Culture · Norbugang
The founding of Sikkim, told at the throne
Sit near the Norbugang throne with a Yuksom guide and hear how three lamas, a search across Sikkim and a stone platform under a tree founded the Namgyal kingdom in 1642.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The throne itself is a modest stone platform. What gives it weight is the story, and that is best heard on the spot. A local guide explains the arrival of the three lamas from the north, west and south, why they wanted a lay king, and how they found Phuntsog Namgyal near present-day Gangtok.
You will hear how the seats are ranked, the meaning of anointing with sacred water, and why the chorten beside the throne is said to hold soil and water from across Sikkim. Guides often add how Phuntsog Namgyal and the lamas spread Buddhism among the Lepcha.
The guide can then walk you to Kathok Lake and through the village, connecting the coronation to Dubdi on the hill above and to Rabdentse, where the court moved in 1670.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Who was consecrated at Norbugang?
Phuntsog Namgyal, the first Chogyal of Sikkim, was consecrated at Norbugang in 1642 at the age of 38 by three lamas from Tibet. He founded the Namgyal dynasty, which ruled Sikkim until the monarchy ended in 1975.
Who were the three lamas of Yuksom?
Wikipedia's article on Yuksom names them as Lhatsun Chempo, Sempa Chempo and Rigzin Chempo, lamas of the Nyingma school who came from Tibet. Lhatsun Chempo, the senior, is linked with the founding of Dubdi and other early monasteries of West Sikkim.
Where can I find a guide in Yuksom?
Ask at your hotel or homestay, or let us arrange one before you arrive. Many Yuksom guides also lead treks and know the village history well. Indicatively ₹1,000–2,000 for a 1–2 hour heritage walk.
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