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Location:
24-km Southwest From Gangtok, Sikkim
Originally Built In: 1717
Rebuilt in: 1960's
Historical Significance: The Main Seat Of The
Karma Kagyu Lineage
A 24-km drive
from Gangtok, through the beautiful, bewitching countryside leads one to
Rumtek. Rumtek, is the seat of the Karmapa Lama who heads the Kagyupa
Sect of Buddhism. Tankhas (also spelt as Thangkas) and frescoes decorate
the walls of this ancient monastery, now renovated. His holiness Gyalwa
Karmapa was the 16th reincarnate. The style of the monastery, strictly
traditional has been patterned on the lines of the Lamas series of
Tibet.
About The
Monastery
The first
monastery was built in 1717 but crumbled to ruins due to aging. The
present monastery was constructed by his holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa in
1960s.
The monastery is
certainly the largest in Sikkim sprawling over a huge area. It includes
a school built on modern lines to impart teachings in Tibetan and
various aspects of Buddhism. An aviary containing the most exotic birds
also exists in the monastery complex. Some distance above the monastery
is a hermitage in which monks go into complete seclusion for meditation
for period's upto 3 years.
Celebrations
The main
offerings / dances of Rumtek also called the "Tse-Chu Chaams"
are held on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar around
June. The 'Kagyat' dances are held on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth
month of the Tibetan calendar.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
The Nehru
Botanical Garden
At walking
distance from Rumtek monastery this garden contains exotic variety of
flora and is a good picnic spot. A panoramic view of Gangtok from here
is awe-inspiring. There is a regular bus service to Rumtek; taxis and
sightseeing tours are also available from tourist office, Gangtok.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Road: The one-day
city tours run by the tourist office in Gangtok include an hour in
Rumtek, which is not nearly long enough. There's also one SNT bus from
Gangtok each day, which leaves in the evening and returns the next
morning. Shared jeeps also leave Gangtok from Lall Bazaar everyday.
PLACES TO STAY
There are a few
hotels to choose from in Rumtek. The monastery's own Hotel Kunga Delek
opposite the entrance to the courtyard, has small clean rooms with
attached bathroom, there are good views and basic food is available.
There is also a guesthouse situated outside the monastery coutyard.
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