Vernacular Architecture of Sikkim

1. Sikkim

2. Introduction
 Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state located in the Himalayan
mountains.The state is bordered by
 Nepal to the west, China'sTibet Autonomous Region to the north
and east, and Bhutan to the east.
 The Indian state ofWest Bengal lies to the south.
 Sikkim has 11 official languages: Nepali (which is its lingua franca),
Sikkimese, Lepcha,Tamang, Limbu,Newari, Rai, Gurung, Magar,
Sunwar and English.
 English is taught in schools and used in government documents.
 The predominant religions are Hinduism andVajrayana Buddhism.
 Sikkim's economy is largely dependent on agriculture and
tourism, and as of 2014 the state had the third smallest GDP
among Indian states

3. Location

4. Geography
 The state of Sikkim is characterised by mountainous terrain. Almost the
entire state is hilly, with an elevation ranging from 280 metres (920 ft) to
8,586 metres (28,169 ft).
 The summit of Kangchenjunga—the world's thirdhighest peak—is the
state's highest point, situated on theborder between Sikkim and Nepal.
 For the most part, the land is unfit for agriculture because of the rocky,
precipitous slopes.
 However, some hill slopes have been converted into terrace farms.
 Numerous snowfed streams have carved out river valleys in the west and
south of the state.
 These streams combine into the major Teesta River and its tributary, the
Rangeet, which flow through the state from north to south.
 About a third of the state is heavily forested.

5. Topogrophy

6. Geography
 The Himalayan mountains surround the northern, eastern and
western borders of Sikkim.The Lower
 Himalayas, lying in the southern reaches of the state, are the most
densely populated.The state has 28
 mountain peaks, more than 80 glaciers,[34] 227 highaltitude
 five major hot springs, and more than 100 rivers and streams.
Eight mountain passes connect the state to Tibet, Bhutan and
Nepal.
 Sunrise on Kangchenjungha as seen from Pelling in West Sikkim
Khecheopalri Lake, considered holy by Buddhists (both Bhutias
and Lepchas) inWest Sikkim.
 The Kangchengyao Himalayanmountains of northern Sikkim.
 The of the water in these hot springs is 50’c

7. Geology
 The hills of Sikkim mainly consist of gneissose and halfschistose
rocks, producing generally poor and shallow brown clay soils.
 The soil is coarse, with large concentrations of iron oxide; it
ranges from neutral to acidic and is lacking in organic and mineral
nutrients.
 This type of soil tends to support evergreen and deciduous
forests.
 Most of Sikkim is covered by Precambrian rock, which is much
younger in age than the hills.The rock consists of phyllites and
schists, and is highly susceptible to weathering and erosion.
This,combined with the state's heavy rainfall, causes extensive soil
erosion and the loss of soil nutrients through leaching.

8. Minerals map
ofSikkim

10. Seismic map
ofSikkim

11. Climate
 The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, autumn, and a monsoon
season between June and September.
 Sikkim's climate ranges from subtropical in the south to tundra in the north. Most
of the inhabited regions of Sikkim experience a temperate climate,with
temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer.
 The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18 °C(64 °F).
 Sikkim is one of the few states in India to receive regular snowfall.
 The snow line ranges from 6,100 metres (20,000 ft) in the south of the state to
4,900 metres (16,100 ft) in the north.
 The tundratype region in the north is snowbound for four months every year, and
the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) almost every night.
 In northwestern Sikkim, the peaks are frozen yearround;because of the high
altitude, temperatures in the mountains can drop to as low as −40 °C (−40 °F) in
winter.
 During the monsoon, heavy rains increase the risk of landslides. The record for the
longest period of continuous rain in Sikkim is 11 days.
 Fog affects many parts of the state during winter and the monsoons,making
transportation perilous.

12. Types of
Community
 Lepcha
 Limbu
Bhutia

13. Typology of
houses
 IGRA-GHARORTSHE-KHIM:These are the houses made of
timber.Timber is less expensive than dressed stones.The
structure is made of wood and in-filled with Ikra1 or timber panels
 DOW-KHIM orTALEY-GHAR:This is a combination of wood and
dressed stone masonry.These houses belong to the Landlordsor
the monks.
 GARO-GHAR:The houses are constructed in a combination of
Rubble earth structural walls and timber members as structural
members, laid in mud mortar
 CHIRTA KO GHAR:This is a combination of bamboo framework
with wattle walls.They are mostly found in medium andlower
altitudes.

14. IGRA-GHAR
ORTSHE-
KHIM
 These are the houses made of
timber.Timber is less expensive than
dressed stones.The structure is
made of wood and in-filled with Ikra1
or timber panels

15. GARO-GHAR
 The houses are constructed in a
combination of Rubble earth
structural walls and timber
members as structural members,
laid in mud mortar

17. Main temple at
Enchey
Monastery

18. Bhutia house

19. Lepcha Houses

20. Limbu house

21. Thank you
 V.Akhil Akash 1140100454
 Venkat Bathina 1140100455