Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim

Perched at a height of 5800 ft. Rumtek monastery or Dharma Chakra Centre is located at 24 kilometers away from Gangtok, East Sikkim. The Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Kagyu lineage outside Tibet. Rumtek is a famous monastery all over the world especially among the Tibetan Buddhists. The Rumtek Gompa of India is almost a replica of original Kagyu headquarters in Tibet. The original monastery was constructed by the 9th Karmapa in 1740. The highlight of this monastery is the small shrine room dedicated to Karma Kagyu protector. The image of the deity is so fierce that it is kept veiled. When the 16th Karmapa arrived in Sikkim in 1959, after fleeing Tibet, the monastery was in ruins. Despite being offered other sites, the Karmapa decided to rebuild Rumtek. To him, the site possessed many auspicious qualities and was surrounded by the most favorable attributes. With the generosity and help of the Sikkim royal family and the Indian government, it was built by the 16th Karmapa as his main seat in exile.

The monastery is currently the largest in Sikkim. A college or Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies is situated opposite the building. The Dharma Chakra Center includes a beautifully structured main shrine temple and monastery with monks' quarters, a three-year retreat center, a monastic college, where the relics of the Sixteenth Karmapa are enshrined, nunnery, stupas, a protector's shrine, institutions for the lay community and other establishments. The architecture of Rumtek is unique and fabulous. Photographs can be taken from outside but inside the monastery it is prohibited. The monastery contains a marvelous main temple, a monastic college where the relics of the Sixteenth Karmapa are preserved, a golden stupa and a magnificent Buddha statue. Tourists will be able to see the harmony of the lives of monks, experience the heritage of Buddhism and get a chance to know more about the ancient history of Buddhism. Two festivals are observed here. On the fifth month of the lunar calendar of Tibet, festivals Vajrakilaya Drupchen, homage to the Guru Padmasambhava the most important monk is celebrated for ten days. On the last day, traditional and holy "Lama" dance is performed. It would be a delight to watch the performance.

The main structure of the building is made in accordance with the traditional designs of Tibetan monasteries. Interiors are covered with murals, frescos, traditional Tibetan architecture, sculptures, and paintings. There is a shrine hall in the main building which is decorated in a traditional manner with a religious text, Thangkas, silk banners, including a 10 foot statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. The rooftop of the monastery comprises of 4 storied golden structures known as Ghanzira. The monastery holds various pujas devoted to certain deitiesThe monastery is enshrined with 4 statues -Virupaksha, Virudaka, Dritarashtra and Vaishravana, who were considered as the guardians of the universe. The timings of visit are from 10 am to 5 pm during winter and 8 am to 5 pm during summer. Foreign nationals are usually asked to produce their passports for security reasons. October to Mid December is the best time to visit the monastery when one can get the clear views of the Himalayas. At walking distance from Rumtek monastery there is the Nehru Botanical garden which contains exotic variety of flora and is a good picnic spot. There are a few hotels to choose from in Rumtek. There is also a guesthouse situated outside the monastery courtyard.