ABOUT THE
Attraction
Very close to Pelling town in Sikkim, the Pemayangtse monastery was built in 1705 and belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Considered to be one of the oldest and most important monasteries in the state, it was founded by Gyalwa Lhatsum Chempo, one of the three lamas who performed the Consecration Ceremony of the first Chogyal (king) Phuntsog Namgyal at Yuksom in 1642. This three storeyed building houses several statues of saints and rinpoches. The unique feature of the monastery is the intricately carved structure located on the top floor displaying a heavenly sphere known as zangdokpalri. It is believed that zangdokpalri is a reproduction in the concrete form that appeared in the vision of Gyalwa Lhatsum Chempo. The monastery houses a good collection of wall paintings, sculptures, precious images, thangkas, and a huge gold-plated statue of Guru Padmasambhava.
The monastery was built for ta-tshang monks, meaning "monks of pure Tibetan lineage", celibate and without any physical abnormality. This practice is still retained. Pemayangtse means "Perfect Sublime Lotus" and is said to represent one of the four plexus of the human body.
Pemayangtse currently has more than 100 monks and is a parent monastery for all monasteries following the Mindroling lineage in Sikkim.
Pemayangtse monastery is located around 2 km away from pelling and 110 km away from the state capital
Gangtok.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Do-Drul Chorten Stupa
This chorten is regarded as one of the most important chortens of Sikkim. The stupa is marked by a golden top dome which is visible from various places in Gangtok.
Dubdi Monastery
Dubdi offers mesmerising scenic views. A short trek leads to the monastery and a panoramic view of the snow-capped Himalayas.
Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek monastery is also known as the Dharma Chakra Center and serves as the seat of His Holiness Gyawla Karmapa the XVI, the head of the Karma Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism.