Sikkim’s Yakten Village Declared India’s First Digital Nomad Village Under ‘Nomad Sikkim’ Initiative.
National
In mid-July 2025, the tiny Himalayan hamlet of Yakten in Sikkim’s Pakyong district was formally named India’s first Digital Nomad Village under the state government’s Nomad Sikkim initiative. With reliable high-speed internet, uninterrupted power backup, and modern homestays, Yakten now welcomes professionals seeking work-life balance amid nature.
- The initiative is a collaboration between the Pakyong District Administration and the NGO Sarvahitey, aligning with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s vision of “One Family, One Entrepreneur”. The official launch took place on July 14–15, 2025, attended by dignitaries including MLA Pamin Lepcha and the district collector Rohan Ramesh, paving the way for rural digital empowerment.
- Yakten has been transformed through essential infrastructure upgrades: dual broadband internet lines (with backup through inverters), village-wide Wi‑Fi coverage, and reliable electricity provision. These enhancements address the challenges of frequent optical fiber cuts due to landslides and heavy rainfall in mountainous terrain. Local homestays now support work-friendly amenities and transport tie‑ups have been arranged for seamless connectivity from nearby towns and Pakyong Airport.
Main Point :- (i) Designed to host remote professionals year-round, Yakten now features eight digital-nomad-ready homestays offering dedicated workspaces, ergonomic desks, hot water, and community meals. Digital nomads from cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai, and even abroad, have already begun to stay here, drawn by affordability, peaceful surroundings, and proximity to nature zones such as Jhandi Dara viewpoint, Kanchenjunga vistas, and rich orchid meadows.
(ii) This initiative aims not only to provide scenic workspaces but also to stabilize rural incomes by extending homestay earnings beyond peak tourist seasons. According to the District Collector, the plan could raise local incomes up to fivefold, reduce economic seasonality, and foster sustainable rural employment while preserving cultural and ecological integrity.
(iii) Yakten’s emergence marks a strategic shift in India’s approach to rural tourism and work culture. With involvement from the Sikkim Tourism Department, Sarvahitey, and support from schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission for basic amenities, the model is poised for replication across other Himalayan and rural regions, setting a template for digital-age, eco-conscious entrepreneurship.
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