The latitude that passes through the state of Sikkim also passes through which other Indian state on the mainland?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding latitudes and longitudes helps you visualise how different states lie in relation to each other on the map of India. This question uses the idea that a particular parallel of latitude which crosses Sikkim also crosses another state further west. Being able to mentally track such a parallel from east to west is a useful skill for Indian geography questions that compare locations north south or east west.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sikkim is the reference state, located in the eastern Himalayas, with its central latitude close to 27 degrees north.

- The options list several northern and northwestern states: Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

- The question assumes an approximate central latitude for Sikkim and for each state, not exact minute by minute values.

- You only need to know which other state lies approximately along the same latitude as Sikkim.

Concept / Approach:
Sikkim lies roughly between 27 degrees and 28 degrees north latitude in the eastern Himalayas. When you imagine the 27 degrees north parallel running across India from east to west, it will cross parts of the north of the country. Haryana lies mostly north of 28 degrees north, while Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are also generally above that. Rajasthan, however, spans a large north south distance and includes areas around 27 degrees north, particularly in its central belt. Therefore, the best match among the options for sharing a similar latitude with Sikkim is Rajasthan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sikkim is a small Himalayan state located roughly around 27 degrees north latitude. Step 2: Visualise a horizontal line, representing this latitude, stretching across the map of India from east to west. Step 3: Consider the approximate latitudes of the states given. Haryana is situated mostly between about 28 degrees north and higher, so it lies slightly farther north than Sikkim. Step 4: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are Himalayan states that also lie mostly above 28 degrees north, so their central latitudes are north of Sikkim. Step 5: Rajasthan is a large state that extends from about 24 degrees north to about 30 degrees north, which means 27 degrees north passes through its central region. Step 6: Conclude that Rajasthan is the state whose latitude matches that of Sikkim most closely among the given options.

Verification / Alternative Check:
You can strengthen your answer by recalling that the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan lies near 26 to 27 degrees north latitude, while Sikkim's capital Gangtok is close to 27 degrees north. This simple memory trick shows that a latitude through Sikkim also passes through the region of Jaipur in Rajasthan. By contrast, major cities in Haryana such as Chandigarh and in Himachal Pradesh such as Shimla are located closer to 30 degrees north. This comparison supports the choice of Rajasthan as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Haryana lies slightly further north on average, with many parts being closer to 29 or 30 degrees north, so it does not share the same central latitude as Sikkim. Uttarakhand is also mostly north of Sikkim and does not have a major portion exactly along the same latitude line. Himachal Pradesh is even further north in the Himalayas compared to Sikkim. Punjab lies broadly in the northwestern plains and its central latitudes are again higher than Sikkim's central latitude.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse being north of the Tropic of Cancer with having exactly the same latitude. Another mistake is to assume that all Himalayan states lie on the same parallel, which is not true. Relying only on rough location, such as calling everything in the north just "northern", can cause errors in such latitude based questions. To avoid this, try to remember at least a few approximate latitude values for key cities like Gangtok and Jaipur, which help anchor your mental map.

Final Answer:
The latitude that passes through Sikkim also passes through the state of Rajasthan.