
British Commissioner to Tibet, led a successful mission through Nathu La to
capture Lhasa. This led to the setting up of trading posts at Gyantse and Gartok in Tibet, and gave control of the surrounding
Chumbi Valley to the British.
The following November, China and Great Britain ratified an agreement approving
trade between Sikkim and Tibet.
The
pass is 54 km east of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim and
430 km from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. In the winter, the
pass is blocked by heavy snowfall. Because there is no meteorological centre in
Nathu La, systematic measurements of meteorological data are not available for the region. However, it
is known that in the higher reaches of the Himalayas around the region, summer
temperature never exceeds 15 °C.
On the Tibetan side two highways — from Kangmar to Yadong and from Yadong to Nathu La — were listed in
the 2006 construction plans. Plans are also underway to extend the Qinghai-Tibet
Railway
to Yadong over the next
decade. The nearest railheads are New Jalpaiguri in India and Lhasa in China.
The Chinese government is planning to extend
its rail service to Yadong, barely a few kilometers from Nathu La. In
addition, the Government of India is planning an extension of rail services
from Sevoke in Darjeeling district to the Sikkim's
capital Gangtok, just 38 miles
from Nathu La.
4.3: LAKE TSONGMO
Plate No.15: Lake Tsongmo
Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim, India, some 40 kilometres away from Gangtok at altitude of 3,780 metres.The
road to Nathu La passes the lake
on north side. The Chinese border crossing is only some 5 kilometres
east-northeast in a straight line, but some 18 kilometres by road. The water in this lake has been accumulated from
the melting snow on the mountains located nearby. The river Lungtze Chu
originates from this lake, which meets Rangpo-chu down its course. According to
the history, the colour of water of this lake was studied by Lamas so as to
forecast about the future. They believed, if the water had a dark tinge, it
indicated a year full of trouble and unrest in the state.
It is literally known as "source of the lake " in
Bhutia language. Just about 40 kms away from Gangtok, the capital of the state, this serene lake is situated at
an altitude of 12,000 ft on the Gangtok
Nathu La highway. It falls in the restricted area and hence an inner line
permit is required by Indians to visit this place. Foreign nationals are not
permitted to visit this lake without special permission. The lake is about 1 km.
Long, oval in shape, 15 meters deep and is considered sacred by the local
people. It is also a home of brahminy ducks. It's cool, placid water harmonizes
with the scenic beauty around. A small temple of lord Siva is constructed on
the lakeside. This placid lake remains frozen during the winter months up to
mid-May.
Between May and August
it is possible to see a variety of flowers in blooms, including the rhododendrons, various species of primulas, blue and yellow
poppies, irises etc. It is also an ideal habitat for their various species of birds.
CHAPTER
5
CONCLUSION
The main aim of the present study
tour is to comprehend variations in topography, climate, vegetation, cultures,
socio-economic conditions, occupation, man and environment relationship, and
also to assess the impact of tourism on economy of the places visited. In
general, study tour helps one to understand the interaction of different
spatial phenomena, their distribution and casual relationship.
The present study tour
has provided immense knowledge on various aspects of landscape, environmental,
socio-economic and cultural variations. In addition, this is a rare opportunity
to study the influence of tourism on the economy of the people living in these areas.
We have experienced notable changes in all aspects of physical environment
right from Silchar to Gangtok. Most of the places which we have visited are
tourist sites. Their rich cultural heritage and beautiful sites attract a large
number of tourists from all over the world as well as from other states of the
country. We have also experienced drastic changes in climate. My specific
observations and experiences are presented here.
I have observed distinct
topographic variations right from Mizoram
to Gangtok. Initially, after travelling across the mountainous region of
Mizoram, we passed through the plain topography of Cachar valley of Assam.
After crossing the Cachar plain, we have come across the Meghalaya plateau
region. In this region, we observed that
the topography was fascinating and the landforms are entirely different from
the hilly topography of Mizoram. There is also a huge deposit of coal in
different parts across the plateau. After crossing the Meghalaya plateau, again
we have experienced the plain topography of Brahmaputra valley. Darjeeling and
Gangtok are located on high mountainous terrain of Himalaya ranges. In fact,
they are parts of the foot hills of Himalaya ranges. The third highest mountain
in the world-Kanchenjunga is visible from these two places.
The dissimilarity of the
visited places with Mizoram is climate. The climate of Darjeeling is
different from Mizoram. Darjeeling and
Gangtok experience temperate climate while, Mizoram experiences tropical humid
climate. Rainfall with moderate
intensity was occurred in Darjeeling during tour and we have
experienced very low temperate of 1°C. Though, Gangtok also experiences temperate
climate, but not very cold as Darjeeling during our tour. Darjeeling enjoys mild cold climate with high
humidity and the maximum temperature do not exceed 16°C throughout the year. The seasons of Gangtok and Mizoram are almost similar
but Gangtok is a temperate region and snow fall occurs in the mountainous
province throughout the year.
