One of the 29 states of India, Sikkim is located between Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Geographically, the boundaries of the state are formed by mountain chains.
From 1642 to 1975 there existed a monarchy headed by Choogyal on the territory of Sikkim. When in 1947 the Indian principalities were given a choice to join the new states of Pakistan or India, or to obtain the status of a protectorate of India, or to refuse these two options, Sikkim chose the Indian protectorate. Later on, it became a kingdom associated with the Indian Union. In 1975, the Prime Minister of the principality appealed to the Indian Parliament with the initiative to change the status of the associated principality to the status of the state within India. This initiative was supported, and Sikim joined Indian republic.
The titular group of Sikkim (Nepalese) differs from the predominant Hindi-speaking population by language; it accounts for more than 60% of the regional population. Most of them are adherents of Hinduism. Other ethnic groups are the tribes of Lepcha and Bhotya, who profess Buddhism predominantly. The share of Buddhists in the population of Sikkim is the highest for the Indian states. From the point of view of interethnic relations, the situation in the province is quite stable.