Chungthang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is orphaned as few or no other articles link to it. Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. (July 2006) |
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (October 2007) |
Chungthang is a town in North Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated at the confluence of two rivers: River Lachen and Lachung Chu, both tributaries of the River Teesta. Chungthang is located a distance of 95 kilometres from the capital Gangtok, at an elevation of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft). The Indian army has a major forward base in the town including a medical centre.
According to legend, Sikh saint Guru Nanak Dev visited the town and left his footprint on a rock where he once rested. Around the rock some paddy is grown, which is supposed to be a miracle as paddy does not grow in these conditions.
Most of the residents of the town are Lepcha. Chungthang is rich in biodiversity with a wide variety of orchids, plants and animals found here.
Local people earned their livelihood on these paddy fields until the Army was deployed there. Guru Nanak Dev Ji called this place "Nice Place" (in Punjabi) that is how this place is called Chungthang (chung=nice, Thang=place). There is one Gurdwara (Sikh temple) where Guru Nanak Dev Ji left his walking stick embedded in soil, today it is a full tree.
