Gyalshing

Gyalshing or Geyzing is the capital of the district of West Sikkim in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town is connected to the capital Gangtok by a metalled road. Geyzing is also connected to the West Bengal towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong via Jorethang. A few kilometres north is the town of Pelling. The town has a large Nepali population, and the Nepali language is the predominant language of the region. The town is situated at an altitude of about 6,500 feet (1,900 m). The town enjoys a temperate climate for most of the year and snow sometimes falls in the vicinity.

Near Geyzing is the ancient town of Yuksom, the ancient capital of Sikkim built in 1642. Other attractions include Pemyangtse Monastery built in 1640, reputed to be Sikkim's oldest and Khecheopalri Lake which as legend has it not a leaf is allowed to float on the surface. The town is the base for trekking in the Himalayas and professional expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga.

Geyzing has a couple of English medium schools including a convent school and a major hospital. It also has the district's only three star hotel The TashiGang hotel owned by the Bollywood actor Danny Denzongpa.

Geography

Gyalshing is located at .^[1] It has an average elevation of 823 metres (2700 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[2] Gyalshing had a population of 828. Males constitute 59% of the population and females 41%. Gyalshing has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 68%. In Gyalshing, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Gyalshing
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.