Pakyong district


Pakyong 'district' is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim, administered from Pakyong. 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, which now bounds the Pakyong district in the northwest. In addition, the district is now bounded by the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, Bhutan, China and the Namchi district 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:
The under construction Sivok–Rangpo railway line will end in Pakyong District at the town of Rangpo. It is planned later to be prolonged to Gangtok.

Airways

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

Assembly Constituencies

Assembly Constituencies falling under Pakyong District are as follows:
  • Rhenock
  • Chujachen
  • West Pendam
  • Gnathang-Machong and
  • Namchaybong

    Important Towns and Cities

The major towns and cities of Pakyong District are
  • Pakyong
  • Rangpo
  • Rorathang
  • Rhenock
  • Rongli
  • Majitar
  • Kumrek

    Wildlife Sanctuaries

lies in the Pakyong District. It is connected to Neora Valley National Park of Kalimpong district of North Bengal via thick forest cover in Aritar Mulkharka Rachela region. Sumin Reserve Forest and Saramsa Garden also lies in Pakyong District which is rich in varieties of floral plants and fauna.
File:Blue-winged Laughingthrush Pangolakha Sikkim India 30.10.2016.jpg|thumb|Blue-winged Laughingthrush in Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary Pakyong District Sikkim

Flora and fauna

Variety of plants and wildlife are found in Pakyong District. The important ones are red panda the state animal, blood pheasant the state bird Dendrobium nobile the state flower and Rhododendron the state tree are found in the wildlife sanctuaries of Pakyong District.
File:Drongo Cuckoo from East Pendam Budang birding area in Sikkim, India.jpg|thumb|Drongo Cuckoo in Budang, Sumin Reserve Forest Pakyong District Sikkim
File:Grey-sided Laughingthrush Pendam East district, Sikkim India 05.07.2018.jpg|thumb|Grey-sided laughingthrush at Pendam, Sumin Reserve Forest, Pakyong District Sikkim
Other important wild animals include Snow Leopard, Himalayan black bear, Clouded leopard, Large Indian civet etc.
Forest Department, Government of Sikkim has also confirmed the presence of Royal Bengal Tiger in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of Pakyong District in January 2019.

Rivers and Lakes

Rivers

, the largest river of state flows in Pakyong district from Singtam to Rangpo.
Rangpo River the third largest river of Sikkim originates from Lake Menmecho at Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District and flows through Pakyong Subdivision and Rongli Subdivision villages and towns of Pakyong District before meeting river Teesta at Rangpo Town.
River Jaldhaka which originates near Dzuluk 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.

Lakes

Important lakes of Pakyong District are :
  • Lampokhari, Aritar
  • Gnathang Heart Lake
  • Rangpo Dam lake Below Rolep.
  • Mulkharka Lake.

    Sports

located at Rangpo, Pakyong district is the largest cricket stadium of entire Sikkim. The stadium belongs to Sikkim Cricket Association and hosts important cricket tournaments like Ranji Trophy, CK Nayudu Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy etc.It is the home ground of Sikkim cricket team. Other major sports grounds of Pakyong district are St. Xavier's Football ground - Pakyong, Rongli Mela Ground, Rhenock SSS Ground, Chujachen SSS Ground, Central Pendam SSS Ground etc.

Education

Pakyong District has many educational institutions. Some important ones among them are as follows: