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Prayer halls, masks and butter lamps

Monasteries in Sikkim

Sikkim has a gompa in almost every valley, from Dubdi (1701) above Yuksom to Rumtek, seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in exile. We time visits for morning prayers and the mask-dance days of the Tibetan calendar, and we brief you on the etiquette before you step inside.

Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

Sikkim has a gompa in almost every valley, from Dubdi (1701) above Yuksom to Rumtek, seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in exile. We time visits for morning prayers and the mask-dance days of the Tibetan calendar, and we brief you on the etiquette before you step inside.

Buddhism reached Sikkim with the Nyingma lamas who consecrated the first Chogyal at Yuksom in 1642. The monasteries that followed, Pemayangtse, Tashiding, Phodong, Rumtek, still run on ritual time: prayers at dawn, cham dances on fixed days of the lunar year.

Walk clockwise, ask before photographing inside a prayer hall, and keep your voice low. Mask-dance dates move with the Tibetan calendar each year, so check current status before you travel.

Packages

Trips built around it

Sorted by price. Indicative per person, twin sharing.

Every package
Rinchenpong weekend from NJP, budget Budget Top1,700M

Rinchenpong weekend from NJP, budget

2 nights, 3 daysEasy

Rinchenpong

From, per person₹5,500
Namchi weekend from NJP, 2 nights Budget Top1,800M

Namchi weekend from NJP, 2 nights

2 nights, 3 daysEasy

Namchi

From, per person₹7,500
Gangtok weekend on a budget Budget Top4,000M

Gangtok weekend on a budget

3 nights, 4 daysEasy

Gangtok

From, per person₹8,500
Pelling budget escape from NJP Budget Top2,200M

Pelling budget escape from NJP

3 nights, 4 daysBalanced

Pelling

From, per person₹9,000
Gangtok monasteries and food, 4 nights Budget Top2,000M

Gangtok monasteries and food, 4 nights

4 nights, 5 daysEasy

Gangtok · Martam

From, per person₹10,500
South Sikkim pilgrim circuit, 3 nights Budget Top2,100M

South Sikkim pilgrim circuit, 3 nights

3 nights, 4 daysEasy

Namchi · Ravangla

From, per person₹10,500
Gangtok, Tsomgo and Nathu La on a budget Budget Top4,310M

Gangtok, Tsomgo and Nathu La on a budget

4 nights, 5 daysBalanced

Gangtok

From, per person₹11,000
Namchi and Ravangla on a budget, 4 nights Budget Top2,100M

Namchi and Ravangla on a budget, 4 nights

4 nights, 5 daysEasy

Namchi · Ravangla

From, per person₹13,000
Gangtok and Lachung budget trip Budget Top3,564M

Gangtok and Lachung budget trip

5 nights, 6 daysBalanced

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok

From, per person₹13,500
Pelling and Yuksom on a budget Budget Top2,200M

Pelling and Yuksom on a budget

5 nights, 6 daysBalanced

Pelling · Yuksom

From, per person₹15,000
Gangtok and the Silk Route on a budget, 5N Budget Top4,100M

Gangtok and the Silk Route on a budget, 5N

5 nights, 6 daysBalanced

Gangtok · Zuluk · Nathang Valley · Aritar

From, per person₹15,500
Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling on a budget Budget Top3,564M

Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling on a budget

6 nights, 7 daysActive

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok · Pelling

From, per person₹17,500
Full Silk Route loop on a budget, 6 nights Budget Top4,100M

Full Silk Route loop on a budget, 6 nights

6 nights, 7 daysBalanced

Aritar · Padamchen · Zuluk · Nathang Valley · Gangtok

From, per person₹18,000
Gangtok, Gurudongmar and Yumthang budget Budget Top5,183M

