Pakyong district is a district in the Indian state of

Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Sil ...

, administered from

Pakyong Pakyong is the district headquarters of Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre ...

. The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision. The remaining Gangtok Subdivision of the former district was named as the

Gangtok district Gangtok District, formerly the East Sikkim district, is an administrative district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was renamed in 2021 as a result of administrative reorganisation of the state, which also saw three subdivisions of the East ...

, which now bounds the Pakyong district in the northwest. In addition, the district is now bounded by the Kalimpong district of West Bengal,

Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainou ...

, and the

Namchi district Namchi District is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its headquarters is at Namchi. Geography South Sikkim lies at an altitude of 400 to 2000 metres and has a temperate climate for most of the year. Major urban centres include Namch ...

of Sikkim.

Demographics

Pakyong District has the total area of . The total population as per 2011 census is .

Transport

Roadways

The major highways in Pakyong District are as follows: * National Highway 10 connecting

Siliguri Siliguri, ) is a major tier-II city in West Bengal. It forms "Twin Cities" with the neighboring district capital of Jalpaiguri. The city spans areas of the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. Known as the ...

Gangtok Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's populat ...

, lies in Pakyong District from

Rangpo Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Hig ...

Singtam Singtam is a town which lies mostly in Gangtok District and partly in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim about from the state capital Gangtok. The town lies on the banking of the rivers Teesta and Ranikhola, which join together ...

via

Majitar Majitar is the fastest growing urban village in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim. The nearest towns are Rangpo ( away) and Singtam (). It is about above sea level giving it a sub-tropical climate. Majitar lies on the National Hi ...

. * National Highway-717A connecting

Bagrakote Bagrakote (also known as Bagrakote/Bagrakot Tea Garden) is a village in the Mal CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. The main reason behind Bagrakote being called as a Tea Garden ...

, lies in the Pakyong District from Reshi,

Rhenock Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude ...

to Setipool near

Ranipool Ranipool is a small suburban town located in the bank of river Ranikhola at the junction of National Highway 10 and National Highway 717A in Gangtok District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is 12 km before from Gangtok main town. It ...

via Rorathang and

. * National Highway-717B connecting

and Menla,

Sherathang Sherathang is a town in East Sikkim district, Gangtok district near the Nathula Pass in Sikkim, India. The location has been identified as the site for excise, customs and checking for trade between India and People's Republic of China, China. ...

via

Zuluk Dzuluk or Zuluk or Jhuluk or Jaluk is a small hamlet located at a height of on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District, which lies in the Indian state Sikkim ( Pincode 737131). This place is relat ...

and

Rongli Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...

lies mostly in Pakyong District. *

Atal Setu Bridge Atal Setu Bridge is located at Rangpo, Pakyong district, Sikkim. It is the longest roadway bridge of Sikkim. It was inaugurated by Honourable President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu on 4th November 2022. It is constructed by National Highways a ...

, the longest roadway bridge of sikkim connecting Pakyong District with

Kalimpong district Kalimpong district is a district in the state of West Bengal, India. Originally known as Dalingkot tehsil, the region was alternatively under the control of Sikkim and Bhutan. In 1865, it was annexed from Bhutan by British India under the Treaty ...

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

lies in Pakyong District.

Railway

The under construction

Rangpo railway station Rangpo railway station is an under-construction railway station lying on Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line in Pakyong District of Sikkim. Its code is RNGPO. It will serve Rangpo city, and three districts of Sikkim, which are Pakyong District, Gangtok ...

lies in Pakyong District at the town of

Airways

Pakyong Greenfield Airport the only airport of Sikkim, lies on Pakyong District at the district Headquarter-

Assembly Constituencies

Assembly Constituencies falling under Pakyong District are as follows: *

Rhenock (Vidhan Sabha constituency) Rhenock Assembly constituency is one of the 32 Legislative Assembly constituencies of Sikkim state in India. It is part of Pakyong district. Member of the Legislative Assembly Election results 2019 See also * List of constituencie ...

Chujachen (Vidhan Sabha constituency) Chujachen Assembly constituency is one of the 32 Legislative Assembly constituencies of Sikkim state in India. It is part of Pakyong district. Member of the Legislative Assembly Election results 2019 See also * List of constituenc ...

West Pendam (Vidhan Sabha constituency) West Pendam is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim, a north east state of India. This constituency falls under Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency and lies in Pakyong district. Member of Legislative Assembly Election results 2019 ...

* Gnathang-Machong (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and *

Namchaybong (Vidhan Sabha constituency) Namchaybong Assembly constituency is one of the 32 Legislative Assembly constituencies of Sikkim state in India. It is part of Pakyong district. Member of the Legislative Assembly Election results 2019 See also * List of constitu ...

Important Towns and Cities

The major towns and cities of Pakyong District are *

* Rorathang *

Kumrek Kumrek is an urban village lying on the bank of River Rangpo in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim. The nearest towns are Rangpo ( away) and Rorathang (). It is about above sea level giving it a sub-tropical climate. Transpor ...

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (Pron: pǽngólɑ́kha, Nepali: पाङ्लखा) is a wildlife reserve in the Pakyong District of the state of Sikkim in India. It is about east of Rorathang and about by road from Rangpo city. The total no ...

lies in the Pakyong District. It is connected to

Neora Valley National Park Neora Valley National Park is a national park in Kalimpong district, West Bengal, India that was established in 1986. It spreads over an area of , and is a rich biological zone in eastern India. It is the land of the red panda in the pristine und ...

of North Bengal via thick forest cover in Aritar Rachela region.

