Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre

The Rumtek Monastery is one of Sikkim's most significant temples, located on a hill 23 km away from Gangtok. Originally named the Dharma Chakra Centre, it is part of the Kargyu group of Buddhism that started in Tibet in the 12th century. The beautiful green mountains around the abbey offer a calm site for spiritual reflections.

The design of the amazing church is likely one of the best in the world. The beautiful Rumtek Monastery has a building for worship and living spaces for the monks. This building was made to share the lessons of Buddhism with everyone. There is a path around the beautiful building where monks, pilgrims, and guests walk in a circle around the monastery, known as Kora.

Historical Significance and Origins of Rumtek Monastery

The beautiful Rumtek Monastery has a golden tower and several carvings that belonged to the 16th Karmapa. Many believe that building the Golden Stupa helps remove the challenges of His Highness's rebirth—the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, whose name is Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.

It is one of the most popular places to visit in Gangtok and a beautiful sight for all visitors. It also holds many unique items and some of the world's special holy texts. The immense prayer hall in the beautiful temple is a must-see, filled with lovely paintings, statues, and thangkhas.

Architectural Beauty of Rumtek Monastery

Many people commonly believe that constructing the Golden Stupa helps remove the challenges of His Highness's rebirth. Inside, you'll see wall panels, drawings, traditional Tibetan architecture, statues, and paintings. The workers made a prayer hall inside the main building, taking inspiration from traditional designs.

It includes a sacred text, Thangkas (paintings), silk flags, and a 10-foot-tall statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There are four idols in this monastery: Virupaksha, Virudaka, Dritarashtra, and Vaishravana. These are the Earth's defenders.

The facts indicate that builders first constructed Rumtek Monastery in India using all the traditional architectural designs, and it later became the model for various other monasteries throughout the country. 

They rebuilt the 300-year-old Rumtek Monastery about 2 km from the Dharma Chakra Center. The fourth Chogyal originally built it.

Festivals and Cultural Celebrations

Rumtek Monastery holds lively events like Losar and Tse-Chu, celebrating Sikkim's rich customs with masked dances, rites, and prayers. These events show the spiritual importance of Tibetan Buddhism. Discover Gangtok tour packages to enjoy the exciting events at Rumtek and experience its rich culture.