A Brief Note on Physical Features of Sikkim:
Sikkim is a small hilly State in the Eastern Himalayas with a formidable Physical Features. It is bounded by vast stretches to Tibetan Plateaus in the North, the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and and Kingdom of Bhutan in the East, the Kingdom of Nepal in the West and Darjeeling District of West Bengal in the South. The State of Sikkim has a total area of only 7096 sq. km. and stretched over 112 kms from North to South and 64 kms from East to West. It lines in the North -Eastern Himalayas between 27o00'46" to 28o07'48" North Latitude and 88o00'58" to 88o55'25" East Longitude.
The State receives an Annual Rainfall of 2000mm to 4000mm. Tista & Rangit, which originates respectively, from Cholamu Lake and Rathong Glacier, are the two major rivers of the State.
Sikkim: Profile of Land Elevation:
| Type of Land: | Level of Elevation |
| Lower Hills: | Altitude ranging from 270 to 1500 mtrs. |
| Mid Hills: | Altitude ranging from 1500 mtrs. to 2000 mtrs. |
| Higher Hills: | Altitude ranging from 2000 mtrs. to 3000 mtrs. |
| Alpine Zone: | Altitude above 3900 mtrs. with vegetation. |
| Snow bound Land: | Very High Mountains without vegetation and with perpetual Snow cover upto 8580 mtrs. |
Sikkim: Brief Characteristics of Soil:
| Texture: | Loamy sand silty clay loam |
| Depth: | From few inches and in some places practically nil several feet deep depending upon the weathering processes it underwent. |
| Soil Reaction: | All acidic, having PH ranging from 4.3 to 6.4 with mean value 5.37 |
| Organic Matter Content: | High, between 0.36% to 5.61% with mean value 2.74% |
| Available Nitrogen: | 10-280 p.p.m with mean value 99.21 p.p.m. |
| Available Phosphorous: | 4.0-175 p.p.m. with mean value 46.87 p.p.m. |
| Available Potash: | 45 to 490 p.p.m. with mean value 184.71 p.p.m. |
| Lime Requirement | Most between 2.0 tonnes per acre but various from 0 to 16 tonnes per acre. |
Zonation of Sikkim:
Sikkim can basically be divided into five ranges climatically.
| Sl. No. | Range | Altitude |
| 1. | Tropical | Below 610 mtrs. |
| 2. | Sub Tropical | 610 to 1524 mtrs. |
| 3. | Temperate | 1524 to 2743 mtrs |
| 4. | Sub-Alpine | 2743 to 3962 mtrs. |
| 5. | Alpine | 3962 to 5182 mtrs. |
Sikkim can basically be divided into three zones in describing the aspects of vegetation
| Sl. No. | Range | Altitude |
| 1. | Tropical | From sea level to 1700 mtrs. |
| 2. | Temperate | From 1700 mtrs. 4300 mtrs. |
| 3. | Alpine | Above 4300 mtrs. to 5000 mtrs. |
Important Mountains of Sikkim:
| Sl. No. | Name of Mountain | District | Height |
| 1. | Mt. Kanchendzonga | West | 28156 Ft. |
| 2. | Mt. Kabru | West | 24215 Ft |
| 3. | Mt. Talung | North | 24200 Ft |
| 4. | Mt. Siniolchu | West | 22600 Ft |
| 5. | Mt. Simvo | West | 22476 Ft |
| 6. | Mt. Pandim | West | 22100 Ft |
| 7. | Mt. Rathong | West | 22100 Ft |
| 8. | Mt. Paunhri | East | 22000 Ft |
| 9. | Mt. Kokthang | West | 20162 Ft |
| 10. | Mt. Lamaongden | East | 19366 Ft |
| 11. | Mt. Masunyange | East | 19300 Ft |
Peaks and Passes of Sikkim:
| Height in Ft. | Commencing from South to East | Running from Kanchenjunga Seperating Ranjit from Talungchu | From Talungchu Seperating Zemu | Seperating Lachen Lachung | Other | Total |
| 9000-12000 | 11 | - | - | 1 | - | 12 |
| 12001-15000 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| 15001-18000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 5 |
| 18001-21000 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 7 |
| 21001-24000 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| 24001-27000 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| 27001 & Above State | 33 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 47 |
Important Passes with their Altitude:
| Sl. No. | Passes | Altitude 9in Ft.) |
| 1. | Nathu-La | 14400 |
| 2. | Jelep-La | 14500 |
| 3. | Batang-La | 13000 |
| 4. | Cho-La | - |
| 5. | Chiwabhanjang | 10300 |
| 6. | Chorten Nyima-La | 19000 |
| 7. | Kongra-La | - |
| 8. | Lungma-La | - |
| 9. | Donkia-La | 18400 |
Important Ranges:
| 1. | Singalila Range: | Separates Sikkim from Nepal in the West. |
| 2. | Chola Range: | Separates Sikkim from Tibet Bhutan in the East |
| 3. | Pangolia Range: | Separates Sikkim from Bhutan |
Name of Important Glaciers:
| Sl. No. | Name of Glaciers | District |
| 1. | Zemu Glacier | North |
| 2. | Rathong Glacier | West |
| 3. | Lonak Glacier | North |
| 4. | Hidden Glacier | North |
| 5. | Talung Glacier | North |
| 6. | North Lonak Glacier | North |
| 7. | South Lonak Glacier | North |
| 8. | Tista Khangse Glacier | North |
Important Rives of Sikkim & Their Tributaries:
| Sl. No. | Rivers | Tributary |
| 1. | Rangit | Rangbhang, Relli, Rathong & Kalej |
| 2. | Tista | Dikchu, Rangyong, Bakchachu, Rongpochu, Zemu Chu, Lachung Chu. |
Other smaller tributaries of the Tista River are Zemuchu, Lenakchu, Lachungchu, Talungchu..
Name of Important Lakes in Sikkim
| Sl. No. | Name of Lakes | District |
| 1. | Khe-cheod-Palri (Khecheroperi) | West |
| 2. | Gurudungmar | North |
| 3. | Lam Pokhari | West |
| 4. | Chungu (Tsomgo) | East |
| 5. | Laxmi Pokhari | West |
| 6. | Cholamu | North |
| 7. | Bidang Cho | East |
| 8. | Menmecho | East |
| 9. | Majur Pokhari | West |
| 10. | Sima Choka | North |
| 11. | Dud Pokhari | West |
| 12. | Samiti Lake | West |
| 13. | Ram-Laxman (Twin Lake) | West |
Important Hot Spring
| Sl. No. | Name of Hot Spring | District |
| 1. | Phurchachu (Reshi) | West |
| 2. | Yumthang | North |
| 3. | Borong | South |
| 4. | Ralong | South |
| 5. | Yumey Samdong | East |
Source: Sikkim, A Statistical Profile 2006-07