Buddha Park, or Tathagata Tsal, is a landscaped pilgrimage park above Ravangla at about 2,115 m. Its centrepiece is a 130 ft (40 m) statue of the Buddha clad in about 60 tonnes of copper, built from 2006 to 2013 for the 2550th Buddha Jayanti and consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 25 March 2013.
Tibetan nameTathagata TsalMeans: grove (park) of the Tathagata, an epithet of the BuddhaSource: Wikipedia: Buddha Park of Ravangla
Tathagata Tsal sits on the slope just above Ravangla market, within the wider religious grounds of the old Rabong monastery. A long, formal avenue leads from the gate past gardens and a small lake, Cho Djo, to a broad platform where the Buddha sits in meditation, gold-toned and serene, with the forested ridge of Mount Narsing and, on clear days, the Kangchenjunga range behind.
The statue was raised to mark the 2550th anniversary of the Buddha's birth, celebrated across the Buddhist world in 2006–07. Work began in 2006 and the 14th Dalai Lama consecrated it on 25 March 2013. The copper was shaped by repoussé, hammered from behind, the traditional Himalayan technique for large images. Inside the base is a museum with a spiral gallery on the Buddha's life.
The park is one of the most visited places in South Sikkim, so timing matters. Come at opening time on a clear October to February morning for the mountain backdrop and quiet paths. Allow 1.5–2 hours: walk the avenue, circle the statue, visit the museum and sit by the lake. Then drive 6 km on to Ralang Monastery.
Highlights
What to see and do
The 130 ft Buddha
Seated in meditation, about 40 m tall and clad in copper, consecrated in 2013. Walk around the base clockwise. Morning light is usually the most even for photographs.
Museum and spiral gallery
Inside the base, a museum whose gallery spirals upward through the Buddha's life, with paintings and texts. Allow 30 minutes. Photography inside may be restricted; ask at the door.
Mount Narsing backdrop
On clear days the snow peaks rise behind the statue, a view that shows up on half of Sikkim's postcards. October to February mornings give the best chance.
Cho Djo lake and gardens
A small lake surrounded by forest and landscaped paths, with benches and flowers. A quiet spot to sit away from the main platform, especially in late afternoon.
Rabong monastery grounds
The park lies within the wider religious complex of Rabong monastery. Look for older chortens and shrines on the slope, a reminder that the site was sacred before the statue.
The story of Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal)
Why a 130 ft Buddha came to Ravangla
In 2006, Buddhist countries and communities marked the Buddha Jayanti, 2,550 years since the birth of the Buddha by the traditional reckoning. The Government of Sikkim chose to commemorate it with a statue, and picked a site at Ravangla within the larger religious complex of Rabong monastery, long a place of pilgrimage in the south. Ralang, one of Sikkim's important Kagyu monasteries, is just 6 km away, and the slopes look out to Mount Narsing. Work ran from 2006 to 2013. The statue was made using repoussé, where sheets of metal are hammered from the reverse side into shape, using about 60 tonnes of copper over an internal frame. On 25 March 2013 the 14th Dalai Lama consecrated it. Around the statue the planners added a meditation centre, a Buddhist conclave hall, the small Cho Djo lake and a museum whose spiral gallery tells the Buddha's life. Together with Samdruptse and Char Dham near Namchi, it made the district a pilgrimage circuit in its own right.
Source: Wikipedia: Buddha Park of Ravangla
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
The statue is clad in about 60 tonnes of copper shaped by repoussé, hammering the metal from behind, the traditional method for large Himalayan sacred images.
Source: Wikipedia: Buddha Park of Ravangla
The park was built within the larger religious complex of Rabong monastery, already a centuries-old place of pilgrimage before the statue was planned.
Source: Wikipedia: Buddha Park of Ravangla
A museum inside the statue's base has a spiral gallery; walking it upward takes you through the Buddha's life in sequence.
Source: Wikipedia: Buddha Park of Ravangla
Experiences
Hours worth planning in Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal)
Take a shared jeep to Ravangla from Gangtok (about ₹250–400, 3 hours) or Namchi (₹100–150, 1 hour). From Ravangla market the park gate is about 1.5 km uphill: a 20–25 minute walk or a short taxi ride for ₹100–200.
Private car
Most visitors include Buddha Park in a Ravangla day with Ralang Monastery and sometimes Borong or Temi, about ₹2,500–3,500 for a small car. A day trip from Gangtok covering Buddha Park and Ralang costs roughly ₹4,500–6,000.
From Bagdogra / NJP
About 120–125 km and 4.5–5 hours by car via Melli and Namchi or via Singtam. Sleep in Ravangla to visit at opening time. If NH10 is closed after monsoon slides, the route through Darjeeling district and Jorethang is the usual alternative.
Permits in South Sikkim
Indian nationals need no permit anywhere in Namchi district. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India since 12 January 2026, with approval usually in 24–48 hours; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Sikkim collects a ₹50 per tourist entry fee at hotels, valid 30 days, with under-fives exempt. Forest department rules and fees may apply in Maenam and Kitam sanctuaries. Check current status before you travel.
Stay in Ravangla, 5–10 minutes away. Several budget hotels line the road up to the park, with doubles from about ₹1,500–2,500, some with direct statue views. Mt. Narsing Village Resort on the Pelling road offers garden cottages at value prices, and The Barfung Retreat in Barfung village is our quiet comfort choice. Kewzing homestays and Bon Farmhouse are 20 minutes downhill.
The statue is 130 ft, about 40 m, tall and clad in around 60 tonnes of copper. It was built between 2006 and 2013 to mark the 2550th anniversary of the Buddha's birth, and consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 25 March 2013.
What is the entry fee for Buddha Park Ravangla?
Entry has been about ₹50 for Indian visitors and ₹100 for foreign nationals, with parking extra. Fees can be revised, so check current status before you travel. The museum inside the statue base is included at the time of writing.
What are Buddha Park's timings?
The park has generally been open from around 9 am to 6 pm every day. Timings can vary by season and on special occasions. Visit early for clear views of Mount Narsing and fewer crowds.
How far is Buddha Park from Gangtok?
About 66 km and 3 hours by road to Ravangla, plus a few minutes up to the park. A day trip from Gangtok is possible but long; better to stay a night in Ravangla and visit Ralang Monastery as well.
Why is it called Tathagata Tsal?
Tathagata is a title of the Buddha, often translated as the thus-gone one, and tsal means a garden or grove in Tibetan. So Tathagata Tsal means the Buddha's garden or park. Locally it is simply called Buddha Park.
When is the best time to visit Buddha Park?
October to February mornings for clear skies and mountain views behind the statue. March to May is pleasant with flowers but hazier. June to September brings rain and cloud. Buddha Purnima (April–May) draws many pilgrims.
Can we see snow peaks from Buddha Park?
On clear days, yes. The Narsing range and other peaks of the Kangchenjunga massif appear behind the statue, best from October to February in the morning. In the monsoon and spring haze, mountain views are often hidden.
Is Buddha Park good for families?
Very. Broad paved paths, gardens, a lake, a museum that tells a story, and clean toilets make it one of the easiest family sites in Sikkim. Children enjoy the scale of the statue. Bring warm layers, as it is breezy at 2,115 m.
What else is near Buddha Park?
Ralang Monastery (6 km), Borong village and hot spring (about 17 km), Kewzing's Bon monastery (about 10 km), the Maenam forest trek (starting above Ravangla) and Temi tea garden (about an hour away). Ravangla market is 1.5 km below.
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