Namchi

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title: "Namchi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-namchi-district", "colossal-statues-in-india"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namchi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameNamchi
settlement_typeCity
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width290
perrow1/2/2/2
image5Namchi.jpg
image3Panoramic view of large statue of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)m Namchi.jpg
image6Sai Temple in Namchi, Sikkim.jpg
image4Cherry Resort inside Temi Tea Garden, Namchi, Sikkim.jpg
image7Temi tea garden.jpg
image_captionAnticlockise from top:
Siddheshwar Dham in Namchi, Guru Rinpochem statue, Central park, Temi tea garden, Sai temple, Cherry resort in tea garden.
pushpin_mapIndia Sikkim#India3
pushpin_label_positionleft
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Namchi in Sikkim
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameIndia
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name1Flag of the Government of Sikkim.svg Sikkim
subdivision_name2Namchi
established_title
government_typeMunicipal Council
unit_prefMetric
elevation_m1315
population_total12194
population_as_of2001
population_density_km2auto
demographics_type1Languages
demographics1_title1Official
demographics1_info1
demographics1_title2Additional official
demographics1_info2
timezone1IST
utc_offset1+5:30
postal_code_typePIN
postal_code737 126
area_code03595
area_code_typeTelephone code
registration_plateSK-05
::

| name = Namchi | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = | perrow = 1/2/2/2 | image5 = Namchi.jpg | image3 = Panoramic view of large statue of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)m Namchi.jpg | image6= Sai Temple in Namchi, Sikkim.jpg | image4 = Cherry Resort inside Temi Tea Garden, Namchi, Sikkim.jpg | image7= Temi tea garden.jpg | image1 = | image_alt = | image_caption = Anticlockise from top: Siddheshwar Dham in Namchi, Guru Rinpochem statue, Central park, Temi tea garden, Sai temple, Cherry resort in tea garden. | nickname = | pushpin_map = India Sikkim#India3 | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Namchi in Sikkim | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name1 = Flag of the Government of Sikkim.svg Sikkim | subdivision_name2 = Namchi | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = Municipal Council | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_rank = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1315 | population_total = 12194 | population_as_of = 2001 | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_rank = | population_demonym = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = | demographics1_title2 = Additional official | demographics1_info2 = | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 737 126 | area_code = 03595 | area_code_type = Telephone code | registration_plate = SK-05 | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | website = | footnotes =

Namchi is a city and the administrative headquarter of the Namchi district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The appellation Namchi means Sky (Nam) High (Chi) in Sikkimese.

Geography

Namchi is located at . It has an average elevation of 1315 m.

Namchi is situated at an altitude of 1,675 m (5500 feet) above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 78 km from the state capital Gangtok and 100 km from the town of Siliguri, the nearest railhead and airport. Namchi lies off the road between Melli and Jorethang. Namchi is well connected to other towns in Sikkim and West Bengal. Jeeps and buses regularly ply between Namchi to Gangtok, Pelling, Jorethang, Kalimpong and Siliguri.

It is home of the Buxa Formation of Mamley, the stromatolite bearing Dolomite Limestones, which has been declared national geological monument by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism.

Mamley national geological monument

Mamley

Buxa Formation of Mamley (also called Mamley Stromatolite Park) in Mamley, the stromatolite bearing Dolomite Limestones has been declared national geological monument by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism. It is contiguous to the Buxa Tiger Reserve in neighboring state of West Bengal.

Demographics

Languages

|thumb = right |caption = Languages spoken in Namchi Municipal Council City (2011) |label1 = Nepali |value1 = 73.47 |color1 = red |label2 = Hindi |value2 = 7.57 |color2 = orange |label3 = Bhutia |value3 = 6.45 |color3 = brown |label4 = Bhojpuri |value4 = 2.65 |color4 = magenta |label5 = Bengali |value5 = 1.99 |color5 = yellow |label6 = Lepcha |value6 = 1.76 |color6 = pink |label7 = Tamang |value7 = 1.46 |color7 = navy |label8 = Rai |value8 = 1.30 |color8 = purple |label9 = Sherpa |value9 = 1.08 |color9 = green |label10 = Limbu |value10 = 0.84 |color10 = crimson |label11 = Others |value11 = 1.43 |color11 = black

Education

Namchi has more than half a dozen private schools with quality education), government higher secondary schools for boys and girls and prominent computer institutes. A few kilometers away from the town is a Government College for Arts, Education, Science, Commerce. Namchi Public School, run by Catholic missionaries, is one of the respected educational institutes in the state and one of the best in the south district of Sikkim.

