Dubdi Monastery stands at about 2,100 m on a forested spur, a 3 km, one-hour climb from Yuksom. Dated to 1701 and often called the oldest monastery in Sikkim, it is also known as the Hermit's Cell after Lhatsun Chempo. It is small, quiet and looked after by a caretaker monk.
Dubdi sits on a hilltop above Yuksom, surrounded by forest, with views back over the village and the Rathong Chu valley. Wikipedia records that it was established in 1701 and describes it as the oldest monastery in Sikkim still standing: the only survivor of the four monasteries built in that early period. Its name means 'the retreat'.
The monastery belongs to the Nyingma order. It is also known as Yuksom Monastery and as the Hermit's Cell, after its ascetic founder Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, better known as Lhatsun Chempo, the senior of the three lamas who consecrated the first Chogyal at nearby Norbugang in 1642. The present building is small and simple, and holds statues and murals.
Today Dubdi is quiet. Only a caretaker monk lives there, and Wikipedia notes that visitors should inform him in advance to have the hall opened. Most people who walk up do so for the forest, the silence and the sense of standing where Sikkim's Buddhism took root.
Highlights
What to see and do
The forest climb
The 3 km path from Yuksom climbs about 300 m through oak, chestnut and rhododendron, with stone steps in places. It takes about an hour up and 40 minutes down, and in the early morning the forest is full of birdsong.
A monastery from 1701
Dubdi is dated to 1701 and is often called the oldest surviving monastery in Sikkim. The building is small and simple, with murals and statues of Nyingma figures inside.
Silence on the spur
With only a caretaker in residence and few visitors, Dubdi is one of the quietest religious sites in Sikkim. Sit in the courtyard and listen to the prayer flags and the wind in the trees.
View over Yuksom
From the monastery grounds, glimpses through the trees show Yuksom's fields, the Rathong Chu valley and the hills towards Tashiding. On clear winter mornings the ranges to the north appear above the forest.
Acclimatisation walk
Trekkers bound for Dzongri and Goecha La use the Dubdi climb as a warm-up the day before the trek. It tests legs and lungs at about 2,100 m without overdoing it.
The story of Dubdi Monastery
The Hermit's Cell of Lhatsun Chempo
Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, called Lhatsun Chempo, was a Nyingma lama from Tibet remembered in Sikkim as the most important of the three who consecrated Phuntsog Namgyal in 1642. Sikkimese tradition links him with meditation retreats around Yuksom and with the founding of early monasteries in the west, including Dubdi, Pemayangtse and Sanga Choeling. Dubdi, whose name means 'the retreat', is known as the Hermit's Cell in his memory. Wikipedia dates the monastery to 1701, in the reign of the third Chogyal, and describes it as built to commemorate the founding of the kingdom, and as the only one of four monasteries of that time to survive. The gap between the lama's life in the mid-17th century and the building's date is common in Sikkim's early history: sacred sites were often marked first by a hermit's presence and only later by a permanent temple. Walk up in the early morning and the reason a hermit chose this hill is easy to feel.
Source: Wikipedia: Dubdi Monastery; Yuksom
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Dubdi is the only one of the four monasteries built in that early period of the kingdom that still survives, according to Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia: Dubdi Monastery
Only one caretaker monk lives at Dubdi, and visitors are advised to let him know in advance if they want the prayer hall opened.
Source: Wikipedia: Dubdi Monastery
Dubdi is also called Yuksom Monastery and the Hermit's Cell, after its ascetic founder, Lhatsun Namkha Jigme.
The trail starts at the upper edge of the village and climbs about 3 km through forest to the monastery, roughly 1 hour up. Ask locally for the start; it is well used.
Private car
There is no road to the monastery. Drive to Yuksom, about 40 km and 2 hours from Pelling (indicatively ₹2,500–3,500 one way), and walk up. Day tours from Pelling usually do not leave time for Dubdi.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Reach Yuksom, about 170 km and 6.5–7.5 hours via Melli, Jorethang, Legship and Tashiding, or break the trip in Pelling. Walk to Dubdi the next morning.
Permits in West Sikkim
Indian travellers need no permit for Pelling, Yuksom, Khecheopalri, Tashiding or Uttarey. The Dzongri and Goecha La trek needs a Khangchendzonga National Park permit and fees, arranged at Yuksom through a registered trekking agency with a licensed guide. Foreign nationals need the Restricted Area Permit to enter Sikkim, applied for online via the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India, and a Protected Area Permit in a group of two or more for the Dzongri–Goecha La trek. Sikkim charges a ₹50 per tourist fee at check-in. Check current status before you travel.
Stay in Yuksom so you can walk to Dubdi in the early morning. Yuksum Residency and Hotel Tashigang are the main value hotels, and village homestays offer simple rooms with meals at lower cost. Pelling, two hours away, has comfort and premium hotels but makes Dubdi hard to fit in.
Dubdi, dated to 1701, is widely described as the oldest surviving monastery in Sikkim, and Wikipedia calls it the only survivor of four built in that early period. Other monasteries such as Pemayangtse and Sanga Choeling have earlier traditions of foundation but were rebuilt later.
How do I reach Dubdi Monastery?
Walk from Yuksom. The trail starts near the top of the village and climbs about 3 km through forest, around 1 hour up and 40 minutes down. There is no road to the monastery. Yuksom is about 40 km and 2 hours from Pelling.
Is Dubdi Monastery open every day?
The grounds are open, but the prayer hall is opened by the single caretaker monk when he is present. Let him know in advance through your hotel or homestay. Timings are informal; morning is the best chance.
Is there an entry fee at Dubdi Monastery?
There is normally no fixed fee. Donations to the monastery are welcome and help with upkeep; leave them in the box or with the caretaker after your visit. Check current status before you travel.
Who founded Dubdi Monastery?
Wikipedia records that Dubdi was established in 1701 and is named the Hermit's Cell after its ascetic founder, Lhatsun Namkha Jigme (Lhatsun Chempo), the senior lama of the 1642 coronation. It belongs to the Nyingma order.
Can I visit Dubdi on a day trip from Pelling?
It is possible but rushed. The drive is 2 hours each way, and the walk needs 2.5 hours. Most Pelling–Yuksom day tours skip it. Stay a night in Yuksom and climb in the early morning instead.
Is the Dubdi walk safe in the monsoon?
The trail stays open but becomes slippery, muddy and leech-infested from June to September. Wear shoes with grip and leech socks, carry an umbrella and avoid it in heavy rain. Check current status before you travel.
Can children walk to Dubdi?
Active children over about 6 usually manage the one-hour climb with breaks. Hold hands on steep steps. Carry water and snacks. The forest and the monastery at the top make it a satisfying family walk.
What can I see inside Dubdi Monastery?
A small prayer hall with statues of Nyingma figures and murals, opened by the caretaker when he is present. Photography inside is usually not allowed; ask first.
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