Phodong Monastery Gangtok Entry Fee
- No Entry Fee
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Phodong Monastery Gangtok Address: Sikkim, 737119, India
Phodong (Phodang) Monastery, located at a distance of about 39 km from Gangtok in North Sikkim, is one of the sacred Buddhist shrines in India. Belonging to the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, this monastery was established by Gyurmed Namgyal, who was the fourth king of Sikkim.
It is situated at an altitude of approximately 1317 m above sea level. Also known as Karma Thubten Tashi Chokhorling, this monastery is home to more than 250 Buddhist monks. Besides devotees, this sacred place of worship receives a lot of tourists and nature lovers. Its scenic location makes it an ideal destination to sit down and relax, and just feel at peace.
History of Phodong Monastery in Gangtok
This Buddhist pilgrimage was founded in 1740 AD by King Gyurmed Namgyal. This holy place, however, was damaged due to an earthquake and was later on rebuilt by the Lamas in 1977.
During the period of its dismantlement and reconstruction, the experts from the Delhi National Museum Institute were able to extract a few old fresco paintings, which now are being persevered by the Department of Restoration at the present monastery building.
This monastery received worldwide popularity after a famous French explorer Alexandra David Neel, wrote about it in her writings. She came under the tutelage of monk Lachen Gomchen in 1912 and began learning about Buddhism.
Alexandra practiced meditation near the monastery in a cave, and was later patronized by Chogyal Sidkyong Tulku. She was also gifted a statue of Buddha, which was returned by her family to the monastery, after her demise in 1969. Few of her photos have been kept inside the monastery.
Since the Phodong Monastery is one of the important tourist attractions of North Sikkim, the tourism department of the state of Sikkim has been funding the remaining renovation works of the monastery that includes restoration of old fresco paintings.
Architecture of Phodong Monastery of Gangtok
The monastery is quite popular among tourists due to its captivating murals, beautiful paintings and intriguing fresco paintings. This two-storey structure has a typical Buddhist monastery architecture style.
Things to do in Phodong Monastery Gangtok
Spending some peaceful time at the Phodong Monastery and enjoying the vistas of the surrounding valleys and scenic mountains is a must on a visit to this place.
Tourists can come and visit this monastery any time of the year; however, the best time to come here is during December-January, when the Phodong Festival is underway. During the festival, the monastery is decorated with lights and the celebrations are of the next level.
The highlight of this festival, apart from the rituals, is the Chaam Dance, which is performed by the monks.
Besides this place of worship, tourists can also visit other nearby monasteries including Lhabrung Monastery and Tumlong Palace & Monastery.
Gangtok Phodong Monastery Timings and Entry fee
There is no entry fee to visit this sacred Buddhist monastery. It remains open to the public from 8 am to 5 pm on all days.
How to reach Phodong Monastery Gangtok
The distance between Gangtok and the Phodong Monastery is around 139 km, and this distance can be covered in 1 hour 30 minutes by opting for a taxi ride from top car rental companies in Gangtok.
On the other hand, Gangtok can be reached from any part of India through air, rail or road services.
By Air: The airport nearest to Gangtok is the Pakyong Airport; however, it receives less number of flights as it is a seasonal airport. Therefore, tourists planning to come to Gangtok are suggested to book their tickets to reach the Bagdogra International Airport in West Bengal.
Located at a distance of around 123 km from Gangtok, this airport receives flights from across India on a daily basis. On reaching this airport, tourists can choose to travel to Gangtok city by hiring a private taxi.
An alternative way to reach Gangtok by air is from the airport itself, and it is the helicopter service. The helicopter ride is 20 to 30 minutes but not always available due to irregular weather changes.
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 India 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. Generally, the taxi ride is 2 hours while the bus ride is 4 hours. Another railway station close to Gangtok is the Siliguri Railway Station, which lies at a distance of around 112 km.
By Road: Gangtok receives daily buses from major cities of eastern India including Kolkata, Siliguri, Bagdogra, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Phodong Monastery Gangtok
- Tourists need to obtain permission from the authorities to visit North Sikkim.
- Maintaining the sanctity of the sacred place is advised.
- Littering inside the premises is not allowed.
Make the most of your trip by booking a Gangtok tour package with us. At Gangtok Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, we offer a variety of packages so that you have the best time while exploring the top sightseeing places of Gangtok. You can choose the package that suits you best or ask for customisation according to your preferences. Get in touch with us by filling the Contact Us form.
