State / UT capital
Gangtok
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Overview
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim, built on a ridge above the Ranikhola valley in the eastern Himalaya.
Sikkim was a kingdom under the Chogyal rulers until it became a state of India in 1975. Gangtok is the state's administrative and commercial centre.
Roads from Gangtok lead to Nathu La on the China border, which reopened for border trade in 2006, and to Tsomgo Lake.
Geography and key facts
- Capital of Sikkim
- Sikkim became an Indian state in 1975 (36th Amendment)
- Gateway to Nathu La and Tsomgo Lake
- Sikkim: first state to be declared fully organic (2016)
Why it matters for UPSC
Sikkim's accession, Article 371F and its organic-farming record are recurring topics.
Note for UPSC
Capital of Sikkim.
Useful for orientation questions and for locating other features relative to the capital.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Gangtok yet.
Key facts
- Type
- State / UT capital
- State / UT
- Sikkim
- Coordinates
- 27.330°N, 88.620°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Linguistic Reorganisation of States (map lesson)
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Other places in Sikkim
All state and ut capitals · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs