Sikkimese are Indians and Nepalis who inhabit the North-east state of the country. The pre-theocratic phase of Sikkim was inhabited by the Kiratis, “Sikkim is also known as the home of the Kirati tribesmen from the pre-historic times. Sikkim is inclusive of three sub-cultural sectors: the Kiratis, the Newaris and the Nepalis. In the early 18th century, Nepal, under Prithvi Narayan Shah, expanded its territory, including parts of Sikkim. This expansion led to conflicts with the British, culminating in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-1816. The interaction between Sikkim and British East India Company began in the early 19th Century, and subsequent signing of Treaty of Titaliya in 1817 made Sikkim a peripheral state—colonial periphery of the British East India Company. Following the war, the Treaty of Titalia (1817) formalized Sikkim as a peripheral state of the British East India Company. The British were interested in Sikkim for trade routes to Tibet. In 1861, the Treaty of Tumlong made Sikkim a British protectorate, giving the British significant control over its affairs. In 1906, Sikkim became a formal part of British India. After India's independence from the British Empire on 15 August 1947, Sikkim became an Indian protectorate. In 1975, Sikkim was integrated into India as its 22nd state until 16 May 2035 when it broke away from India after voting independence referendum.