Rorathang is a town situated in the bank of
Rangpo River
River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and ...
on
National Highway-717A, in
Pakyong District
Pakyong district is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim, administered from Pakyong. The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdi ...
of
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligu ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
.
Transport
Roadways
Rorathang lies on
National Highway-717A connecting
Bagrakote
Bagrakote (also known as Bagrakote/Bagrakot Tea Garden) is a village in the Mal CD block in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. The main reason behind Bagrakote being called as a Tea Garden is ...
to
Gangtok
Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's populat ...
via
Labha-
Algarah
Algarah (also known as Algarah Bazar) is a town in Lava CD block in the Kalimpong subdivision of the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India. The town lies on National Highway-717A connecting Bagrakote to Gangtok.
Geography
Location
Alg ...
.
National Highway-717A is the part of
Bharatmala Pariyojana
The Bharatmala Pariyojna ( 'India garland project') is an ecosystem of road development which includes development of tunnels, bridges, elevated corridors, flyovers, overpass, interchanges, bypasses, ring roads etc. to provide shortest, jam f ...
of
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is a ministry of the Government of India, that is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, transport research and in als ...
,
Government of India
The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...
.
In Rorathang,
NH-717A is joined by the following roads:
* Rangpo-Kumrek-Rorathang Road,
* Pakyong-Tareythang-Rorathang Road,
* Rongli-Mulukay-Rorathang Road and
* Pakyong-Taza-Rorathang road.
The town is well connected to many parts of Sikkim and its neighbouring state
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the four ...
. Taxi and jeep services access
Gangtok
Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's populat ...
,
Pakyong
Pakyong is the district headquarters of Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre fo ...
,
Rhenock
Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude ...
,
Singtam
Singtam is a town which lies mostly in Gangtok District and partly in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim about from the state capital Gangtok. The town lies on the banking of the rivers Teesta and Ranikhola, which join together just ...
,
Rangpo
Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Highway ...
,
Rongli
Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...
,
Ranipool
Ranipool is a small suburban town located in the bank of river Ranikhola at the junction of National Highway 10 and National Highway 717A in Gangtok District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is 12 km before from Gangtok main town. It h ...
and
Siliguri
Siliguri, ) is a major tier-II city in West Bengal. It forms twin cities, "Twin Cities" with the neighboring district capital of Jalpaiguri. The city spans areas of the Darjeeling district, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in the Indian sta ...
.
Buses:
Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) buses are available from Rorathang. The bus connecting
Rongli
Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...
to
Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri)
The Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus is one of the most important bus terminal in North Bengal. It is located on Hill Cart Road, Siliguri, Darjeeling, adjacent to the Siliguri Junction railway station, about New Jalpaiguri Railway ...
runs via Rorathang. Also SNT bus connecting
Rhenock
Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude ...
to
Gangtok
Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's populat ...
and Rolep-
Rongli
Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...
to
Gangtok
Gangtok is a city, municipality, the capital and the largest populated place of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the headquarters of the Gangtok District. Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's populat ...
via
Pakyong
Pakyong is the district headquarters of Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre fo ...
,
Rangpo
Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Highway ...
,
Singtam
Singtam is a town which lies mostly in Gangtok District and partly in Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim about from the state capital Gangtok. The town lies on the banking of the rivers Teesta and Ranikhola, which join together just ...
etc are available from the town.
Apart from them many buses belonging to private companies/industries/factories etc runs from Rorathang.
Airways
The nearest airport is
Pakyong Airport
Pakyong Airport is a seasonal domestic airport serving Pakyong, Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, India.
Spread over , the airport is located at Pakyong about 31 km (22 mi) south of Gangtok. At 4,646 ft, Pakyong Airport is one of ...
11 kilometres away and
Bagdogra International Airport
Bagdogra Airport is a customs airport located in the western part of Siliguri, in Bagdogra in northern West Bengal, India.
It is operated as a civil enclave at AFS Bagdogra of the Indian Air Force. It is the gateway airport to the hill statio ...
is 98 kilometres away from the town.
Railways
The nearest railway stations are:
*
Sevoke Junction 65 kilometres.
*
Siliguri Junction
Siliguri Junction (station code:- SGUJ) is one of the major and second largest railway station that serve the city of Siliguri located in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Station has two types of gauges visible ...
86 kilometres.
*
New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station (station code NJP) established in 1960, is an A1 category broad gauge and narrow-gauge railway station under Katihar railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone. It is the largest as well as th ...
92 kilometres.
*
Rangpo Railway Station
Rangpo railway station is an under-construction railway station lying on Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line in Pakyong District of Sikkim. Its code is RNGPO. It will serve Rangpo city, and three districts of Sikkim, which are Pakyong District, Gangtok ...
is an under construction station 11 kilometres away from the town.
Geography
Located at in
Pakyong district
Pakyong district is a district in the Indian state of Sikkim, administered from Pakyong. The district was formed in 2021 from three former subdivisions of the East Sikkim district, viz., Pakyong Subdivision, Rangpo Subdivision and Rongli Subdi ...
, Topography is hilly and flat land in river belts it lies in the shiwalik range of himalayas which is a good agricultural area with abundance of water as many rivers flows through the town and nearby villages. The confluence of
River Rangpo
River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and Ra ...
with its tributaries River Pachey and River Reshi is at Rorathang. Rorathang lies on the border of Sikkim-West Bengal, One can reach Furun Gaon, Simanadara Village, Kashone village etc of west Bengal's
Kalimpong District
Kalimpong district is a district in the state of West Bengal, India. Originally known as Dalingkot tehsil, the region was alternatively under the control of Sikkim and Bhutan. In 1865, it was annexed from Bhutan by British India under the Treat ...
from Rorathang after crossing river reshi, River rangpo also demarcates the Sikkim-West Bengal Border after meeting with river reshi.
