|
Tsuk-La-Khang: The Royal Chapel is the principal place of worship and assembly of the Bud-hists and the repository of a large collection of Buddhist scriptures. It's a beautiful and impressive building whose interior is covered with murals and lavishly decorated altars holding images of the Buddha, Bodhisatvas and Tantric deities. There are also a g^eat many fine wood carvings. It's open every day to visitors but no photography is allowed inside.
Deer Park: This is a popular viewpoint right on the edge of the ridge next to the Secretariat building. In it are, as you might expect, deer and an image of the Buddha which is a replica of that standing at Sarnath in India.
Enchey Monastery: Situated next to the Tourist Lodge, about three km from the centre of town, is the 200-year old Enchey Monastery. It's well worth a visit particularly if you're in Gangtok during December when annual religious dances are performed here.
Lall Market: If you've been to Kathmandu or Darjeeling then this market will come as a disappointment. It has none of their colour, magic or range of products and is of marginal interest only.
Rumtek Monastery: Rumtek is visible from Gangtok on the other side of the Ranipool valley at about the same elevation yet it's 24 km away by road. The monastery is the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.The sect was founded in the 11th century by Lama Marpa who was the disciple of the Indian guru, Naropa. It later split into several sub-sects of which the most important are Duk-pa, Kagyu-pa and Karma-pa. The teachings of the sect are orally transmitted to the disciples. The main monastery here is a recent structure which was built by the Gyalwa Karmapa strictly according to the traditional architectural designs on which the monastery he came from in Tibet was constructed.
Pemayangtse Monastery & Tashiding Monasteries: Pemayangtse Monastery, situated at a height of 2085 metres, is the second oldest monastery in Sikkim and belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect. This Tantric sect was established by the Indian teacher Padma Sambhava in the 8th century. All monasteries of this sect are characterised by a prominent image of this teacher together with two female consorts. The followers of the sect wear red caps and the monastery here is the head of all others in Sikkim.
Phodang Monastery: This is the farthest you are permitted to go in eastern Sikkim without further entanglement with bureaucracy. Phodang Monastery at Thumlong, 40 km north of Gangtok, has recently been rebuilt but just above it is Labrang Gompa where the original construction is still intact Labrang is accessible only by bridle path and you should allow about half an hour to get there from Phodang.
|