Owing to the location of Darjeeling and Gangtok in the temperate zone of Himalayas, the Himalayan moist temperate forest covers
the entire length of the mountain ranges. Such forest is mainly composed of
coniferous species of about 30 to 50 metres high. In the wetter parts of east,
the broad leaved evergreen forest mixed with dominant conifers can be seen.
Pines, cedars, silver firs, spruce, oaks etc., are the most prominent tree species which lie around the town.
As compared to Mizoram,
Darjeeling has a lesser population. Darjeeling has formed as an independent state
from West Bengal state, as West Bengal is a Bengali land while the people of
Darjeeling are Gorkhas. The density of population of Darjeeling is rapidly growing higher as
compared to Mizoram. The settlements are of compact type and the density is
also found to be high in the district. The female population dominates the
male population. The literacy rate is little higher than Mizoram.
Gangtok population is
also low as compared to Mizoram. The male population is higher than the female
population. The density of population is also higher than Mizoram but less than
Darjeeling district, and the settlements are also quite dense at this place. The urban population density is
found to be high as most of the population migrated from rural areas for
employment and business. The overall
literacy rate is lower than the literacy rate of Mizoram. A little proportion
of population in the Gangtok city is Tibetan. Gangtok
is the most populous and urbanized area in the district.
The Darjeeling urban agglomeration
consists of Darjeeling
Municipality and the Pattabong Tea Garden. Darjeeling
municipality maintains the civic administration of the town.
Gangtok
is administered by Gangtok Municipal Corporation along with various departments of Government of Sikkim, particularly
the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
In Gangtok women also do tough work like cement work,
digging earth, hammering of rock in quarry etc., such works are never done by women in
Mizoram.
It
is found that there is a lot of variation in the cultures of both Darjeeling
and Gangtok as compared to Mizoram. In Darjeeling major religious festivals of Dashain (Durga puja), Tihar (Diwali) and Christmas the diverse ethnic populace of the
town celebrates several local festivals. In Gangtok also the festivals like Diwali, Christmas, Dusshera, Holi etc., are
celebrated.
In
Gangtok Taxi is the most
widely available public transport within Gangtok. Natural springs in
the Senchal Range provide most of
Darjeeling's water supply. In Darjeeling and Gangtok schools are either run by the
state government or by private and religious organizations. Corporation
Bank, HDFC Bank ,
State Bank Of
India, Axis Bank, Union Bank Of India and Central Bank of
India are the banks in Darjeeling.
In
Gangtok schools are either run by the state government or by private and
religious organizations. Schools mainly use English and Nepali as their medium
of instruction.
More than 50 newspapers are published
in Sikkim Multiple local Nepali and English newspapers are published, whereas
regional and national Hindi and English newspapers, printed elsewhere in India,
are also circulated. Banks like State Bank of India, Axis Bank LTD, HDFC Bank
Ltd,Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank are the banking facilities in
Gangtok.
The
state of Mizoram lacks in most of the
aspects as compared to the places visited. Darjeeling and Gangtok are the
tourist centres and hub of northeast India, provide immense financial resources to develop
their historical sites as they realized that tourism is the main source of
income. The government of these places
is also interested in tourism as it contributes to economy of the public. As
the two places fall under temperate region, they attract more tourists
than the tropical places like Mizoram. Though, they are mountainous regions, they
attract tourism because they have tourist sites and centres and the government
provide better sites to attract more tourists and they use their natural
resources in a more suitable way for
tourist attraction.
Though, Mizoram is also rich in
natural resources with scenic beauty but, due to lack of proper planning for
tourism, its remoteness, inaccessibility to large part the state as well as its
unique lithological condition due to presence of soft rocks the state government could not take
initiative. Besides, the inner line permit regulation is also found to be one
of the hindrances for tourist attraction.
I would like to put forward some
suggestions based on my observations and experience gained during our study
tour for the economic development of Mizoram state.
I.
The government should take steps to initiate
rural recreation and eco-tourism as Mizoram is rich in natural resources
(Biological hot spot region).
II.
Government should enter into partnership with
the private sector to develop certain unique products of the region.
III.
Paper industry can be established as Mizoram
is rich in bamboo production.
IV.
Infra-structure need to be developed to the
best possible extent.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1)
Sikkim
Developmental Report, Planning Commission Government of India, 2008, New Delhi.
First published.
2)
Joshi
HG, Sikkim Past and Present, Mittal Publication New Delhi First edition 2004.
3)
Datta
Amal, Sikkim since Independent, 1991,Mittal Publication New Delhi. First
Edition.
4)
Bhatt
SC & Bhargava Gopal K, Land & People of Indian States & Union
Territories, Kalpaz Publications Delhi, Volumes 24, 2006
5)
Discover
Himalaya – Travel Guide to Sikkim, Darjeeling and Dooars, S.K Audio Vision,
Gangtok 2012.
6)
Sikkim
Pocket Guide, Milesto nes Metroprints, NH 31A Gangtok, 2012.
7)
Gangtok
in an nutshell, Milestones Metroprint NH 31A, Gangtok, 2012.
8)
Khullar,
D.R.(1999) India: A Comprehensive Geography, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
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