Places of interest

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Cherry_Resort_inside_Temi_Tea_Garden,_Namchi,_Sikkim.jpg" caption="Cherry Resort inside Temi Tea Garden, Namchi, Sikkim"] ::

The Namchi Monastery, Ralang Monastery and Tendong Hill are local Buddhist pilgrimage centres. The world's largest statue (at 135 feet) of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim, is on the Samdruptse hill (The Wish Fulfilling hill) opposite Namchi. It was completed in February 2004. It is also said that the Samdruptse hill is actually a dormant volcano. Myths say that the Buddhist monks have been going on top of the hill and offering prayers to the volcano to keep it calm. There is also a Rock Garden a few kilometers from the town on the way to Samdruptse. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Namchi.jpg" caption="Central Park, Namchi"] ::

Recently inaugurated (in November 2011), the Siddhesvara Dhaam is a pilgrimage-tourism venture of the Sikkim Government developed as "Pilgrim cum Cultural Centre" boasting an 87-ft statue of Lord Shiva and replicas of four Dhams of the country, all at one place on the Solophok hilltop in Namchi. Char Dham, the four most revered Dhams of the Hindus have been replicated in the complex to benefit the devotees and tourists. This dream project of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, which was conceived by him and started in the year 2005 stands promisingly amidst the breathtaking surrounding of Solophok hill, befitting the mythological setting behind the establishment of the original Dhams. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Lordshiva.JPG" caption="Lord Shiva]] at Siddhesvara Dhaam in Namchi, Sikkim"] ::

There are replicas of the "Dwadash Jyotirlingas" (the twelve jyothirlingas) of Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshvara, Rameswar at Rameswaram and Grishneshwar surrounding the statue of Lord Shiva and the Char Dhams. There is a grand statue of Kirateshwar Mahadev and a temple of Shirdi Sai Baba. The Dham has won the National Tourism Awards 2010–11 under the category of "Most Innovative/Unique Tourism Project" by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

A helipad is located 5 km from the town at an altitude of around 5000 ft. From here one can get the most panoramic view of Mt. Kanchendzonga along with other adjacent peaks, a part of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the plains of Bengal.

Near the town, Sikkim's sole tea estate — the Temi Tea Garden is situated. It is the only tea estate in the state which produces top quality tea in the international market. The tea carries a premium the world over and costs around Rs. 800/- a kg. The tea is marked by its exotic odour and flavour.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Statue_of_Guru_Padmasambhava_(Guru_Rinpoche),_the_patron_saint_of_Sikkim.jpg" caption="Panoramic view of the statue of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the patron saint of [[Sikkim]] on Samdruptse Hill, Namchi"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Sai_Temple_in_Namchi,_Sikkim.jpg" caption="Sai Temple in Namchi"] ::

In the month of February, the Namchi garden hosts it annual flower show. The flower show is the largest in Sikkim, with flowers of vivid colours. The prime attraction of this show is the display of exotic and rare orchids.

One of the highlights of the town is the football stadium – the Bhaichung Stadium built by the Sikkimese government in honour of its most famous citizen, footballer Bhaichung Bhutia who owns a number of football schools all over India. "The Gold Cup" football tournament is held in Bhaichung Stadium almost every year. Football teams from all over India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan vie for the honour which draws lot of crowds from all over Sikkim. Namchi is also the base of the former chief minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling.

Historically, Namchi was the place where Pende Ongmoo, the treacherous princess who poisoned one of the Chogyals of Sikkim, was caught and killed for her deed. Legend says her spirit still haunts the foothills of Ghurpisey.

References

References

  1. "1977 Sikkim government gazette". Governor of Sikkim.
  2. (16 July 2014). "50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India".
  3. "South Skikkim". [[National Informatics Centre]].
  4. [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/0/Namchi.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Namchi]
  5. "National Geological Monument, from Geological Survey of India website".
  6. (2016-03-09). "Geo-Heritage Sites". [[Press Information Bureau]].
  7. [http://naturalheritage.intach.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Geoheritage-Monograph.pdf national geo-heritage of India] {{Webarchive. link. (11 January 2017 , [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). INTACH]]
  8. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India.
  9. "Profile - Literacy - Know India: National Portal of India".
  10. [https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/801420-namchi-sikkim.html] censusindia.gov.in
  11. [https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16T/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2000.XLSX 2011 census data] censusindia.gov.in
  12. "Schools in Namchi Sss Cluster {{!}} List of Schools in Namchi Sss Cluster, South Sikkim District (Sikkim)".
  13. "BHAICHUNG BHUTIA FOOTBALL SCHOOLS: Best Football School in Delhi, Mumbai".

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