Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery is the largest monastery in Sikkim and one of the essential Gangtok attractions for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism. Rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa and inaugurated in 1966, it sits on a hillside about an hour's drive from town.

Rumtek Monastery, formally the Dharma Chakra Centre, stands on a hillside at roughly 1,500 m across the valley from Gangtok, about 20–24 km away by road depending on the route. It belongs to the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and serves as the seat in exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa. A monastery was first built here in the mid-18th century under the 12th Karmapa, Changchub Dorje, but it later fell into ruin.

After fleeing Tibet in 1959, the 16th Karmapa chose Rumtek for a new seat; the rebuilt complex took about four years and was inaugurated at Losar in 1966.

The main shrine hall is built in traditional Tibetan style, richly painted, and houses a large image of Shakyamuni Buddha. Behind it is a golden stupa holding the relics of the 16th Karmapa, and the complex also contains the Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies. The original older monastery is a short walk down the slope. Today Rumtek is the largest monastery in Sikkim and a living monastic community, so visitors often see monks at prayer or study.

Vehicles stop below the complex and there is a fairly steep uphill walk to the gate. Security checks are in place and visitors are advised to carry photo ID. Dress modestly, walk clockwise around shrines and prayer wheels, and ask before photographing inside the halls.