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Monasteries form an integral part of Sikkim. There is a plethora of monasteries in Sikkim. Infact there are almost nearly 200 monasteries or Gompas belonging to either the Nyingmapa Sect or the Kargyupa Sect but Sikkim also has monasteries of the Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Bon faith. 

A short drive from Gangtok through the beautiful countryside one finds themselves in Rumtek Dharma Charma Chakra Centre. It was constructed by His Holiness the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in 1960. It is believed that the monastery is an excellent replica of the original Kagyurpa Monastery in Tsurphu, Tibet. the centre houses some of the world's most unique religious scriptures, manuscripts and religious art objects. 

A fifteen minute walk downhill from Dharma Chakra Center takes one to the old Rumtek monastery which was originally built in 1730 by the ninth Karmapa but was destroyed by fire and had to be reconstructed to the present state. His Holiness late Gyalwa Karmapa lived in this monastery till the completion of the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center. 

The annual dances also called the Tse-Chu Chaams are held on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar around June. Dances called the Kagyat are also held here on the 28th & 29th day of the tenth month of the lunar calendar.

Pemayangtse is situated in Pelling,West Sikkim. Originally built by Lhatsun Chenpo in the 17th century it was a small Lhekhang. Later during the rule of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal, Jigme Pawo, Lhatsun Chenpo's third reincarnation extended it and rebuilt the structure. It is perched at a height of 2085 mts and is the second oldest and perhaps the most important monastery in Sikkim.. This monastery belongs to the Nyigma order and all other Nyigma order monasteries in Sikkim are subordinate to it. 

The monastery houses numerous religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are precious because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the monastery there is a wooden sculpture depicting the Maha Gurus Heavenly Palace "Sanghthokpalri". This master piece was completed by the late Dungzin Rimpoche, who took five years to craft it single handed. 

The main festival of the monastery is on the 28th & 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, normally corresponding to the month of February. During these two days religious dances are performed and pilgrims come from all over Sikkim to watch them. Dressed in costumes of rare magnificence, the Lamas represent Mahakala and Guru Drag-dmar. The dance ends on the third day with the unfurling of the `Ghyo- ku' - a gigantic embroidered Buddhist scroll as the devotees bend down in homage.

An important seat of the Nyingma order, the Enchey Monastery meaning the Solitary temple, was originally built with the solace that no other construction would be allowed near it is built on the site blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master known for his flying powers. This 200-year-old Monastery has in its premises images of god, goddesses and other religious objects. The present monastery was built in the shape of a Chinese Pagoda. Following the Nyingma order, it has around 90 monks. The annual ritual is celebrated with Chaam' or religious masked dance on the 18th &19th days of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar around January.

Duddul Chortenat Dotapu Chorten, Gangtok was built under the supervision of the late Most Venerable Trulshi Rinpoche after due prepartions in 1945-46, in accordance with the prophecy made in 1944 by thi Holiness the Dud-Zom Rinpoche. Placed inside the Chorten are a a complete mandala set of Dorji Phurpa (Bajra Kilaya), one set of Ka-gyur holy Books, relics, complete 'zung'(mantras) and other religious objects. This chorten is considered to be one of the most important chorten of Sikkim. Around the chorten 108 Mani-Lhokor (Prayer Wheels) are installed. The Chorten is surrounded by Chortne Lhakhang, Guru Lhakhang, where tow huge statues of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambahava ) are installed, Drupda( Meditation Centre), Nyingma Shede (Institute of Nyingma Higher Studies) and many smaller monuments including the 'kudung' of the latter Most Venerable Trulshi Rinpoche. The Sikkim Research Institute of Tinetloly and other Buddhist Studies (SRITOBS) is located near the Chorten. His Eminence Dodrup Chen Rinpoche of Sikkim has his seat at the Chorten Lhakhang and guides the disciples, including the inmates of the Drubda, in their search for higher knowledge and practice of the tenets of the Nyingma Order.

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