Enchey Monastery is a Nyingma gompa on a pine-covered ridge about 3 km north-east of MG Marg, at roughly 1,860 m. A small monastery stood here from the 1840s; the present building dates from 1909. Visit in the early morning for prayers, or in January–February for its Detor Chaam mask dance. No permit needed.
Bhutia nameEncheyMeans: Usually translated as 'solitary', so Enchey Gompa is 'the solitary monastery'Source: Wikipedia: Enchey Monastery
Enchey is the monastery Gangtok people mean when they say 'the gompa up the hill'. It stands on a ridge above the town on the road towards Nathu La, about 3 km and 15 minutes by taxi from MG Marg, among tall conifers and lines of prayer flags. Wikipedia records that a small monastery was first built here in the 1840s, at the place where the tantric master Lama Druptob Karpo had his hermitage, and that the present building, with its golden cupola and pagoda-like roof, was put up in 1909.
It belongs to the Nyingma school, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the one most closely tied to Sikkim's royal history; like other Nyingma monasteries in the state, it falls under Pemayangtse in West Sikkim. Inside the two-storey prayer hall the walls are covered with murals of guardian kings and deities, the four pillars are carved and painted, and the monastery keeps a large collection of masks for its annual dances.
Most visitors give Enchey 30–45 minutes on a Gangtok sightseeing round. Come at about 7–8 am instead, when the monks chant in the hall and the town is still quiet below. In January or February, on the 18th and 19th days of the 12th Tibetan month, the courtyard fills for the Detor Chaam. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check current status before you travel.
Highlights
What to see and do
Morning prayers in the hall
From about 7 am the monks gather to chant, with drums, cymbals and long horns. Sit quietly at the back, shoes off, and you hear Enchey as a working monastery rather than a stop on a taxi tour. Afternoon prayers are shorter and less predictable; ask at the door.
The Detor Chaam
On the 18th and 19th days of the 12th Tibetan month, usually January or February, monks in masks and brocade dance the defeat of obstacles before the new year. Gangtok families climb the hill to watch. Arrive by 9 am for a place on the courtyard steps.
Murals and carved pillars
The prayer hall walls carry paintings of the four guardian kings and many Buddhist deities, and the four main pillars are carved and painted. Statues of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava face the entrance. Photography inside is usually not allowed, so look slowly instead.
The ridge and the conifers
The approach road runs through an avenue of tall conifers past the TV tower, and the monastery terrace looks over the town. On clear mornings from October to March the Kangchenjunga range is visible from near the monastery. It is the calmest corner of central Gangtok.
A short walk to Ganesh Tok
Enchey sits on the same ridge road, NH310, as Ganesh Tok and the Himalayan Zoological Park. With a taxi you can link all three in two hours; fit walkers can do the uphill stretch on foot along the road in about 40–50 minutes, watching for traffic.
The story of Enchey Monastery
The lama who flew from Maenam Hill
Gangtok was only a small hamlet when Enchey's story begins. According to the tradition recorded in Wikipedia's article on the monastery, the site was blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, an adept of tantric practice remembered for his power of flight, who is said to have flown here from Maenam Hill in South Sikkim and set up a small hermitage on the ridge. A monastery was first built at the spot in the 1840s, and the hamlet below became a place of pilgrimage. The tradition also holds that Guru Padmasambhava subdued the local spirits here, so the protector deities of Kangchenjunga and Yabdean are believed to reside in the monastery, which is why many Gangtok households still come to Enchey with their wishes and worries. The building you see today was raised in 1909. It was badly damaged by fire in 1947 and rebuilt in 1948 with help from devotees, and it was cracked again by earthquakes in 1980, 1988 and 2006. Each time it has been repaired. Treat the flying lama as what it is, a sacred tradition, and the dates as history.
Source: Wikipedia: Enchey Monastery
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Enchey was badly damaged by fire in 1947 and rebuilt the following year with the support of devotees, according to Wikipedia's history of the monastery.
Source: Wikipedia: Enchey Monastery
A survey after the 14 February 2006 earthquake, a moderate 5.7 quake, found wide cracks in Enchey's 500 mm stone walls; earlier quakes in 1980 and 1988 had also damaged it.
Source: Wikipedia: Enchey Monastery
Besides the yearly Detor Chaam, Enchey performs a Singhe Chaam, the snow-lion dance, once every three years or so, and marks Pang Lhabsol in late summer.
