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15 Places to Visit in Gangtok for Travelling Architect

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11. Gonjang Monastery | Places to Visit in Gangtok

Gonjang Monastery [Photograph].(Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)
Gonjang Monastery [Photograph].(Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)
For those who have seen Sikkim’s sites and natural beauty, Gonjang Monastery would be the perfect end to an inspiring day. Gonjang Monastery is located close to Tashi View Point and was founded in 1981. Its founder has been recognised as an incarnation of Yolmo Terton Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo, a 15th-century Terton Nyingmapa. The feature that makes this place a fundamental site in the history and culture of the country is that the monastery has an impressive appearance from the outside, with a huge Buddha statue on the inside. Tibetan and English language classes are given to the young monks, and lectures about comparative English and Tibetan philosophy. Without any doubt, a must-see to be included in a Gangtok travel itinerary.

Gonjang Monastery [Photograph]  (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)
Gonjang Monastery [Photograph]  (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)
Gonjang Monastery [Photograph]  (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)
Gonjang Monastery [Photograph]  (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Valke, D. (2022)

12. Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Featuring architecture of Tibetan origin, Rumtek Monastery is the largest in the Eastern Himalayas. The monastery was first founded in the 16th century by Wangchuk Dorje, 9th Karmapa Lama. It was originally called the Dharma Chakra Center and consisted of a sanctuary temple and a monastery. It is located 23 km from Gangtok, and it is surrounded by verdant mountains, contributing to the entire complex’s architectural design. The main structure of the building is built in the traditional designs of Tibetan monasteries. As a matter of fact, the interiors are totally covered with murals, frescoes, sculptures, and paintings. There are 4 major statues in the monastery, Virupaksha, Virudaka, Dhritarashtra, and Vaishravana, which are seen as the guardians of the universe. Rumtek was the first monastery built in India with all of the traditional architectural patterns, and it became a model for various other monasteries later built throughout India.

Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Rumtek Monastery. [Photograph]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)

13. Phodong Monastery

Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Phodong Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, India. This Monastery was founded by the fourth King, Gyurmed Namgyal, but then during the course of time, an earthquake caused damage to the old structure, which had to be demolished. In 1977, the Lamas reconstructed a new monastery, which was larger than the previous one, with financial assistance from the government and their own contribution. Currently, the monastery, which houses about 260 monks, is considered one of the most beautiful in the state. The walls of the monastery are decorated with murals and stunning paintings. From here, one can enjoy pictographic views of the surrounding mountains. 

Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Phodong Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)

14. Enchey Monastery

Window in Enchey Monastery, Gangtok [Own work]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Window in Enchey Monastery, Gangtok [Own work]. (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Gagnon, B. (2018)
Located three kilometres northeast of Gangtok, this monastery is approximately 200 years old. Its name means “the lonely temple,” and in fact, it is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Buddhists located in the city of Gangtok, bordered by stunning natural beauty. In addition to its stunning location, Enchey Monastery is also a well-known tourist destination for the Chaam dance (offered by monks wearing masks),, which is held on the 18th and 19th days of the 12th Lunar month under the Tibetan calendar. This world-famous monastery also has a golden dome on top and contains a variety of images of deities, religious objects, and goddesses. The walls of the prayer hall are covered entirely with paintings and murals of the four religious kings and the deities of the four cardinal directions. All of its design features, the colours, the shapes used, and the serene atmosphere of the place make it a perfect place of prayer and peacefulness.

Enchey Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Enchey Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Enchey Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)
Enchey Monastery [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim: India)_©Sommer, M. (2015)

15. Phensang Monastery | Places to Visit in Gangtok

India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
India-Sikkim [Photograph] (Gangtok, Sikkim India)_©Retlaw Snellac Photography (2008)
Phensang Monastery is also an important religious site in the northern part of Sikkim. The architecture of Phensang Monastery is in the classical Tibetan style, and it is ancient in all ways indeed. Phensang Monastery has a very spacious inside structure, with large halls and good ventilation. Some very old statues, paintings, sculptures and artifacts can be seen in the monastery. This place also has a designated space where classes are held for young lamas. Reviewing the history of the Monastery, it turns out that it was built in 1721, during the reign of Chogyal Tshudphud Namgyal. A year later, the dedication and perseverance of the lamas led to the complete reconstruction of the monastery, which was completely gutted by a devastating fire in 1947. The Phodong Monastery is counted amongst one of the six significant monasteries of Sikkim.

References

Outlook Traveller (2021). The Ultimate Guide To Gangtok: part II [Online]. Available at:https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/71306/the-ultimate-guide-to-gangtok-part-ii [Accessed date: 12/10/2022]

Tour India (2022). Visit Gangtok, beautiful location in Sikkim [Online]. Available at: https://www.tourindiawithdriver.com/it361/Visitare-Gangtok-bellissima-localita-del-Sikkim [Accessed date: 12/10/2022]

Beyond Wild Places (2021). A Travel Guide to Sikkim in Northeast India [Online]. Available at: https://beyondwildplaces.com/guide-to-sikkim-in-northeast-india/ [Accessed date: 12/10/2022]

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Author

Laura Salurso is an architecture and design graduate with a strong passion for traveling, writing and photography. She has always looked at things around her from an architectural point of view, observing and studying the strong and archetypical connection between architecture and people.

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