Visiting The Impressive Buddhist Monasteries Of Northeast India

1.Pemayangtse Monastery

The Pemayangtse Monastery located near Pelling in Sikkim. It is West Sikkim’s most famous monastery and was built in 1705 by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. The monastery is 140 km to the west of Gangtok. The monastery preaches the Nyingma Order of Tibet Buddhism and heads all other monasteries of this order in the region. The Bhutias of Sikkim usually become the monks of this monastery. The Pemayangtse Monastery is based on a hill top at the beginning of the popular Dzongri trek route. The monastery offers a commanding view of the Mount Khangchendzonga. 

The monastery’s walls are elaborately painted with images of the saints and deities. The main prayer hall has an area of 140 square meters. The doors and windows of the main temple are colorfully painted and exhibit Tibetan designs. There are well manicured gardens in the complex along with the residential accommodation for the monks.  About 108 monks reside in the monastery. Ancient Buddhist antique idols, sculptures, paintings, and scriptures are housed in the first floor of the Pemayangtse Monastery. The Cham dance festival is celebrated here every year. During this festival, the lamas of the monastery dress up in colorful costumes as the Mahākāla and Guru Drag-dmar. Pilgrims from various parts of Sikkim visit the monastery to be part of the celebrations.

2.Tawang Monastery

Located in the Tawang City of Arunachal Pradesh, the Tawang Monastery is the largest one in India and the world’s second largest monastery after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The monastery is located in the Twang River Valley near the Tibetan and Bhutanese border. It is based on the top of a mountain at an elevation of 10,000 feet. The monastery provides a stunning view of the Tawang River, the surrounding snow-capped mountains, and coniferous forests. The nearest town of Tawang is well connected by road, rail, and air services. The monastery is known by the traditional name of  Galden Namgey Lhatse which means "celestial paradise in a clear night.” The monastery was established in 1680 to 1681 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso. It is affiliated to Mahayana Buddhism’s Gelug school. 

The Tawang monastery is three stories high and is surrounded by a 925 feet long compound wall. 65 residential buildings lie within the complex. Valuable ancient scriptures are stored in the library of the monastery. The entrance of the monastery bears a colorful gate structure called the Kakaling which is built in the form of a hut-like structure. The roof of the structure features mandalas. The interior walls are elaborately painted with murals of saints and divinities. Several other entry gates lead to the interior of the monastery. The Tawang Monastery appears like a large triple storied mansion with a big assembly hall, 65 residential quarters for monks, lamas, and students, and ten other functional structures. Ritual dances are performed in the monastery’s ground floor. The walls of the complex have a profusion of thangkas related to Buddhism. 

The monastery hosts a printing press for printing books of religious importance made from local paper. The entire second floor of the monastery houses a library.  Several important Buddhist festivals are also celebrated at the Tawang Monastery.

3.Zang Dhok Palri Phodang

The Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery, popularly referred to as the Lava Monastery, is located in Kalimpong in West Bengal. The monastery is situated atop the Durpin Hill. It was consecrated by the visiting Dalai Lama in 1976. Rare scriptures that were brought to India after the 1959 invasion of Tibet are stored here. 108 volumes of the Kangyur are also stored here.

4.Rumtek Monastery

The Rumtek Monastery is a popular tourist destination and Buddhist pilgrimage site in Sikkim. The monastery, also known as the Dharmachakra Centre, was established in the mid-1700s under the orders of Changchub Dorje, 12th Karmapa Lama. For years, the monastery served as the central seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage but was in ruins by the time Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa arrived in Sikkim in 1959. Instead of accepting the offers of newer sites for a monastery, the Karmapa decided to rebuild the Rumtek Monastery.

He believed that the site was associated with auspicious qualities. Soon, with the help of the royal family of Sikkim, the monastery was soon rebuilt and became the main seat in exile of the 16th Karmapa who had arrived from Tibet.

Today, the monastery hosts many of the sacred relics and items brought from the Tibetan monastery where the Karmapa earlier resided. It is the largest monastery in Sikkim today and houses a large community of Buddhist monks. 

Rituals and practices associated with Karma Kagyu lineage are followed at the Rumtek Monastery. Since it is only 24 km from Gangtok, a large number of tourists visit the monastery.