Gangtok, Gurudongmar and Yumthang budget

6 nights, 7 daysActive

Gangtok · Lachen · Lachung · Gangtok

From, per person₹18,500
Namchi, Ravangla and Pelling, 6 nights Budget Top2,150M

Namchi, Ravangla and Pelling, 6 nights

6 nights, 7 daysBalanced

Namchi · Ravangla · Pelling

From, per person₹19,000
Easy South Sikkim family trip, 5 nights Value Top2,100M

Easy South Sikkim family trip, 5 nights

5 nights, 6 daysEasy

Namchi · Ravangla

From, per person₹22,000
Sikkim by shared jeep: 9-night budget circuit Budget Top4,000M

Sikkim by shared jeep: 9-night budget circuit

9 nights, 10 daysActive

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok · Pelling · Yuksom · Ravangla

From, per person₹22,500
Pilgrim circuit for seniors, 5 nights Value Top2,100M

Pilgrim circuit for seniors, 5 nights

5 nights, 6 daysEasy

Namchi · Ravangla · Gangtok

From, per person₹24,000
Gangtok and the Silk Route, 5 nights Value Top4,100M

Gangtok and the Silk Route, 5 nights

5 nights, 6 daysBalanced

Gangtok · Zuluk · Nathang Valley · Aritar

From, per person₹26,500
North Sikkim family trip, slower ascent Value Top3,564M

North Sikkim family trip, slower ascent

5 nights, 6 daysEasy

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok

From, per person₹27,000
Gangtok and North Sikkim in a private car Value Top5,183M

Gangtok and North Sikkim in a private car

5 nights, 6 daysActive

Gangtok · Lachen · Lachung · Gangtok

From, per person₹28,000
Gangtok, Namchi, Ravangla and Pelling, 7N Value Top2,200M

Gangtok, Namchi, Ravangla and Pelling, 7N

7 nights, 8 daysBalanced

Gangtok · Namchi · Ravangla · Pelling

From, per person₹33,000
Pelling, Gangtok and the Silk Route, 8 nights Value Top4,100M

Pelling, Gangtok and the Silk Route, 8 nights

8 nights, 9 daysBalanced

Pelling · Gangtok · Zuluk · Nathang Valley · Aritar

From, per person₹37,500

Where to go

Places for monasteries

Enchey Monastery monastery Enchey Mo…1,860M

Enchey Monastery

Gangtok's Nyingma monastery on the ridge, 3 km above MG Marg

Best Oct – May0 nightsEast Sikkim
Gangtok town Gangtok1,650M

Gangtok

Sikkim's capital on a ridge at 1,650 m

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec2–3 nightsEast Sikkim
Ranka and Lingdum monastery Ranka and…1,420M

Ranka and Lingdum

A Zurmang Kagyu monastery in the Ranka forest, 20 km from Gangtok

Best Oct – May0 nightsEast Sikkim
Rumtek monastery Rumtek1,500M

Rumtek

The Karmapa's seat in exile, 24 km from Gangtok

Best Feb – May · Oct – Dec0–1 nightsEast Sikkim
Sang village Sang1,450M

Sang

A quiet Kagyu monastery village beyond Rumtek and Martam

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov0–1 nightsEast Sikkim
Gurudongmar Lake lake Gurudongm…5,150M

Gurudongmar Lake

A sacred lake near the Tibet border, above 5,000 m

Best May · Oct – Nov0 (stay in Lachen) nightsNorth Sikkim
Labrang monastery Labrang2,130M

Labrang

A Nyingma monastery above Phodong with its original timber frame

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec0 nightsNorth Sikkim
Lachen village Lachen2,750M

Lachen

Gurudongmar's base village, run by its own Dzumsa

Best Apr – May · Oct – Nov1 nightsNorth Sikkim
Phodong village Phodong1,400M

Phodong

A Kagyu monastery town on the North Sikkim Highway

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec0–1 nightsNorth Sikkim
Tholung Monastery monastery Tholung M…2,400M

Tholung Monastery

Upper Dzongu's relic monastery, opened every three years

Best Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov2–3 in Dzongu nightsNorth Sikkim
Dubdi Monastery monastery Dubdi Mon…2,100M

