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Phensang Monastery |
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 This monastery in North Sikkim was built in 1721 during the time of Jigme Pawo. In 1947 it was completely gutted by a devastating fire. However it was rebuilt in 1948 thangs largely to the devotion of the Lamas and the unstinted spot of the laity. There are around 300 monks under the monastery and the main annual function in the monastery is on the 28th & 29th days of the tenth month of the Tibetan Calender which normally corresponds to the month of December.
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Phodang Monastery |
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 This monastery is in North Sikkim 28 kms. from Gangtok. It was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The original monastery has been rebuilt and is today one of the most beautiful monasteries in Sikkim. It possesses the old mural paintings and has around 260 monks. Like the Ralong and Rumtek monastery the main annual Puja is performed on the 28th & 29th days of the tenth month of the Tibetan Calender when the religious dances are performed.
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Labrang Monastery |
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About half a kilometer uphill from Phodang Monastery is this monastery which was built about one hundred years later but belongs to the Nyingmapa sect. Just below the road between the Phodang and Labrang Monastery are the ruins of Tumlong,the third capital of Sikkim.
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Tashiding Monastery |
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About 40 Kms. from Gyalshing(West Sikkim), via Legship is this important monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa order. It was built on the top of a hill that looms up between the Rathong river and the Rangit river, where a rainbow emanating from Mount Khangchendzonga came to an end. At first only a small Lhakhang was built by Ngadak Sempa Chempo in the 17th Century. The main monastery was built by Pedi Wangmo during the reign of Chakdor Namgyal and some of the statues built then still exist. The sacred objects of worship in Tashiding are the chorten Thongwa Rangdol and Bumchu( holy water). The chorten was built by the Lhatsun Chenpo and it is believed that merely to view the chorten is enough to cleanse one of all sins.Carved skillfully on flagstones surrounding the monastery are holy Buddhist mantras like "Om Mane Padme Hum" by the master craftsman Yanchong Lodil.
Bhuchu is a sacred pot containing holy water blessed by Ngadak Sempa Chenpo, after he had performed the Mane Mantra prayers 5 billion times The holy water does not dry up nor spoil and continues to have the fresh smell even 300 year later. The sacred Bumpa containing the water is kept under seal and opened for public darshan once a year on the 15th day of the first Tibetan month.
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Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery
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The present Gharwang Rimpoche is the XIIth successive incarnation of Zurmang Gharwang. This monastery is situated on the Tumtek-Ranka-Gangtok road at Lingdum, about 45 minutes drive from Gangtok. The complex is a fine example of Tibetan monastic architecture.
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Tsuk-la-khang Monastery
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This monastery is located in the Royal Palace premises near the Ridge Park in Gangtok. It is two storied and was used during royal function like weddings and coronations. The Phang Labsol and Lossang Festivals are celebrated in the ground adjacent to the monastery once every year with the performance of the Chaams or the masked dance.
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Sanga Chelling Monastery
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Sanga chelling means ' the island of esoteric teaching'. This monastery was built in 1697 and is situated about 7 kms. from Pemayangste. It is said to be the oldest monastery in Sikkim.
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Dubdi Monastery
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Dubdi means 'the retreat' and this monastery was built in 1700. It is located near Yuksum on a hill top. One has to travel by foot to reach it.
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