#14: Sikkim (1642–1975)
Sikkim was a Himalayan kingdom tucked between larger powers, ruled by the Chogyal monarchy for centuries. Its mountains, monasteries, and strategic location made it beautiful and politically vulnerable in equal measure. After years as an Indian protectorate, Sikkim held a 1975 referendum that abolished the monarchy and led to its incorporation into India as a state. The kingdom vanished peacefully on paper, though the politics around that transition remain more complicated than tourist brochures suggest.
