Lachung Monastery Gangtok Entry Fee
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Lachung Monastery Gangtok Address: Faka, Singring, Lachung, Sikkim, 737120, India
One of the popular and sacred places of worship in the state of Sikkim is the Lachung Monastery (Gompa), which lies in the town of Lachung in the Lachung Valley of North Sikkim. Lachung, meaning ‘a small mountain’ in the local language, is perched at an altitude of 3000 m at the confluence of Lachung and Lachen rivers, both of which are the tributaries of the Teesta River. It lies at a distance of around 118 km from the city of Gangtok.
The monastery, surrounded by beautiful apple orchards and tall trees, is famous for its ancient statues and delicate murals. Interestingly, it is the only religious place in the town of Lachung as most locals residing here are Buddhists. The monks and the locals are simple and kind people, who are always warm to the visitors, with few of them offering guided tours of the town without any charge.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims and tourists visit the sacred Lachung Monastery, which follows the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. However, this number increases in the month of December as this is the time when the monks perform religious dance at the monastery as part of the annual mask dance event.
Since Lachung is the last town before the India-Chinese border, tourists need to obtain permission from the concerned authorities to visit this place. This place was once a trading post between India and Tibet, before Sikkim became a part of India in 1950.
History of Lachung Monastery
The Lachung Monastery, also referred to as Samten Cheoling Monastery, was constructed in 1850. Previously, it used to be a place of worship for Bon (a Tibetan religious tradition) followers but was converted later into a Buddhist worship place by the local people to strengthen the faith of Buddhism in the region.
In 1930, a statue of Guru Rinpoche, statue of Lord Buddha and a copper statue of Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) along with Tengyur and Kangyur texts were brought from Tibet to this monastery as basic religious treasures. The monastery was last renovated in 1983 by the Buddhist lamas.
All religious rituals as well as activities including local religious meetings, community prayers and appointments of the different positions of the monasteries are carried out inside the premises. However, the prominent event of the monastery is the Annual Mask Dance festival, which is performed by monks on the 28th and 29th day of the Tibetan calendar.
This event is held for about five days, during which the entire town and tourists from across the globe witness an amazing festival. An interesting aspect of this festival is that each household of Lachung is provided a reserved spot in the pavilion to sit and enjoy the performances.
Also, it is mandatory that every household needs to donate a small amount of wood and cash to hold this festival successfully. Chyam is another festival, which is celebrated at the monastery.
Architecture of Lachung Monastery
The Lachung Monastery is a small but colorful and beautiful monastery in Sikkim. This two-storey structure has twin metal dragons above its porch that features a pair of heavy prayer wheels. The main hall consists of the huge statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is believed to be the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.
Besides that there are numerous ancient wall murals and intricately carved statues inside the monastery. This place of worship has a huge compound at the front and towards its back. There is a long staircase that leads into the forest, from where scintillating views of the Lachung valley can be seen.
Things to do in Lachung Monastery Gangtok
Tourists visiting the Lachung Monastery will definitely enjoy the surroundings of it that consist of snow-clad mountains, scenic river and valley, and rich flora and fauna. They will also enjoy exploring the different wall murals and ancient statues kept inside the monastery.
In addition, tourists can also visit the Handicraft and Handloom Center, located inside the premises. Since the town of Lachung is located at such an altitude above sea level, it serves as the base camp for various mountaineering expeditions of Sikkim.
Lachung Monastery Timings and Entry fee
There is no entry fee to visit the Lachung Monastery in Lachung. It remains open to the public on all days of the week, from 7 am to 7 pm.
How to reach Lachung Monastery Gangtok
The travel distance between Gangtok and Lachung is about 118 km, and this can be covered in approximately 4-5 hours by opting for a private taxi from top car rental companies in Gangtok or local bus service.
To reach the city of Gangtok, tourists can either opt for air, rail or road services.
By Air: The airport closest to the city of Gangtok is the Pakyong Airport; however, it receives a fewer number of flights. Therefore, tourists planning to come to Gangtok are advised to book their tickets to the Bagdogra International Airport.
Located at a distance of approximately 123 km from Gangtok, this airport receives flights from across the country on a daily basis. From the airport, tourists can choose to travel to Gangtok by hiring a private taxi.
There is an alternative way to reach Gangtok by air from the airport, and it is the helicopter service. The helicopter ride is 20 to 30 minutes but not always available due to the frequent changes in weather conditions.
By Rail: Tourists who wish to travel to Gangtok by train need to book their tickets to the New Jalpaiguri Railway, which is the closest railway station near Gangtok. It is located at an approximate distance of 118 km in West Bengal.
This railway station receives regular trains from across the country on a regular basis. Tourists on reaching this station can hire a private taxi or they can travel by bus public/private to reach Gangtok. Typically, the taxi ride is 2 hours while the bus ride is of 4 hours.
By Road: Kolkata, Siliguri, Bagdogra, Darjeeling and Kalimpong are some of the cities in the eastern part of the country, from where regular bus services are available to Gangtok.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Lachung Monastery Gangtok
- Tourists need to obtain permission from the authorities to visit North Sikkim, where this monastery is located.
- Maintaining the sanctity of the sacred place is advised.
- Littering inside the premises is not allowed.
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