Monasteries of North East India

Your visit to North East Indian States is incomplete if you do not venture into its serene monasteries. Influenced by the Buddhism and Tibetan influence, Sikkim has the maximum number of monasteries. It is a lovely walk to the monasteries that are usually built at an altitude or a hilltop offering you a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Monasteries or Gumpas or Viharas have their origin in India when spiritual men felt the need for a secluded life away from the mundane lifestyle to seek peace and God. Set up in the most tranquil atmosphere it a feeling you will find hard to describe when you climb up the treacherous terrains to reach the Monastery. The climb in a way suggests that the way to spiritual life is not easy but once attained there is nothing but bliss. The Gumpas are built in pagoda style and are massive structures with large halls. A massive statue of Lord Buddha is installed on a pedestal with various inscriptions and pictorial graphics from Jakarta tales. Monasteries of North East India are beautiful structures built by the monks who felt that spiritual life is an integral part of life. The viharas were also great seats of learning.

Buddhist monasteries had been in existence for seven hundred years or more. In India, the monasteries developed into great seats of learning and many philosophical debates are conducted here. This tradition is still preserved here.

Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh

The Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is a great seat of learning and is famous for its 400-year-old Gumpa. Set up in a picturesque landscape the monastery is alighted on a 2760 m high ridge with a overlooking the magnificent valleys beyond. The gompa is called the Galden Namgyal Lhatse. It is a famous Mahayana monastery established in 1643-47 by Lodre Gyaltso. He was popularly called Meera Lama. The Gumpa is a residence for 500 monks who seek spirituality by praying, chanting hymns, meditating and debating on philosophical issues and Buddhist thoughts. The Tawang Monastery is also a center of art and craft. You will come across a beautiful collection of Tibetian paintings in cloth called Thangkas. The monastery houses a large gilded statue of Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha) in the prayer hall. The Tawang Monastery is a great site for pilgrims and scholars and attracts them from all over the world.

Monasteries in North East India are specially concentrated in Sikkim. There are about 200 monasteries in Sikkim and neighboring Darjeeling.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Situated in Gyalshing(West Sikkim) about 140 kms from Gangtok, Pemayangtse Monastery offers an impressive view of Mount khanchendzonga. This monastery belongs to the Nyingma order and all other Nyingma monasteries in Sikkim are subordinate to it.

Rumtek Monastery

The Rumtek Monastry built in 1960s by the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa when he took shelter in Sikkim after the Chinese attack. Built 24 Kms. from Gangtok, it bestows a beautiful view and is a famous center for unique art objects and manuscripts.

Enchey Monastery

Built on a hill top this monastery was built during the rule of Thutob Namgyal.

Tashiding Monastery

Belonging to the Nyingmapa order and about 40 Kms. from Gyalshing by road via Legship (West Sikkim), it is situated on the top of a hill. In between the Rathong River and the Rangit River, the monastery is walled by many prayer flags.

Dubdi Monastery

Built in 1700, Dubdi monastery is located near Yuksum on a hilltop. Dubdi meansing ‘retreat’ one can reach the monastery by foot.

Sinon Monastery

Located about 10 kms. from Tashiding on a hill top, Sinon monastery was built in 1716. Sinon means 'the suppressor of intense fear’.

Monasteries of North East India are spectacular places of worship for Buddhist Monks as well as great seats of learning. Log on to northeastindia.com to know about Monasteries of North East India.