Monasteries in Sikkim

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There are possibly more than 200 Buddhist monasteries in this small state Sikkim, belonging to the Nyingmapa Sect or Kargyupa sect, and other monasteries belong to Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Bon Religions.

List of Monasteries

In Sikkim there are three kinds of Monasteries called Tak-phu, Gumpa and Mani Lakhangs.

Tak-phu (Thayku)

Means cave in Bhutia language, there are many caves around Sikkim but some of these caves are considered holy places in Sikkim where monks used to meditate in early times. Legend has it that in old days even the Guru Rimpoche stayed in these caves and meditated. In Sikkim there are mainly four caves, which are considered most important and holiest.

De chhen phu: This cave is located in West Sikkim, The place is only accessible in October and November, when the snow melts and the route is clear. This cave is known as “Cave of Happiness” in English.
Pe Phu: The cave is located between Maenam and Tendong hilltops in South Sikkim, about 5 kilometers from Ravangla.
Kah do Sang phu: This cave is five minutes away from Jorthang and Gyalshing.
Lha ri nying phu: This cave is 3 days trek from Tashiding, West Sikkim. This cave is very difficult to reach, and it is the holiest of all. The meaning of the cave is “Old Cave on God’s hill”.

Gompa:

Buddhist Monasteries are known as Gompas in Bhutia and Tibetan language. Gompas are Buddhist temples where monks (Lamas) meditate, study and practice Buddhism. These are holy places and are located around the Sikkim. The design of a Gompa can be different from another Gompa of anther sect, but they all follow the basic design rule, such as central pray hall with a Buddha statue, benches for monks to meditate and pray.

Mani Lakhangs:

These are small monastery, small in size, located near villages around the Sikkim, there are only few monks in the monastery, headed by the head monk. These monasteries are beneficial to local villages, as monastery is mostly used to attend the religious needs of villages.

Monasteries

Here are list of monasteries located in Sikkim, please let us know if we have missed any monasteries.

Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre

Rumtek monastery (Dharma Chakra Centre) is located at 24 kilometers away from Gangtok,East Sikkim. The Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Kagyu lineage outside Tibet. The main monastery is surrounded by the monks dormitory.

Pemayangtse Monastery :

Pemayangtse or Pemayantse Monastery It was built around the 17th century by Latseen Chembo (one of the three lamas who consecrated the king), Situated at a height of 6,841ft, West Sikkim and at a distance of approx 100 km from Gangtok is one of the oldest monasteries in the Sikkim.

Enchey Monastery

Enchey Monastery (the Solitary temple) is 2 km up from the main Gangtok town. Lama Durptob Karpo is said to have flown in here from Meanam Hill more than 200 years ago and he built a small hermitage at the spot of Enchey monastery.

Do Drul Chorten

Do Drul Chorten stupa at Dotapu Chorten, Deorali, Gangtok was built by Trullshi Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945. Inside this stupa, a complete set of Dorjee Phurba, Kangyur relics (Holy Books) and other religious objects.

Phensong Monastery

This monastery in North Sikkim was built during the time of Jigme Pawo. Belonging to the Nyingmapa order, this monastery, first established in 1840, stands testimony to the dedication of its monks who reconstructed the monastery within a year after it was burnt down in 1947.

Phodong Monastery

This monastery was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century in Phodong in North Sikkim. It belongs to the Kagyupa Sect and it is said to be the first Kagyupa monastery to be set up in Sikkim.

Labrang Monastery

Labrang Monastery is situated in North Sikkim, built 2 kms further up hill from Phodong Monastery. This is a much older structure. It is also unique in the sense that unlike most monasteries which were razed by fires sometime or the other, this one still retains the original structure. A pleasure for the eyes given its unique architecture, it is also one of the premier monasteries of Sikkim.

Sa-Ngor-Chotshog Centre

Located on a beautiful hill top it is a Tibetan refugee monastic institution established in 1961 by his Eminence Luding Khen Rimpoche, Head of Ngorpa, sub-sect of the Sakya Order, with the blessing of H.H. Sakya Trizin and H.H. the Dalai Lama. This is the only monastery of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism in Sikkim.