Dubdi Monastery

The hermit's cell above Yuksom, often called Sikkim's oldest monastery

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov0 (stay in Yuksom) nightsWest Sikkim
Khecheopalri Lake lake Khecheopa…1,700M

Khecheopalri Lake

The sacred lake where birds are said to clear the fallen leaves

Best Oct – May0–1 nightsWest Sikkim
Norbugang heritage site Norbugang1,800M

Norbugang

The stone throne where Sikkim's first king was consecrated in 1642

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov0 (stay in Yuksom) nightsWest Sikkim
Pelling town Pelling2,150M

Pelling

West Sikkim's base, facing Kangchenjunga across the Rangeet

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec2–3 nightsWest Sikkim
Pemayangtse Monastery monastery Pemayangt…2,085M

Pemayangtse Monastery

Sikkim's senior Nyingma monastery, home of the Zangdok Palri model

Best Feb – May · Oct – Dec0 (visit from Pelling) nightsWest Sikkim
Sanga Choeling Monastery monastery Sanga Cho…2,200M

Sanga Choeling Monastery

A hilltop monastery dated to 1697, above the Pelling Skywalk

Best Feb – May · Oct – Dec0 (visit from Pelling) nightsWest Sikkim
Tashiding monastery Tashiding1,465M

Tashiding

The heart-shaped hill of chortens and the sacred Bumchu vase

Best Feb – May · Oct – Nov0–1 nightsWest Sikkim
Yuksom village Yuksom1,780M

Yuksom

Sikkim's first capital and the gateway to Kangchenjunga

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov1–2 nightsWest Sikkim
Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal) pilgrimage site Buddha Pa…2,115M

Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal)

A 130 ft copper Buddha with Mount Narsing behind it

Best Mar – May · Oct – Jan0 (stay in Ravangla) nightsSouth Sikkim
village Kewzing1,550M

Kewzing

A Bhutia village where homestay income is shared

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec1–2 nightsSouth Sikkim
Namchi town Namchi1,500M

Namchi

Two giant statues, one tidy hill town, mild weather all year

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec1–2 nightsSouth Sikkim
Ralang Monastery monastery Ralang Mo…1,940M

Ralang Monastery

Kagyu monastery of the mask dances, 6 km below Ravangla

Best Mar – May · Sep – Dec0 (visit from Ravangla) nightsSouth Sikkim
Ravangla town Ravangla2,050M

Ravangla

A cool ridge town between Buddha Park, Ralang and Maenam

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov1–2 nightsSouth Sikkim
Samdruptse pilgrimage site Samdruptse2,200M

Samdruptse

Guru Rinpoche, 135 ft tall, on the wish-fulfilling hill

Best Mar – Apr · Oct – Jan0 (day visit from Namchi) nightsSouth Sikkim
Yangang village Yangang1,500M

Yangang

Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali farms below Maenam's Bhaleydhunga

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec2 nightsSouth Sikkim
town Mangalbar…1,200M

Mangalbarey

A subdivision bazaar and the way to Rahuney Cave

Best Oct – Mar0–1 nightsSoreng
Okhrey village Okhrey2,300M

Okhrey

A Sherpa village of homestays below the Barsey rhododendron forest

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov1–2 nightsSoreng
Rinchenpong village Rinchenpo…1,650M

Rinchenpong

A ridge village with a 1730 monastery and a full Kangchenjunga view

Best Feb – Apr · Oct – Dec2 nightsSoreng

Things to do

Experiences on the way

Every experience
Morning prayers at Enchey Monasteries and shrines

Morning prayers at Enchey

Reach Enchey before the sightseeing taxis and sit at the back of the prayer hall while the monks chant with drums and …

1 hourEnchey MonasteryFree; small offering welcome
Watching the Detor Chaam at Enchey Culture

