Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Earthquake damages four heritage monasteries in Sikkim

Four monasteries, including premier Pemayangste and Tashiding, were badly damaged in the Sunday earthquake in Sikkim, official sources said on Tuesday.

Pemayangtse monastery, built in 1705 near tourist town of Pelling in West Sikkim district, was extensively damaged under the impact of the quake, the sources said.

So was the case with Tashiding monastery, founded in 1641 and renovated in 1717 in West Sikkim district during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal.

Damage was also caused to Enchey monastery, established in 1909 in Gangtok. Ringhem Monastery above Mangan in North Sikkim developed cracks, the sources said.

All four monasteries belong to the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

The government has intimated other religious institutions to inform about their status after the quake so that a comprehensive measure may be taken to repair all of them, the sources said.

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