Monasteries and shrines · Sanga Choeling Monastery
Tenth-day recitations at Sanga Choeling
Time your climb for the tenth day of the Tibetan month, linked with Guru Padmasambhava, when Sanga Choeling's lamas hold special recitations that visitors may hear quietly.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia records that Sanga Choeling's lamas perform special recitations on the tenth day of every month of the Tibetan calendar. The tenth day, Tse Chu, is associated with Guru Padmasambhava in the Nyingma tradition, and it is observed in monasteries across Sikkim.
Ask your hotel or at Pemayangtse which Gregorian date the tenth day falls on during your stay. Climb in the morning, arrive quietly, and sit at the back or outside if the hall is full. Remove shoes and hats, keep your phone off and do not photograph without clear permission.
Villagers sometimes bring offerings of butter lamps or food. Visitors can make a small donation in the box; do not hand money to monks during the ritual.
Good for
Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What is the tenth day in Tibetan Buddhism?
The tenth day of each lunar month, often called Tse Chu, is associated with Guru Padmasambhava and is an auspicious day for prayers and offerings in the Nyingma tradition. Many monasteries in Sikkim hold special rituals that day.
Can tourists attend prayers at Sanga Choeling?
Usually yes, quietly and respectfully. Sit at the back or outside, remove shoes and hats, keep phones off and avoid photographs unless permitted. If a ritual is private, the monks will say so. A small donation is welcome but not required.
How do I find the Tibetan calendar date?
Ask your hotel, a local driver or the monks at Pemayangtse, who follow the calendar closely. Tibetan calendar converters are also available online. Dates shift every month, so check a few days before your planned visit.
Also in Sanga Choeling Monastery
More hours worth planning
Adventure
The steep climb to Sanga Choeling
A short, steep forest climb from the Chenrezig statue to one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, rewarded with silence, prayer flags …
Culture
Walk the glass Skywalk beside Chenrezig
Step out on the glass-floored Skywalk facing the 137-foot Chenrezig statue, opened in 2018, one of West Sikkim's newest landmarks and an …
Nature
Spring rhododendrons on the Sanga Choeling ridge
In March and April the forest on the Sanga Choeling ridge flowers with rhododendron and magnolia, turning the short climb into a …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed