Lachung Monastery



Lachung Monastery, Sikkim

Detail of Lachung Monastery (Sikkim) History & Architecture


Lachung Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries of Sikkim. It is situated at the Lachung valley at an elevation of about 3000 m above the ground. The valley gives way further to the beautiful rivers, namely the Lachen and the Teesta. It is through these factors that one can imagine the scenic beauty which surrounds the monastery. The village where the Lachung monastery is about 118 km away from the capital city, Gangtok and thereby is the last stop which is before the Indo-Chinese border. You need to have a special permit letter to visit the Northern side of Sikkim because of various laws of the country.

Lachung Monastery Mythology & History

The word "Lachung" means "a small mountain". The name is derived to be so because of its location on the small mountain. The monastery was established in the year 1880. It was made with a motive to reconstruct and carry forward the religion of Buddhism amongst a wider number of people in Sikkim. The Monastery holds a great importance when it comes to the followers of the Buddhism religion.

You will be amazed to know that the Lachung Monastery has a vivid dispute settlement body named Zumsa for the entire village. This exquisite body is headed by the Pipon.

Lachung Monastery Architecture

The architecture of the Lachung Monastery resembles the architecture of any of the best monasteries present in Nepal and China. The Lachung Monastery has very spacious halls and several floors. The doors and the windows indeed look like a masterpiece in itself. It looks quite colorful and lively from outside as well. It has got many beautiful paintings, murals and antique idols which can mesmerize any visitor. The main attention grabbing feature of the Lachung Monastery is the statue of the Buddha in it. The Monastery has got greenery and colorful flags which add that added attraction to the beautiful monastery. The Monastery is mainly made up of wood as it is supposed to be lighter in weight because of its location being on the top of the mountain.

The Lachung Monastery is a comfortable home to the monks who take care of the Monastery as well.

Festivals at Lachung Monastery

There are several festivals which add on to that every reason because of which one should definitely visit the Lachung Monastery. Lossong: Lossong also known to be a festival which is celebrated to welcome the New Year of the Bhutia people is one of the most famous festivals of the Lachung Monastery. It is celebrated in the month of January and one must definitely not effort to miss the opportunity to be a part of it. You can enjoy the dances, fireworks, tasty food and much more. Saga Dawa: It is one of the most awaited festivals amongst the Buddhists and so is celebrated on a very grand scale in the Lachung Monastery. The Saga Dawa festival also encompasses of a dance festivity in which people wear colorful masks and dance to the traditional tunes.

The Lachung Monastery is indeed been gifted with one of the most precious gifts of God which is natural beauty and a peaceful environment, so don't you think you should visit the place by yourself and get the exact feel of what the article is all about. What are you waiting for? The next time you plan up a vacation, pack up your bags and visit the Lachung Monastery in Sikkim.