Monasteries and shrines · Labrang
Visiting Labrang Monastery
A quiet hour at a Nyingma monastery built between 1826 and 1843, on a forest ledge above Phodong. See the courtyard, prayer hall and statues, and understand why Labrang feels very different from its Kagyu neighbour below.
Photo: Prof Ranga Sai · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Labrang is smaller and quieter than Phodong, and the approach is steep, narrow and tree-lined. At the top, a flat ledge holds the monastery. Wikipedia records its construction from 1826 to 1843, with Gyalshe Rigzing Chempa as founder, in memory of Lhatsun Chempo. The building feels older and more weathered than many Sikkim monasteries.
Leave shoes and hat outside and enter quietly. Inside you may see statues, wall paintings and a bronze figure of Karma Guru, a wrathful form of Padmasambhava. Ask before taking photographs, and do not touch objects. A donation box is usual, and a small offering is a good way to say thank you.
Allow an hour, more if the museum is open. The ledge is cool even in spring, so carry a jacket. Mist can close in by mid-afternoon, so go in the morning. Hours and any fees are the monastery's decision, so check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What school does Labrang Monastery belong to?
Labrang is a Nyingma monastery, belonging to the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism. Phodong Monastery below it is Karma Kagyu, so visiting both lets you compare two traditions in a morning. Wikipedia lists Labrang among Nyingma monasteries in Sikkim.
How long does a visit take?
Allow about an hour for the hall and courtyard, and up to 90 minutes if the museum is open and you want to look at the objects. With Phodong Monastery below it, plan a two-hour monastery stop. Check current status before you travel.
Is there an entry fee for Labrang?
As far as we know there is no fixed ticket, and visitors usually leave a small donation. Fees and rules for photography can change, so check current status before you travel and follow the caretaker's advice.
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