Flora and fauna

Variety of plants and wildlife are found in Pakyong District. The important ones are

Red Panda The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle ...

the state animal,

Blood pheasant The blood pheasant (''Ithaginis cruentus''), also known as blood partridge, is the only species in genus ''Ithaginis'' of the pheasant family. It is a relatively small, short-tailed pheasant that is widespread and is fairly common in eastern Him ...

the state bird

Dendrobium nobile ''Dendrobium nobile'', commonly known as the noble dendrobium, is a member of the family Orchidaceae. It has become a popular cultivated decorative house plant, because it produces colourful blooms in winter and spring, at a time when little el ...

the state flower and

Rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...

the state tree are found in the wildlife sanctuaries of Pakyong District. Other important wild animals include

Snow Leopard The snow leopard (''Panthera uncia''), also known as the ounce, is a Felidae, felid in the genus ''Panthera'' native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia, Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable species, Vulnerable on the IUCN Red ...

Himalayan black bear The Himalayan black bear (''Ursus thibetanus laniger'') is a subspecies of the Asian black bear found in the Himalayas of India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Pakistan. Description It is distinguished from '' U. t. thibetanus'' by its longer, thicke ...

Clouded leopard The clouded leopard (''Neofelis nebulosa''), also called the mainland clouded leopard, is a wild cat inhabiting dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through mainland Southeast Asia into South China. In the early 19th century, a cl ...

Large Indian civet The large Indian civet (''Viverra zibetha'') is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The global population is considered decreasing mainly because of trapping-driven declines in heavil ...

etc. Forest Department, Government of Sikkim has also confirmed the presence of

Royal Bengal Tiger The Bengal tiger is a population of the '' Panthera tigris tigris'' subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The tiger is estimated to have been present i ...

in the

of Pakyong District in January 2019.

Rivers

River Teesta Teesta River is a long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal through Rangpur, and enters the Bay of Bengal. It drains an area of . In India, it flows through ...

, the largest river of state flows in Pakyong district from

Rangpo River River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and R ...

the third largest river of Sikkim originates from

Lake Menmecho Menmecho Lake is a mountain lake located in Gangtok district in the state of Sikkim, India. It lies on the way to the Jelep Pass and is situated at a distance of ahead of the Lake Tsomgo. It is the source of the river Rangpo chu, a tributary of ...

at Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District and flows through Pakyong Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision villages and towns of Pakyong District before meeting river

Teesta Teesta River is a long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal through Rangpur, and enters the Bay of Bengal. It drains an area of . In India, it flows through ...

at Rangpo Town. River Jaldhaka which originates near

Dzuluk Dzuluk or Zuluk or Jhuluk or Jaluk is a small hamlet located at a height of on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in Rongli, Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District, which lies in the Indian state Sikkim (Postal Index Number, Pincode 73 ...

in Pakyong District and flows towards Bhutan, West Bengal and Bangladesh. Other major rivers of Pakyong District are Richu Khola, Rongli Khola, Pachey Khola, Reshi Khola etc.

Sports

Mining Cricket Stadium Sikkim Cricket Ground is a cricket stadium in Rangpo, Pakyong District, Sikkim. It is the official cricket ground of Sikkim that has been leased to Sikkim Cricket Association in 2002 for 20 years by Government of Sikkim. The ground was establis ...

located at

, Pakyong district is the largest cricket stadium of entire Sikkim. The stadium belongs to

Sikkim Cricket Association Sikkim Cricket Association (SCA) is the governing body of the Cricket in the Indian state of Sikkim and the Sikkim cricket team. It is headquartered in Rangpo, Sikkim. Among other duties, SCA is responsible for organizing various cricketing tou ...

and hosts important cricket tournaments like

Ranji Trophy The Ranji Trophy (also known as Mastercard Ranji Trophy for sponsorship reasons) is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between multiple teams representing regional and state cricket associations. Board of Control for Cr ...

CK Nayudu Trophy The Colonel C. K. Nayudu Trophy is a domestic cricket championship played in India between under-25 teams representing various state and regional cricket associations. It is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is nam ...

Cooch Behar Trophy The Cooch Behar Trophy is India's national four-day cricket tournament for under-19 players. It has been held annually since the 1945–46 season. It is run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. History The trophy was donated by, and ...

Vijay Merchant Trophy Vijay Merchant Trophy is an annual junior under 16 domestic cricket tournament of India. Board of Control for Cricket in India, the national governing body of sport of cricket in India, organise it. It is named after former legendry international ...

etc.It is the home ground of

Sikkim cricket team The Sikkim cricket team is a cricket team that represents the state of Sikkim in Indian domestic competitions. In July 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named the team as one of the nine new sides that would compete in domes ...

. Other major sports grounds of Pakyong district are St. Xavier's Football ground - Pakyong, Rongli Mela Ground, Rhenock SSS Ground, Chujachen SSS Ground etc.

Achievements

*Pakyong District of Sikkim achieved the 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝟕𝟓 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 which were selected for 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐒𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝟗𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧. *Pakyong Police Station of Pakyong in Pakyong District of Sikkim is ranked seventh among the top ten best performing police stations in the country according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 2020. * Vivanta Sikkim, a Five Star hotel of Pakyong district wins HICSA best hotel of the year award.

References

{{authority control Districts of Sikkim