Ruled by the royal family of Sikkim all the way till 1975 when the President of India finally ended the monarchy, Sikkim was added to the republic of India on May 16 as its 22nd state. Sikkim is surrounded by West Bengal to its south, Nepal to the north, and Bhutan and Tibet to the east and west respectively. Sikkim is also home to the world’s third-highest peak, the Khanchendzonga, along with a variety of food, differences in climate, and a lot of exciting things to do, Sikkim also offers cultural diversity. The Buddhist monasteries of Sikkim take you through a spiritual experience like none other. From the prayer bells to hundreds of monks chanting in synchrony, Sikkim is home to 75 monasteries. While a lot of them date all the way back to the 18th century, these six monasteries are certainly worth a visit.

1. Lachung Monastery

The Lachung Monastery in north Sikkim is the last monastery on the highway that leads to the Indo-Chinese border. It was established in 1880 and is famous for customary dance performances hosted at the monastery each year. Lachung stands for Small Mountain and the monastery is located near the LachunRiver, a tributary of the Teesta.

Lachung Monastery

2. Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery is by far the most popular monastery in Sikkim. It is located around 25 km from Sikkim’s capital Gangtok and was built in the 1960s. It is the seat of the Karma Kagyu ancestry. The 12th Karmapa fled from Tibet and touched Sikkim. From then on, the Rumtek monastery is identified as the Dharmachakra Centre.

Rumtek Monastery

3. Phodang Monastery

It is known that the 9th Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu ancestry arrived in Sikkim on being invited by the monarch of Sikkim. It was in the 1960s that three monasteries were constructed in Sikkim under his guidance — Rumtek, Phodong and Ralang monasteries. It is home-based to age-old artifacts, murals, and relics.

Phodang Monastery

4. Enchey Monastery

The Enchey Monastery is one of the latest monasteries of Sikkim, built in the early 20th century. It belongs to the Nyingmagroup of Buddhism. Enchey is considered to be one of the most influential monasteries in Sikkim. It is believed that the presiding deities of the monastery grant wishes to devotees who come here.

Enchey Monastery

5. Tashiding Monastery

The Tashiding Monastery too belongs to the Nyingma group. It was founded in 1616 and is known for the several chortens (Buddhist shrines) built within the complex of the monastery. The monastery was constructed by NgadakSempaChempoPhunshokRigzing who belonged to this group of Tibetan Buddism. This monastery is important as Ngadak was one of the three holy men who held the highest ceremony of the first King of Sikkim.

Tashiding Monastery

6. Ralang Monastery

The Ralang Monastery belongs to the Kagyu group of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the most creative monasteries in Sikkim. Not only is the monastery home to paintings and tangkas that are over a couple of centuries-old, but it is also home to several occasions where the Mahakala Dance is performed. People visit the Ralang Monastery in large numbers in September when the mount Kanchenjunga is worshipped.

Ralang Monastery

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