The villages of Sikkim surrounding the town are Taza, Tareythang, Pacheykhani, Bering, Kumrek, Tarpin, Amba, Mulukay, Kamerey, Bhasmey, Pithang, Titribotey, Padamchey, Bengthang, Kaizaley, Shalghari, etc.
The town is situated 12 kilometres away from
Rangpo
Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Highway ...
, 9 kilometres away from
Rhenock
Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude ...
, 14 kilometres away from
Rongli
Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...
, and 19 kilometres away from the Subdivision Headquarter
Pakyong
Pakyong is the district headquarters of Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre fo ...
.
Economy
Rorathang and nearby areas have many companies since
Rorathang is one of the important Industrial hub of Sikkim, hosting many companies like Cipla Pharmaceuticals, Golden Cross Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Zuventus Healthcare, Zydus Healthcare, Zydus Pharmaceuticals, Swiss Garnier Pharmaceuticals, Kingfisher Beer Factory, Indichem Pharmaceuticals, Alkem Laboratories, Gati Hydro Electric Power Project, Savi Healthcare, Northeast Pharma Packaging Company, Ideal Cures Private Limited, National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, and Malu Electrodes Private Limited.
Due to the establishment of many companies in the town and nearby areas, huge employment opportunities got generated which ultimately led to the growth of the infrastructure because of unending demands of accommodation for workers, employees, officers etc. Also the demand of local vegetables, dairy products, non veg items increased heavily. As a result the economy got boosted.
The crops like
Large Cardamom,
Broom Plant (Kuccho) and
Ginger
Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of ...
are traded in the town at their respective seasons.
State Bank of Sikkim
State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) is a state owned banking institution headquartered at Gangtok, Sikkim, India. The Bank operates within the jurisdiction of the State of Sikkim and in addition to banking services, State Bank of Sikkim handles treasury ...
, Rorathang Branch is functioning since many years in the town. Consumer Service Points of State Bank of India, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and Central Bank of India are also available in the town.
Rorathang lies under
Pakyong Subdivision of
East Sikkim
Gangtok District, formerly the East Sikkim district, is an administrative district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was renamed in 2021 as a result of administrative reorganisation of the state, which also saw three subdivisions of the East Si ...
. The town has one Police Station.
Weekly market (Haat Bazar) is organised on every Thursday.
History
As per elderly citizens of Sikkim, Rorathang was one of the large and very old market that was nearly 1-2 kilometres away from the present day town towards Pithang at the bank of river Rangpo. But unfortunately in the 1968 flash floods of Sikkim, the entire town got washed away by
River Rangpo
River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and Ra ...
and its tributaries. After massive destruction, slowly again new settlement started in the present day Rorathang, as it was bit high in altitude than the old town and therefore less vulnerable to flash floods. Thereafter the population increased rapidly due to establishment of companies/factories/industries etc.
Demographics
As of the
2011 Census of India,
Rorathang has population of 4861 of which 2592 are males while 2269 are females as per Population Census 2011.
In Rorathang population of children with age 0-6 makes up 10.42% of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Rorathang is 876. Child Sex Ratio for the Rorathang as per census is 1021, higher than Sikkim average of 957.
Literacy rate of Rorathang is 76.48%. In Rorathang Male literacy stands at 81.70% while female literacy rate was 70.43%.
Climate
It has a humid subtropical type of climate ranging from 2 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer. It is normally dry in winter but rainfall occurs all year round. Monsoon season starts during the second week of June till September which is characterised by heavy rainfall, landslides and dense fog can disrupt travel during this days. Average rainfall in a year ranges from 2800mm- 3000mm. Best time to visit here is during spring and autumn season when plenty of sunshine is available making it a pleasurable day but afternoon thunderstorms are common during afternoon hours in pre monsoon (spring) and post-monsoon (autumn) season with strong surface winds, hailstorms and heavy rainfall it is always advisable to look at weather forecast before planning such trips.
Education institutes
Government Senior Secondary School Rorathang is the main Senior Secondary School in the area.
Apart from it, there are some other private and Government schools in the region.
For higher studies, the nearest institutions are
Government Degree College
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
, Rungdung, Rhenock and
Pakim Palantine College, New Market, Pakyong.
Places of interest
* Rorathang Bridge along
Rangpo River
River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and ...
.
* Confluence point (Kanan valley resort, Sikkim - West Bengal Border) of river Reshi and River Rangpo is an excellent picnic spot, which is 1 km from Rorathang market.
* Gulmohar Picnic Spot, Kumrek which is 6 km from Rorathang market.
* Rorathang Shivalaya Mandir.
* Kali Khola Waterfalls which is 7.5 kilometres away from Rorathang market.
*Gati Hydro Electric Power House, Dam Site is 10 kilometres away from the town.
* Banday Pokhrel view point which is 12 kilometres from Rorathang market.
See also
*
Pakyong
Pakyong is the district headquarters of Pakyong District in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It holds many Government Offices. Pakyong Airport is the only airport of Sikkim. The "National Research Centre fo ...
*
Rangpo
Rangpo is a Municipal town in Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal's Kalimpong district and is situated along the Teesta river and Rangpo River. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on National Highway ...
*
Rangpo River
River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and ...
*
Rongli
Rongli or Rangli is a town in the Pakyong District of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong District. ...
*
Rhenock
Rhenock is a town in the Pakyong District in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on the way to Jelepla Pass at an altitude ...
References
{{Pakyong district
Cities and towns in Pakyong district