Hinduism in Sikkim

Hinduism is the dominant religion in the Indian state of Sikkim, followed by around 58% of its population.^[1] Its followed mostly by the Indian Gorkha ethnic people^[2] and Limboo people.^[3] The Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage centre in Sikkim.^[4] In Hindu religious texts, Sikkim is known as Indrakil, the garden of Indra.^[5]

Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple in Legship is a major Hindu temple in Sikkim

Demographics

Religious group	Population % 1991[6]	Population % 2001[7]	Population % 2011[1]
Hinduism	68.36%	60.93%	57.76%
Buddhism	27.15%	28.11%	27.39%
Christianity	3.29%	6.67%	9.91%
Islam	0.94%	1.42%	1.62%
Sikhism	0.09%	0.21%	0.31%
Jainism	0.001%	0.03%	0.05%
Other religions	0.04%	2.38%	2.67%
No religion	–	–	0.3%

Hindu population by district^{[lower-alpha 1]}

District[8]	Percent
East Sikkim	62.74%
South Sikkim	57.6%
Gyalshing district	60.07%
Soreng district	49.77%
North Sikkim	34.05%

References

1. "Sikkim Hindu Muslim Population". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
2. "Sikkim | History, Map, Capital, & Population | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
3. "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". data.gov.in. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
4. "Some of the Religious Places of Sikkim". Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department. Government of Sikkim. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
5. "ADBU Location". www.dbuniversity.ac.in. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
6. "Cesus of India -Religion Composition – 1981". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
7. "Census of India – Religious Composition – 2001". Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
8. "Sikkim Hindu Muslim Population". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 2024-06-05.

1. The two subdivisions of the West Sikkim district- Gyalshing and Soreng were upgraded to districts in 2021