Tashiding Monastery

This important monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa order was built on top of a hill that looms up between the Rathong river and the Rangit river, where a rainbow emanating from Mount Khangchendzonga came to an end. At first only a small Lhakhang

Lingdum Monastery

This monastery is situated on the Ranka road at Lingdum, about 14 kilometers drive from Gangtok. The monastery is a fine example of Tibetan monastic architecture.

Tsuk La Khang Monastery

The monastery is located inside the premises of Royal palace in Gangtok, near the Ridge garden of Gangtok. The monastery is the principal place for the worship in Sikkim. The 2 storied monastery holds numerous Buddhist scriptures and artifacts. Once every year the Phang Lhabsol and Losoong Festivals are celebrated in front of the monastery. This is where all the Chogyals (kings) of Sikkim had been coroneted and royal weddings were celebrated.

Sanga Choeling Monastery

Sanga Choeling means the island of esoteric teaching. 45 minutes walk from Pelling will take you to this second oldest monastery of Sikkim. A 4 km trail rises from the playing fields just above Pelling to reach the small monastery of Sanga Choeling is one of the oldest gompas in Sikkim.

Dubdi Monastery

Dubdi Monastery built in 1701. This monastery is one of the oldest monastery in Sikkim, is located at the top of a hilltop, about an hour walk from Yuksom.

Kewzing Monastery

Chogyal Thutob Namgyal built number of monasteries in Sikkim during his regime, this monastery is one of them, located near Kewzing in South Sikkim.

Simik Monastery

It was built during the reign of Chogyal Tsudphud Namgyal, monastery is situated in near Singtam town.

Khecheopalri Monastery

This monastery is situated above the Khecheopalri lake near Yuksom.

Melli Monastery

This monastery is situated near Yuksom. Melli basically means -lepcha village.

Sinon Monastery

About 10 Kilometers from from Tashiding, the monastery is located on a hill top. Sinon means - suppressor of intense fear.

Dalling Monastery

Built in 1840, This monastery is situated near Kewzing in South Sikkim, Dalling means - thunderbolt.

Yangyang Monastery

Monastery is situated in Yangang, about 10 Kilometers from Rabangla, South Sikkim. Yangyang literarly means 'the ridge of fortune'. This monastery was built in 1840.

Namchi Monastery

This monastery is located in Namchi, the district headquarters of south district and was constructed during the reign of Chogyal Gurmed Namgyal.

Chawayng Ani Monastery

This monastery is located near Phensang which is on the highway between Gangtok and Mangan. It was built during the reign of Chogyal Tshudphud Namgyal .

Taktse Ogyen Choekhorling Monastery

The area around the monastery was initially surrounding by huts used for meditation known as Chamkhai. Later on the Chogyal of Sikkim gifted it to the nuns who used to meditate there and it was converted into a monastery. One of the few monasteries in Sikkim exclusively for nuns. It is around 5-6 kms north of Gangtok.

Rhenock Monastery

About 60 km from Gangtok, this monastery is located near Rhenock, East Sikkim.

Karthok Monastery

32 Kimometers from Gangtok, monastery is located in Pakyong, East Sikkim. The Monastery is 6th oldest in Sikkim, built during the Chogyal Thutob Namgyal. The original monastery was distroyed, the current one is newly built, however the original designs of the monastery are preserved.

Bermoik Monastery

This monastery follows the Nyingma sect of Buddhism.

Lachen Monastery

Nyingma sect Buddhism monastery was built in 1806 and located in North Sikkim.

Lachung Monastery

This monastery in North Sikkim follows the Nyingma sect of Buddhism. lachung Monastery was built in 1880.

Sang Monastery

Monastery is located in a small village called Sang near Rumtek. Sang monastery was built in 1912.

Ralang Monastery

Situated 6 kilometers away from Ravangla South Sikkim, It was built after the return of fourth Chogyal from him pilgrim to Tibet. Around 1975 monastery was reconstructed by the goverment, the monastery holds around 100 monks. The main ceremony falls on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, when the 'chaams' are performed.

Gnathang Monastery

Situated near China border, The only Gelugpa Monastery in Sikkim.

Shurishing Yungdrung Dungdrakling

Situated in South Sikkim, This is the only Monastery in Sikkim that follows the Bon faith.

Read 1577 times Last modified on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 00:43

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