Rhenock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rhenock
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Viswa Vinayak temple at Rhenock, Pakyong district (Sikkim)
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 Rhenock
Location in Sikkim
Rhenock
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State | Sikkim |
| District | Pakyong |
| Elevation | 1,040 m (3,410 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Sikkimese, Nepali, Lepcha, Limbu, Newari, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa, Tamang and Sunwar |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
737 133
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| Telephone code | 03592 |
| Vehicle registration | SK |
| Lok Sabha | Sikkim Constituency |
| Nearest city | Kalimpong |
| Vidhan Sabha | Rhenock Constituency |
Rhenock is a town located in the Pakyong district of Sikkim, India. It is about 35 kilometers from Pakyong City. The town sits near the border with the Kalimpong district in West Bengal.
Rhenock is 63 kilometers east of Gangtok and 47 kilometers north of Kalimpong. It is on the way to Jelepla Pass and is 1,040 meters above sea level. The name "Rhe-nock" comes from the Lepcha dialect and means "Black Hill". Rhenock is in the eastern part of Sikkim. It was also home to the first police outpost in the state.
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A Look at Rhenock's Past
In the 13th century, Rhenock was mostly covered with thick forests. The Lepchas were the first people to settle here, about five or six hundred years ago.
Around the mid-16th century, the Bhutia people came from Tibet. They settled in villages like Kyongsa, Aritar, Tarpin, Reshi, and Chalisey. Later, different Gorkha groups also moved to Rhenock. These included Newars, Bahuns, Chhetris, Gurungs, Rais, and Limbus. Between 1940 and 1960, some people from northern India also came to Rhenock for business.
Who Lives in Rhenock?
Rhenock is a home to many different groups of people. These include Lepchas, Bhutias, Nepalis (also called Gorkhas), Kiratis, Biharis, and Marwaris.
The Lepcha tribes were the first to settle here. They have their own special culture. They used to follow Shamanism, but later many became followers of Buddhism. Some Lepchas also follow Christianity.
The Bhutias are another group. They mostly follow Buddhism and have their own unique traditions. Most people in Rhenock are Indian Nepalis, also known as Gorkhas. Many of them are Hindus. Some Gurung Nepalis became Buddhists after 1990, but before that, they were Hindus. A few others follow Christianity. Even with different beliefs, everyone in Rhenock respects each other. They celebrate each other's festivals, which helps create a peaceful community.
Religious Beliefs in Rhenock
Religious Demographic in Rhenock Census Town (2011) Hinduism (77.22%) Buddhism (10.81%) Christianity (9.23%) Islam (2.52%) Others (0.22%)
Languages Spoken in Rhenock
Getting Around Rhenock
Roads Connecting Rhenock
Rhenock, specifically Charfatak, is on National Highway-717A. This highway connects Bagrakote to Gangtok. It passes through places like Labha and Algarah.
Another important road is National Highway 717B. This road starts in Charfatak, Rhenock. It goes through Zuluk and Rongli and ends in Menla, Sherathang.
The town has good road connections to many parts of Sikkim. It also connects to the nearby state of West Bengal. You can find direct taxi services to many towns. These include Gangtok, Pakyong, Kalimpong, Pedong, Algarah, Labha, Rongli, Rangpo, Singtam, Ranipool, Rorathang, Panitanki, and Siliguri.
Rhenock is very close to the border between Sikkim and the Kalimpong district of North Bengal. This makes it an important town for many villages in the Kalimpong district. Villages like Lingsay, Chuba, and Gendung rely on Rhenock. Daily taxi services connect these villages to Rhenock.
Bus Services: SNT buses are available from Rhenock. A bus service connects Rongli to the Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri). This bus runs from Rhenock through Rorathang, Rangpo, and Sevoke. There is also an SNT bus from Rhenock to Gangtok. This bus starts in Rhenock and goes via Pakyong.
Flying to Rhenock
The closest airport is Pakyong Airport, which is 31 kilometers from Rhenock. A larger airport, Bagdogra International Airport, is 111 kilometers away.
Train Stations Near Rhenock
The nearest railway stations are:
- Sevoke Junction - 79 kilometers away via NH10.
- Malbazar Junction - 81 kilometers away via NH-717A.
- Siliguri Junction - 99 kilometers away via NH10.
- New Jalpaiguri Junction - 104 kilometers away via NH10.
- Rangpo railway station is currently being built and is 26 kilometers from Rhenock.
Learning in Rhenock
Rhenock has a long history of education, going back about 130 years. Rhenock School is one of the oldest schools in Sikkim. A Christian missionary started it in 1880 in Rhenock (Khamdong). Later, the government of Sikkim took over the school and moved it to Kingstone. Today, this school is known as Senior Secondary School, Rhenock.
A Sanskrit Pathshala (school) used to operate at the Rhenock Temple. It taught Sanskrit and religious rituals to train Hindu priests. After Sikkim joined the Indian union, the government opened many more schools.
Today, Rhenock has several educational places:
- Government Degree College
- Government Senior Secondary School, Rhenock
- Government Secondary School, Tarpin
- Government Secondary School, Sudunglakha
- Government Secondary School, Aritar
- St. Joseph's School, Rhenock
- Sanskrit School at Khamdong & Rhenock Bazar
- Many junior high schools and primary schools
Fun Places to Visit in Rhenock
Rhenock and its surroundings offer several interesting spots:
- Shivalaya, Rhenock
- Shri Viswa Vinayaka Mandir Rhenock (a temple)
- Aritar Lake
- Wood Land Nursery
- Aritar Gumpa (a monastery)
- Lonely falls (also known as Kali Khola)
- Reshi Eco Tourism area
- Ramgauri Sangralaya (a museum about Sikkim's history)
- Pangulakha Wild Life Sanctuary (stretches from Chandney to the Bhutan border)
- Lampokhari Lake
- Mangkhim
- Hattey pahile
- Darpaney in Mulukey East Sikkim
