| Enjoy
the Sikkimese breakfast and transfer for
the sightseeing around Gangtok Monasteries.
The places you will be visiting are as
follows.
Enchey Monastery - About 3 km from the
centre of town, a small hermitage was built
by lama Druptob Karpo (renowned for his
power of flying) at this spot after he
flew here from Maenam Hill in South Sikkim
about more than 200 years ago. During the
reign of Sidkeong Tulku, 1909-1910. The
present monastery was built in the form
of Chinese Pagoda. It follows Nyingmapa
order. The annual puja is celebrated with
religious masked dances on the 18th and
19th days of the 11 month of the Tibetan
Buddhist calendar corresponding to the
month of December.
Do-drul Chorten (Stupa) - Situated on
a hillock, it is a five minutes drive from
Gangtok town. Built by late Trulshik Rimpoche
in 1946, head of the Nyingmapa order and
the late Chogyal Tashi Namgyal in 1957
to invoke the Gods for the peace and tranquillity
in the State. Set of Kagyur holy books,
relics, complete mantras, rare mandalas
of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya) and other
religious objects are found inside the
Chorten. A small Chorten known as Jhang
Chub is built beside the Phurba Chorten
in memory of Trulshik Rimpoche who passed
away in 1962. Few yards below the Chorten
is the rock known as “DO-TA-PU” or “Stone
Horse”. There is a monastery close
by called “Guru Lakhang” with
the state of Guru Padmasambhava and Guru
Snong Zisil Gnen, the incarnated one of
the first. Around the Chorten is installed
the ‘180’ Mani-Lhakor or prayer
wheels. The Chorten has the sacred topped
stupa.
Research Institute of Tibetology - The
Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology
is a world-renowned research centre for
Tibetan Buddhism and is well stocked with
rare books and manuscripts on Buddhism.
Contains rare collection of antique like
coins, statues, rosaries, antic documents,
brass bells, dorjis, and thankas. Ti has
a collection of almost 30,000 volumes on
diverse subjects like astrology, philosophy,
magic and religion. It conducts research
in the fields of language and culture of
Tibet. The foundation was laid in 1957
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was
inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
in October 1958. It also has a number of
religious art and craftwork as well as
books for sale. It’s vast wealth
of Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts
attracts scholars from all corners of the
world. The institute is open from 10.00
AM to 4.00 PM, Monday to Saturday and is
closed on Sunday, Second Saturdays and
on Government holidays.
Rumtek Monastery - It is about 24 km From
Gangtok nested in a lovely landscape. The
first monastery was built in 1717 At Rumtek
by the then Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal, but
was destroyed by the earthquake and aging.
His Holiness the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa
constructed the second monastery in 1960.
It is the headquarters of the Kagyu-pa
(Red Hat) sect of the Tibetan lamaistic
Buddhism. It is an excellent replica of
the original Kagyu headquarters at Tsurpu
in Tibet. It houses some of the world’s
most unique art objects, ancient manuscripts
and icons. Above the Rumtek Dharma Chakra
Centre is a hermitage where the monks go
into complete seclusion for meditation
for a period of three years. The important
chaam (religious masked dance) is performed
on the 10th day of the 5th month of the
Tibetan Calendar, and presence eight manifestations
of the Guru Rimpoche. This is highly colourful
and spectacular and draws many pilgrims
and visitors. Prayers at about 0400 and
1800 hours.
Tsuklakhang - The palace monastery or
Royal Chapel of the Chogyals opens only
once a year for the civilians in the last
week of December for the Lossong festival
when the famous Black Hat dance portrays
the triumph of good over evil. This was
once the most important monastery where
all the important national and religious
festival was celebrated here. It was the
site of the coronation ceremonies of the
kings of Sikkim, of royal marriages and
of celebration ceremonies of the kings
of Sikkim, of royal marriages and of celebrations
to mark victories. Tsuklakhang, standing
on the high ridge has a large and impressive
collection of scriptures. Tsuklakhang is
a very elegant structure in typical Sikkimese
style with carved and painted woodworks,
murals, wall hangings and priceless Buddhist
treasures. Lavishly decorated altars hold
images of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and
Tantric deities. Among the important festivals
still celebrate at Tsuklakhang are Pang
Lhabsol held in mid September in honour
of Mount Khangchendzonga the guardian deity
of Sikkim, Kagyad in early December, which
features a dance – drama enacted
by Buddhist monks, and losar is strictly
prohibited |
Sikkim is the 22nd state of India that
came into existence with effect from 26th
April, 1975. Sikkim state being a part
of inner mountain ranges of Himalayas,
is hilly having varied elevation ranging
from 300 to 8540 meters. days But the habitable
areas are only up to the altitude of 2100
mtrs. Constituting only 20% of the total
area of the state. Sikkim has been divided
into four districts and each district has
further been bifurcated into two sub-divisions
for administrative purpose. 
