Namchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Namchi
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City
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Clockwise from top:
Siddheshwar Dham, Guru Rinpoche statue, Sai temple, Cherry resort, Temi tea garden, Central park. |
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 Namchi
Location in Sikkim
Namchi
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State |  Sikkim |
| District | Namchi |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| Elevation | 1,315 m (4,314 ft) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 12,194 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | |
| • Additional official |
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| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
737 126
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| Telephone code | 03595 |
| Vehicle registration | SK-05 |
m_Namchi.jpg)
Namchi is a city in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is the main town of the Namchi district. The name "Namchi" comes from the Sikkimese language and means "Sky High".
Contents
Exploring Namchi's Location
Namchi is located at 27°10′N 88°21′E / 27.17°N 88.35°E. It sits at an average height of 1,315 meters (about 4,314 feet) above sea level.
The town is about 78 kilometers (48 miles) from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. It is also 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Siliguri. Siliguri has the closest train station and airport. Namchi is well connected by roads to other towns in Sikkim and West Bengal. You can easily find jeeps and buses to places like Gangtok, Pelling, and Kalimpong.
People and Culture in Namchi
As of 2011, Namchi had a population of 12,194 people. About 52% of the population are males and 48% are females. The city has a high literacy rate of 78%. This means most people can read and write.
Most people in Namchi are Hindus or Buddhists. The main languages spoken are Sikkimese and Nepali.
Religions in Namchi
Religious Groups in Namchi (2011) Hinduism (56.07%) Buddhism (23.47%) Christianity (15.37%) Islam (4.00%) Others (1.09%)
Languages Spoken in Namchi
Education in Namchi
Namchi has many good private schools. Some of these include Seven Hills School, Mt. Carmel School, and Namchi Public School. There are also government high schools for boys and girls. People in Namchi care a lot about education. Namchi Public School is run by Catholic missionaries. It is known as one of the best schools in the south district of Sikkim.
A few kilometers from town, there is a government college. It offers courses in Arts, Education, Science, and Commerce.
Tourist Attractions in Namchi
Namchi is becoming a popular place for tourists and pilgrims. A pilgrimage center is a place where people go for religious reasons.
Buddhist Sites
- The Namchi Monastery and Ralang Monastery are important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
- The Tendong Hill is another local Buddhist pilgrimage spot.
- On Samdruptse Hill, you can find the world's largest statue of Padmasambhava. He is also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. This huge statue is 118 feet tall and was finished in 2004.
- Samdruptse Hill is also called "The Wish Fulfilling Hill." Some myths say it is a sleeping volcano. Buddhist monks are said to pray on the hill to keep it calm.
- Near Samdruptse, there is a Rock Garden. From this area, you can see amazing views of Mt. Kangchenjunga. This is the world's third-highest mountain peak.
Siddhesvara Dhaam: A Unique Pilgrimage Center
Siddhesvara Dhaam opened in November 2011. It is a special "Pilgrim cum Cultural Centre" built by the Sikkim Government. It has an 87-foot statue of Lord Shiva. It also has smaller copies of four important Hindu pilgrimage sites (Char Dham) from India. This allows visitors to experience all four holy places in one spot.
Around the Lord Shiva statue, there are replicas of the "Dwadash Jyotirlingas." These are twelve important Shiva temples. You can also find a large statue of Kirateshwar Mahadev and a temple for Shirdi Sai Baba. From here, you can see Mt. Kanchenjunga and the Guru Padmasambhava statue. The Dhaam also has a place for visitors to stay overnight. It even won a national tourism award in 2010–11 for being a "Most Innovative/Unique Tourism Project."
Temi Tea Garden
Near Namchi is Sikkim's only tea estate, the Temi Tea Garden. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of the tea plants. This garden produces high-quality tea that is famous around the world. It is known for its special smell and taste.
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Annual Flower Show
Every February, Namchi hosts an annual flower show. It is the biggest flower show in Sikkim. You can see many colorful flowers, including rare and exotic orchids.
Baichung Stadium and Football
One of the town's highlights is the Baichung Stadium. The government built this football stadium to honor Baichung Bhutia. He is a famous footballer from Sikkim. The "Gold Cup" football tournament is held here almost every year. Teams from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan come to compete. This event brings many people to Namchi.
Images for kids
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Siddheshwar Dham in Namchi
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Guru Rinpoche statue
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Sai Temple
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Cherry Resort
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Temi tea garden
See also
In Spanish: Namchi para niños
