Namchi

Namchi[1] 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.[1]

Geography

Namchi is located at 27.17°N 88.35°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 1,315 metres (4,314 ft).

Namchi is situated at an altitude of 1,675 m (5500 feet) above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 78 kilometres (48 mi) from the state capital Gangtok and 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the town of Siliguri,[1] 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.[3][4][5]

Demographics

As of the 2011 Census of India,[6] Namchi has a population of 12194. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Namchi has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 73%. In Namchi, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Most of the people of Namchi are Hindus and Buddhists. Languages spoken are Nepali.

Education

Namchi has more than half a dozen private schools with quality education (Seven Hills School, Mt. Carmel School, Namchi Public School, Tendong Educational Institute, New Light Academy, Bethany School etc.[7]) and government higher secondary schools for boys and girls and prominent computer institutes e.g. Informatics Computer Institute (under Government of Sikkim Registered) Multimedia Computer Institute an authorized study center of Manipal Group etc. Just few kilometers away from the town is a reputed Government College for Arts, Education, Science, Commerce. People give a lot of importance and focus on education with a reverence. 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.[citation needed]