2409:4073:419:68C6:232A:5DB:C36A:3AF0 at 16:01, 29 August 2021

2021-08-29T16:01:09Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chungthang
| native_name = Tsunthang
| native_name_lang = Sikkimese Bhutia
| other_name =
| settlement_type = town
| image_skyline = Bundesarchiv Bild 135-BAI-05-04, Tibetexpedition, Haus in Chungtang.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View of Chungthang, 1938
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Sikkim#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sikkim, India
| coordinates = {{coord|27.6045|N|88.645583|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Sikkim]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[North Sikkim]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1790
| population_total = 3970
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/260927-chungthang.html |title= chungthang City Census| publisher=censusindia.gov.in | date= |accessdate=15 September 2015}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = SK
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Bhutia language|Bhutia]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]
| official_name = Chungthang
}}'''Chungthang''' is a town in [[North Sikkim]] district in the [[Indian state]] of [[Sikkim]]. It is situated at the confluence of the [[Lachen River|Lachen]] and [[Lachung River|Lachung]] rivers, which combine to form the [[Teesta River]].<ref name="NIC">{{cite web|url=http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/poi_nor.htm|title=North Skikkim|publisher=[[National Informatics Centre]]|accessdate=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821103458/http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/poi_nor.htm|archive-date=21 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Located at a distance of {{convert|95|km}} from the state capital [[Gangtok]], the [[Indian Army]] has a major forward base with a medical centre in Chungthang.

==Geography==
Chungthang is located at {{coord|27.62|N|88.63|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/0/Chuntang.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Chungthang]</ref> It has an average elevation of {{convert|1790|m}}.

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
Sikkim is a small but beautiful landlocked state nestled in the Himalayas in northern India. It is situated at the confluence of two rivers: River Lachen and Lachung Chu, both tributaries of the “most scenic” River Teesta. The thumb-shaped state borders [[Nepal]] in the west, the Chinese Tibet Autonomou sRegion to the north and east, [[Bhutan]] in the south-east and the Indian state of [[West Bengal]] to its south.

Chungthang is located in this state at a distance of 95 kilometres from the capital [[Gangtok]], at an elevation of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft). Guru Dongmar is a lake at a height of 18,000 feet alongside a glacial peak knosswn by the same name. The lake remains frozen most of the year due to heavy snowfall for almost six months each year.
History

Chungthang Valley is believed to be a holy place which has been blessed by Guru Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Sikkim. There is a rock here which to this day bears the hand and footprints of Saint Padmasambhava. From a small opening in the rock there is continuous flow of mineral water. There is a small patch of land here from which grows paddy every year. The nature defying miracle is believed to be the blessing of Guru Padmasambhava who sprinkled a handful of grain on the spot that has sprouted paddy ever since. Chungthang is a good place to halt before one takes off for the more alpine regions of Lachen, Lachung and the Yumthang Valley. Chungthang is mired in myths and legends, one such being that this is the place from where the word 'Demazong' [the hidden valley of rice, as Sikkim is known] first originated.

<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lama Jigme|first=Pawo|title=The Pilgrim's Guide to the Hidden Land of Sikkim}}</ref> As per Denjong Nye-Yig (The Pilgrim's Guide to The Hidden Land of Sikkim, by Jigme Pawo, reincarnation of Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo) the name of the north Sikkim located settlement of Chungthang or Tsunthang, as is the actual pronunciation, is derived from the word 'Tsemo Rinchen Thang' meaning 'top precious plain'.
This place is revered by Buddhists for its sacred rock, known as 'Lhedo' or 'Neydo', which was blessed and bears body imprints and footprints of Guru Padmasambhava/Guru Rinpoche. There is a perennial source of holy water at the site too.
During the eight century AD, Guru Rinpoche, who hailed from the Swat region in present-day northwest Pakistan, visited Tibet at the invitation of the Tibetan emperor, Trisong Deutsen and introduced the practice of Tantric Buddhism to the Tibetans. He is regarded as the founder of the Nyingma (ancient/old) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and is also said to have established Samye Monastery, the oldest Buddhist monastery in Tibet.
On his way back from Tibet, Guru Rinpoche is believed to have halted at Tsunthang/Chungthang where he subjugated a mischievous demon called 'Deutsen' who had been reluctant to come under the Guru's spiritual domain. The paddy field located next to the Lhedo/Neydo is considered sacred, as according to Buddhist religious tradition, paddy started growing here after Guru Rinpoche, following a meal, threw some leftover rice at the very spot. This is considered a miracle as paddy normally does not grow in the area.
It is further believed that Guru Rinpoche personally consecrated the site, where later, Lepcha Buddhists built a monastery in 1788 AD and named it as Tsunthang Ridgzin Choeling Gonpa.

==People==
Most of the residents of the town are [[Lepcha people|Lepcha]] and they follows Buddhist religion and Christianity.<ref name=NIC /> Chungthang is rich in biodiversity with a wide variety of orchids, plants and animals. {{As of|2001|alt=As of the [[2001 Census of India]]}}, the village had a population of 3,766 with a population density of approximately three persons per hectare.<ref>{{cite book|first=Maitreyee|last=Choudhury|title=Sikkim: Geographical Perspectives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W9EwNfXkxZwC|year=2006|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-158-8|page=109}}</ref>

== Political Changes to Place ==
With growing Chinese influences on local Sikkimese people and influx of no. Of Tibetans into many area of Sikkim , many Buddhist monasteries have sprouted supported by local self Goveronment (Dzumsa) some even by converting a Sikh Gurdwara at Dongmar at the bank of gurudongmar lake <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Nanak Lama ignored|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2018/04/14/gurudongmar-gurdwara-in-sikkim-converted-into-a-buddhist-shrine.html|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref> which was built at instance of Indian army recognising history of Guru Nanak’s visit there existed there since 2002. Even Gurdwara Nanaklama <ref name=":0" /> at Chungthang built by officers of Assam Rifles in 1970 is in danger of sacrilege .<ref>{{Cite web|title=Desecration of Gurdwaras in Sikkim-Part III- Chungthang|url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/desecration-gurdwaras-sikkim-part-iii-chungthang|access-date=2020-12-31|website=SikhNet|language=en}}</ref>

== Banking Facilities in Chungthang ==
Only SBI is currently opening a branch in Chungthang.

*[[State Bank Of India]], Chungthang<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bankifscmicrbranchdetails.c12.in/page.php?ifsc=SBIN0007070 |title=STATE BANK OF INDIA, CHUNGTHANG}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in North Sikkim district]]

Chungthang - Revision history

2409:4073:419:68C6:232A:5DB:C36A:3AF0 at 16:01, 29 August 2021