Pemayangtse Monastery Sikkim

About Pemayangtse Monastery

The Pemayangtse Monastery is situated on the summit of the hill above Gyalzing Bazaar of West Sikkim. It is a Buddhist monastery in Pemayangtse. The monastery was planned, designed and founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705. It is one of the oldest and premier monasteries of Sikkim, also the most famous in west Sikkim. The Pemayangtse Monastery is a Buddhist monastery near Pelling in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, located 110 km west of Gangtok.

The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim. The monks of this monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias of Sikkim.

Pemayangtse Monastery Architecture:

The Monastery is located on the top of a hill in the west district of Sikkim. The Monastery is at an elevation of 2085 meters built with a scenic backdrop of snow-capped mountains on 2 sides. This is a 3-storied structure depicts the paintings on its walls and statues of saints and rinpoches deified on various floors.

The main statue of Padmasambhava in his wrathful form as Dorje Bhrupa Vijarkila with multiple heads arms is seen here. It is a must-visit a place as it offers the reflection of the rich architecture and the unwavering faith of the Buddhist followers. The main temple has colorfully painted doors and windows depict the Tibetan design.

Padmasambhava’s 8 avatars in the savage form are also seen here. Of particular note it is a seven-tiered painted wooden structure, portraying Guru Rimpoche’s Heavenly Palace known as “Sanghthokpalri” also spelled “Zandog-palri”, on the top floor of the monastery. The painting has scenes of rainbows, angels with “whole panoply of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas”. This structure was constructed by Dungzin Rimpoche over a period of 5 years.