Entire Himalayan range from Himachal Pradesh to Sikkim and Assam has beautiful Monasteries. Those in Sikkim have a special attraction and importance.
One needs at least fifteen days time to visit all of them as the distance from Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh is anything around 2500 km and these monasteries are on a hilly terrain.
Here, I am talking about the monasteries in Sikkim, a State bordering Tibet on Himalyan range, at a height of more than 10000 feet from the sea level.
Sikkim has number of Monasteries and other places of Buddhist interest which include Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center and old Rumtek monastery,Dodrul Chorten and Enchey Monastery in Gangtok,Phodong Monastery, Labrang Monastery and Tumlong in North Sikkim, Ralong monastery and the local village. Ralong is the oldest monastery of Karma Kagyu sect and was built during the reign of the fourth Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal. The new monastery is a replica of the Rumtek monastery. There are around 120 monks in this monastery. also to a Lepcha village Sinon (1990 m.) that has a monastery with the same name. Sinon means, ‘the suppressor of intense fear’, and was built in 1716 by Gyalwa Ngadak Semchenpo during the reign of Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal.Yuksam literally means Three Lamas. It was here Lhatsun Chempo met two other lamas on his journey down from Tibet to Sikkim. Later in 1641, it was here at Yuksam the first King of Sikkim, Phuntsog Namgyal, was crowned by these lamas, on the initiation of Lhatsun Chempo and given the Title of Chogyal, the religious king.
After lunch trek to Dubdi monastery, ‘the hermits cell’, which is situated on the top of a lofty hill one thousand feet above Yuksam. The fir-clad mountains behind provide a dramatic background. Founded by Lhatsun Chempo in 1701, it is the oldest monastery in Sikkim. After visiting the monastery we descend to Yuksam stopping at Norbugang, the historical place, where the first king of Sikkim was crowned in 1642 .Visit the monasteries of Pemayangtse and Sangacholing.And another trail ascending through cardamom fields onto Yangang village, inhabited by Lepchas, Bhutias, Bahuns and Chettris. Yangang has a small market with around twenty shops or a flat trail to Ramphu River where After crossing the river the trail ascends all the way to Rabangla through cardamom fields and Lepcha villages. On a clear day you can get good view of Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Narsing, Siniolchu, Kabru and Rathong. It is fast emerging as a preferred tourist destination for foreign Buddhists. To promote Buddhist tourism Sikkim Govt. has sanctioned budgetary support for the refurbishment and development of these monastery sites. It also has a separate department to overlook management of these monasteries and their needs.
Not only this, the state govt. has even made it easier for them to get an inner line permit to visit hinterlands of the Sikkim. Sikkim is promoting state as part of Buddhism tourist circuit in region.
Sikkim Served Fresh Daily