A reserved local taxi from MG Marg or Lal Bazaar to Enchey costs about ₹200–300 one way, more if the driver waits. Most drivers include Enchey in the half-day 'points' tour with Ganesh Tok, Tashi View Point and the Do Drul Chorten for about ₹1,500–2,500 a car.
On foot
From MG Marg it is about 3 km and a steady climb of roughly 200 m via the road past the Secretariat side of town; allow 50–60 minutes up and 35 minutes down. Pavements are patchy, so walk in daylight and keep to the side of the road.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Enchey is inside Gangtok, about 125 km and 4.5–5 hours by car from Bagdogra (IXB) or NJP on NH10. NH10 closes after monsoon slides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Visit on your first full day in town, and check current status before you travel.
Permits in East Sikkim
Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam or Sang. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir need a protected-area permit through a registered agent, usually filed the day before with ID and photos. Nathu La is for Indian nationals only, about ₹200 per person, usually Wednesday to Sunday. Cho La opened to domestic tourists in September 2025 on limited, escorted trips. Foreigners need the Sikkim restricted area permit, applied online on the e-FRRO portal, and may visit Tsomgo on a one-day pass in a group of two or more. Sikkim also charges a ₹50 tourist fee at hotels. Check current status before you travel.
Enchey is ten to fifteen minutes from any central Gangtok hotel, so stay wherever suits your budget. The upper town around Enchey and Chandmari has small family-run guesthouses with quiet nights and valley views, and is handy for dawn visits to Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. On a budget, Mintokling Guest House and Hotel Sonam Delek near MG Marg are reliable. For value, Netuk House and Hotel Tibet are close to the Do Drul Chorten road. For a splurge, Elgin Nor-Khill and Mayfair are a short drive away.
About 3 km by road, 10–15 minutes in a taxi, on the ridge north-east of the market towards the Nathu La road. A one-way taxi costs about ₹200–300. Walkers should allow 50–60 minutes uphill. It is often included in Gangtok's half-day sightseeing tours with Ganesh Tok and Tashi View Point.
When was Enchey Monastery built?
A small monastery was first built on the site in the 1840s, where Lama Druptob Karpo had his hermitage. The present building dates from 1909. It was damaged by fire in 1947 and rebuilt in 1948, and repaired after earthquakes in 1980, 1988 and 2006, according to Wikipedia.
Which school of Buddhism does Enchey follow?
Enchey belongs to the Nyingma school, the oldest of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, which traces itself to Guru Padmasambhava. Like other Nyingma monasteries in Sikkim, it falls under the authority of Pemayangtse Monastery in West Sikkim. Rumtek and Lingdum, across the valley, belong to the Kagyu school.
Is there an entry fee at Enchey Monastery?
No ticket is usually charged. A small offering in the donation box is welcome but never required. Remove shoes before entering the hall, cover shoulders and knees, and do not photograph inside without permission. Rules can change, so follow any notices at the gate.
When is the Enchey Chaam?
The annual Detor Chaam is held on the 18th and 19th days of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, usually in January or February. Dates change each year with the lunar calendar. A larger snow-lion dance is performed every few years. Check current status before you travel.
What are Enchey Monastery's opening hours?
There are no formal posted hours, but the courtyard is generally open from early morning to late afternoon, and the hall opens for prayers in the morning. Visit between 7 am and 4 pm for the best chance of finding it open. On ritual days some areas may be closed.
How much time do we need at Enchey?
Thirty to forty-five minutes covers the courtyard, the hall and the murals. Allow an hour if you want to sit through part of the morning prayers, and a half day for the Chaam. Combine it with Ganesh Tok and the Do Drul Chorten for a two-to-three-hour morning.
Is Enchey Monastery suitable for seniors?
Yes. Taxis stop close to the gate, and the courtyard is reached by a short slope and a few steps. The hall floor is level. At about 1,860 m, seniors should walk slowly and rest. On Chaam days the crowd and stone steps make it more tiring, so bring a cushion or stool.
Can we visit Enchey and Rumtek on the same day?
Yes. Visit Enchey early, then cross the valley via Ranipool to Rumtek, about 24 km and an hour from Gangtok, adding Lingdum near Ranka on the way. A reserved small car for the round costs about ₹3,500–4,500 for the day in 2026. Check current rates before you travel.
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