Sikkim Monasteries



List of Famous Monasteries Stupas Padoga in Sikkim - Meaning History Facts


Here you can find list of names and information on Buddhist monasteries, stupas, padoga, in Sikkim. These famous monasteries of Sikkim are most visited and most sought after best tourist places. You can also find images of Sikkim monasteries, stupas, padoga.

The Do Drul Chorten Stupa is one amongst the most famous attractions of Gangtok, Sikkim. You would be amazed to know that the Do Drul Chorten Stupa is the biggest Stupa in the entire state of Sikkim. The idea to actually build this Stupa came in the mind of the Late Trulshik Rinpoche one year ago of the construction, that is in the year 1944. The reason being he wanted to bring to the knowledge of the people what Buddhism is and thereby, spread religious harmony.



The Hee Gyathang Monastery is one amongst the most sacred and important monasteries of Sikkim. It is situated in the Northern part of Sikkim and is gifted with the utmost natural and scenic beauty which nature can provide. You would be amazed to know that the Hee Gyathang Monastery is one of the most picturesque places of Sikkim. The background of the mountains, lush green forests and soft breezy winds will make any visitor make every effort to come back for more in his next visit.



The Kewzing Monastery is situated in the beautiful village called Kewzing and thereby, you can easily identify that the monastery is named after this very village. The Kewzing Monastery is situated on an elevation of 1700 meters above the ground. Here you can spot the famous Maenam Hill and the Ranjit River which are the center of attractions of the village that is apart from the obvious, Kewzing Monastery.



The Labrang Monastery is undoubtedly one of the most visited monasteries of Sikkim. Labrang Monastery is in the northern part of the state of Sikkim and thereby is just 2 km away from another famous monastery which is the Phodong. The word "Labrang" literally means "The Lamas Dwelling". The Labrang Monastery actually belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism which makes it different from the other monasteries in Sikkim.



The Lachen Monastery also known as the "Ngodub Choling Monastery" is one amongst the most sacred monasteries of Sikkim. The Lachen Monastery is about 28 km away from the Sub Division Office called the Tsunthang. Initially during the time of Lachen Monastery being built that is in 1858 A.D there were only 8 monks involved in it and rest is right in front of you when you visit the monastery. The Monastery is situated in a very beautiful place and thereby is gifted with the utmost bounties of nature.



The Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery is situated at the place called Lingdum which is in the eastern region of Sikkim and thereby is just 20 km away from the capital city of the state, Gangtok. To give a vague idea about the time the journey requires from Gangtok is 45 minutes. You would be amazed to know that there are about 180 different Monasteries in Sikkim which makes it a state with highest number of monasteries in the entire country of India.



The Pemayangtse Monastery is one amongst the most famous Buddhist monasteries found in Sikkim. It is located just 140 km west from the capital city of Sikkim, Gangtok. It is stated to be one amongst the oldest monasteries of Sikkim as it was founded in the year 1705 by Lama Lhatsun Chempu. It is said that it was originally built as a small Lhakhang but today is standing tall with about three magnificent floors. This monastery follows the orders of the Nyingma Tibet Buddhism.



The Phensang Monastery is situated in the northern part of the state of Sikkim. You can easily reach the place by taking busses and jeeps as it is located on the slope widening from the Kabi to Phodong. If you consider the sites of the Phensang Monastery then you will surely witness it to be one of the most picturesque sites of the entire Sikkim. The Jaw dropping sites of the Phensang Monastery will surely make you realize that you are at a very right place.



Yes, you read it right! The Phodong Monastery is one amongst the six most important monasteries in the entire state of Sikkim. The Phodong monastery is also the most picturesque places as it is situated on an altitude of about 4500 feet above the ground. One of the factors which differentiate the Phodong Monastery from the other monasteries is the fact that it belongs to the Kargyupa sect of Buddhism. And thereby it is considered to be the first in being so in Sikkim.



The Ranka Monastery which is about 20 km away from Gangtok, (the capital city of Sikkim) is one of the most visited places of this very state. If you ask me then, it is the Ranka Monastery in Sikkim which has got one amongst the most attractive scenic beauty. The Ranka Monastery is also known as the Lingdum Monastery and thereby is spread out in a very vast area of the Eastern Sikkim.



The Samdruptse Monastery is one amongst the most sacred monasteries of Sikkim. It is definitely not the oldest and so the good aspects about the monastery includes that it has got all the modern day architecture and plan included in it. And so it is this very fact which differentiates the Samdruptse Monastery from the rest of the monasteries in Sikkim.



The Sangachoeling Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim and so has a lot to offer. It was established in the 17th century and the person who had the vision behind it and made this vision be a reality is Lama Lhatsun Chempo. The word "Sangachoeling" means "Island of the Guhyamantra Teachings".



The Dubdi Monastery is regarded as one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim and thereby is one amongst the most visited monasteries as well. The Dubdi Monastery is also known as the Yuksom Monastery and belongs to the Nyingma sect of Buddhism. The Dubdi Monastery is situated in the west Sikkim and so is blessed with that divine natural and scenic beauty. It was in the year 1701 that the Dubdi Monastery was established at Yuksom, by Chogyar Namgyal.



The Enchey Monastery is one amongst the most famous monasteries of Sikkim. It is situated just 3 km away from the center of the capital city, Gangtok. The Enchey Monastery literally means "Solitary Temple". You would be amazed to know that this very monastery is about 200 years old and was established in the year 1909. The Enchey Monastery is located on the ridge of the hill top, thereby providing a spectacular view of the entire Gangtok city on the North- Eastern side and the Kanchendzonga range on the other side.



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.



The Ralang Monastery is situated about 8000 feet above the ground and it is this elevation which provides remarkable scenic beauty to the visitors. And it is the surroundings of the monastery which captivates many tourists each year. You can imagine the scenery of the colorful monastery surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of Himalayas. It is here that you can spot very famous mountains like the Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Sinichalu and Kabru.



The Sang Monastery is situated in the eastern part of the state of Sikkim. The Sang Monastery is located in a small village which is near the Rumtek town and is popularly known as the Sanga Village. Now as the entire village is named after the monastery's name then you can imagine the importance of the Sang Monastery. The Sang Monastery is not the only monastery in the Sanga village as it is known to be the second oldest monastery of the village.



The Tholung Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries of Sikkim. It is situated in the remotest part of northern Dzongu in Sikkim. The Tholung Monastery is believed to be one amongst the most sacred monasteries of Sikkim. The name Tholung shall be broken into two halves to understand its meaning in the local language that is THO-LUNG. The first half "Tho" means "Area" and the second half "Lung" means "Place or Country".



Tsuk La Khang Monastery is also known to be the "Gompa" and is a famous place in the state of Sikkim. The Tsuk La Khang Monastery at some point of time belonged to the Royal Family of Sikkim. And so when you visit it you shall get that feeling as if you are in the Royal premises. You will be amazed to know that the Tsuk La Khang Monastery is the major place where the Buddhist Monks assemble and worship together. Now by this very fact you can understand how important the place is as the monks choose this place to assemble and worship.



The Norbugang chorten is situated in a very popular place of Sikkim which is known as the Yuksom. Yuksom is mainly popular for three reasons which include the Kartok Lake, the Dubdi Monastery and the last one is of course the Norbugang chorten. To reach Norbugang Monastery you shall have to travel about 33 km from Pelling. The importance of the Norbugang Monastery lies in the fact that the first King of Sikkim was coroneted on the throne at this very monastery and the ceremonies continued later at the place called Chorten.