Pakyong district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is one of the newer districts created through the reorganisation of Sikkim's administrative divisions, with its headquarters at the town of Pakyong. The district lies in the eastern part of the state and is known for hosting Sikkim's first operational airport.
| Name | Pakyong district |
|---|---|
| State | Sikkim |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Pakyong |
| Region | Eastern Sikkim |
| Type | Revenue district |
Until 2021, Sikkim was divided into four districts: North, South, East and West. As part of an administrative reorganisation, the state government carved out two additional districts, Pakyong and Soreng, bringing the total number of districts in Sikkim to six. Pakyong district was formed primarily from areas previously part of the erstwhile East Sikkim district.
The district lies in the lower and middle hills of eastern Sikkim, characterised by terraced agricultural slopes, forested ridges and river valleys. It shares boundaries with other Sikkimese districts as well as with the Indian state of West Bengal to the south. The terrain ranges from sub-tropical foothills to temperate uplands, supporting cultivation of cardamom, ginger, oranges and a variety of vegetables.
The district is headed by a District Collector and is further divided into subdivisions and revenue blocks for administrative purposes. Pakyong town serves as the administrative and commercial centre. The district falls within the jurisdiction of the Sikkim High Court and elects representatives to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
Pakyong district is home to Pakyong Airport, the first greenfield airport in Sikkim, which was inaugurated in 2018. The airport provides scheduled commercial connectivity to the state, supplementing road access via National Highway connections to Gangtok and to Siliguri in West Bengal.
The economy of the district is largely agrarian, with horticulture, floriculture and organic farming playing significant roles in line with Sikkim's status as an organic state. Tourism, small-scale industry and government services also contribute to local employment. The population includes communities of Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali-speaking groups, reflecting the broader social fabric of Sikkim.
The creation of Pakyong as a separate district was intended to bring administration closer to citizens in the eastern hill belt and to support the development of areas around the new airport. The district is strategically important due to its proximity to international borders and its role as an aviation gateway to Sikkim.