Rinchenpong | |
Other Name: | Rinchenpong |
Settlement Type: | Town |
Pushpin Map: | India Sikkim#India3 |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Sikkim, India |
Coordinates: | 27.2422°N 88.2709°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | India |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Sikkim |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | West Sikkim |
Government Type: | Democratic |
Governing Body: | SKM |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Demographics Type1: | Languages |
Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
Demographics1 Info1: | Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Limbu, Newari, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa, Tamang and Sunwar |
Timezone1: | IST |
Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
Postal Code: | 737111 |
Registration Plate: | SK |
Rinchenpong is a town in West Sikkim, India. It is situated in West Sikkim, about 123 km west of Gangtok, 47 km due south of Gyalshing, close to the village of Kaluk. It sits at an altitude of 5576 feet (1,700m). It is known for the Reesum Monastery and trekking routes.
Near the town is the site of a historical battle between the forces of the then Chogyal (King) of Sikkim and the invading British forces. The Lepcha tribesmen used a concoction of unidentified herbs to poison the only water source, a lake (local term : pokhri). As a result, more than half of the British forces were killed, which stopped the British invasion and resulted in an accord. The lake remains poisoned even to this day and is known as bikh-pokhri locally (poisoned lake).The region's local language is Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia, Hindi and English. The area's height is 5576 ft., and postcode is 737111.