Watching the Detor Chaam at Enchey

Each winter Enchey's monks perform the Detor Chaam, two days of masked dances in the courtyard before the Tibetan new year. Gangtok …

Half dayEnchey MonasteryFree
Ridge walk from Enchey to Ganesh Tok Nature

Ridge walk from Enchey to Ganesh Tok

Walk the upper ridge road from Enchey to Ganesh Tok, past the TV tower and through conifers, with views over the town …

2 hoursEnchey MonasteryFree; zoo entry extra
Dawn light at Enchey for photographers Nature

Dawn light at Enchey for photographers

At sunrise the golden cupola, prayer flags and pine trunks of Enchey catch low light, and the ridge is almost empty. A …

1.5 hoursEnchey Monastery≈ ₹200–300 taxi each way
Namgyal Institute and Do Drul Chorten Culture

Namgyal Institute and Do Drul Chorten

A morning at Deorali seeing the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, opened by Nehru in 1958, and the white Do Drul Chorten above …

2 hoursGangtok≈ ₹10–50 entry; taxi ≈ ₹150–250 each way
MG Marg and Lal Bazaar food walk Food

MG Marg and Lal Bazaar food walk

A walk from the clean, car-free MG Marg down to Lal Bazaar, Gangtok's main market, tasting momos, thukpa, sel roti and churpi …

3 hoursGangtok≈ ₹400–800 per person for tastings
Ropeway ride from Deorali to Tashiling Nature

Ropeway ride from Deorali to Tashiling

A short cable-car ride across the steep face of Gangtok, from Deorali near the Tibetology institute to Tashiling beside the Secretariat. Under …

1 hourGangtok≈ ₹110–150 return
Workshops at the Handicrafts Directorate Craft

Workshops at the Handicrafts Directorate

Watch young artisans paint thangkas, carve and paint wooden choksee tables and weave carpets and Lepcha loin-loom cloth at the government Directorate …

1–1.5 hoursGangtokSmall entry fee; purchases from ≈ ₹300

Where to sleep

Stays that fit

Every stay
Mintokling Guest House Budget

Mintokling Guest House

HotelGangtok

A long-running, family-feel guest house on Bhanu Path, just below the Secretariat road and about 10 minutes on foot from MG Marg. Quiet garden, …

≈ ₹2,500–4,000 a room a night (indicative)
Hotel Sonam Delek Budget

Hotel Sonam Delek

HotelGangtok

A small Tibet Road hotel that has been running since the early 1990s, a 10-minute walk from MG Marg. Rooms have balconies facing the …

≈ ₹2,500–4,500 a room a night (indicative)
Netuk House Value

Netuk House

Heritage bungalowGangtok

A family-run heritage house on Tibet Road built in the late 1950s for Gellong Netuk Lama, a counsellor to the Chogyal. Traditional Sikkimese rooms, …

≈ ₹4,000–7,000 a room a night (indicative)
The Hidden Forest Retreat Value

The Hidden Forest Retreat

Boutique hotelGangtok

A family-run guest house in Middle Sichey, about 2 km from central Gangtok, set in roughly three acres of garden built around an orchid …

≈ ₹4,000–6,500 a room a night (indicative)
Hotel Tibet Value

Hotel Tibet

HotelGangtok

An established mid-range hotel on Paljor Stadium Road, a few minutes' walk from MG Marg, decorated in a traditional Tibetan style. Suites and deluxe …

≈ ₹3,500–6,000 a room a night (indicative)
The Chumbi Residency Comfort

The Chumbi Residency

HotelGangtok

One of Gangtok's best-known mid-range hotels, open since 1997 on Tibet Road, five minutes' walk above MG Marg. Consistent service, valley and Kangchenjunga views …

≈ ₹6,000–9,500 a room a night (indicative)

Other themes

Lakes and passesSnow and winterFlowers and forestsVillage homestaysHoneymoonsFamily holidaysTreks and walksFood and teaFestivalsBirds and wildlifePhotographyCrafts and cultureOffbeat Sikkim

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