5.Enchey Monastery

The Enchey Monastery in Sikkim is affiliated to the Vajrayana Buddhism’s Nyingma order. The monastery was established in 1909 and soon became an important religious center in the region. It is said that the monastery was established by Lama Drupthob Karpo, an exponent of tantric Buddhism who had the capacity to fly. It is also said that the protecting deities, Khangchendzonga and Yabdean, reside in the monastery. Thus, the people of the region highly revere this place and believe that if they pray here, there prayers will be surely answered. The Enchey Monastery looks beautiful atop a ridge of a hill to the northeast of Gangtok city. The monastery provides a spectacular view of the snow-capped Kanchendzonga peak to those who visit it. 

The monastery is built in the form of Chinese Pagoda and is topped by shining gold cupola. A large number of images of the local deities exist here. The walls in the prayer hall of the monastery are covered with numerous paintings and murals of the deities. Important Buddhist manuscripts are placed in the cabinets here. Four elaborately carved pillars support the roof of the monastery. Windows are also ornately carved. A large number of masks are kept here to be used during the ritual dances held at the monastery. About 90 monks reside here. For those visiting the monastery, a serene atmosphere awaits with colorful prayer flags fluttering around, the holy chimes playing along, and the vast and high Himalayan mountains forming the backdrop.

The Enchey Monastery hosts the vibrant Cham dance festival each year during January/February months of the Gregorian calendar. Several other festivals are also observed here.

6.Tashiding Monastery

Located in Western Sikkim, the Tashiding Monastery is affiliated to Tibetan Buddhism’s Nyingma sect. Several legends are associated with this highly revered Buddhist monastery that was established in 1641. It is said that the place was selected as a site to build the monastery when an arrow shot by Guru Padmasambhava landed at the spot. Another legend claims that one of the three wise monks who consecrated the first Chogyal of Sikkim saw a divine light reflecting from the Mount Kanchendzonga and falling on a spot that was chosen as the site of the 

Tashiding Monastery. Many other legends are also associated with the establishment of the monastery. 

The Tashiding Monastery is located at an elevation of 1,465 meters atop a hill above the confluence of the Rangeet and Rathong Chu rivers. Considered as the spiritual center of Sikkim, several other monasteries were later built surrounding this monastery. The monastery hosts the Bhumchu festival each year. Here, a divine vase filled with holy water is kept open for public display during the Tibetan calendar’s first month. The water is stored in the vase for a year and then the monks inspect the water for changes in quality and quantity. It is said the change helps predict the future of Sikkim and its people in the coming year. If the vase becomes empty, famine will strike Sikkim and if the vase remains half-filled, a prosperous year will follow. Also, if water is polluted, it indicates clashes and strifes will follow. Thus, the basic purpose of the festival is to teach the people about the importance to conserve water in a clean state. Many devotees travel to the Tashiding Monastery during the Bhumchu festival to seek holy blessings.

7.Dubdi Monastery

Also known as the Yuksom Monastery, the Dubdi Monastery is a Buddhist monastery affiliated to the Tibetan Buddhism’s Nyingma sect. It is located on a hill top near Yuksom in Sikkim. The monastery was established in 1701 by Chogyar Namgyal and is part of the Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit. 

The Dubdi Monastery is one of Sikkim’s oldest monasteries and is closely associated with the establishment of the State of Sikkim. The monastery was established by Lhetsum Chenpo who founded the Kingdom of Sikkim. The monastery once housed 30 monks but now houses only one who needs to be informed prior to a visit to the monastery. 

The Dubdi Monastery is located at an altitude of 7,000 feet. It has an elaborately painted interior area. Several religious texts and manuscripts, images and sculptures are preserved here. The two storied monastery is built in stone, faces the south, and has a square plan. The roof top bears a bell-shaped gilded dome.

8. Ralang Monastery

The Ralang Monastery located 6 km from Ravangla in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim is a Buddhist monastery affiliated to the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. According to legend, the Ralang Monastery was built when the fourth Chogyal, the monarch of ancient Sikkim, came back from pilgrimage. He scattered grains from his residence and the monastery was built where the grains fell. Between 1975 and 1981, the monastery was reconstructed. Today, the Ralang Monastery features an extensive collection of thangkas and paintings and also hosts an annual festival known as the Pang Lhabsol that worships Mount Kangchenjunga.