History :-

The largest monastery in Sikkim sprawling over a huge area. It was originally built in 1730 by the ninth Karmapa but was destroyed by fire and was reconstructed to the present state by the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in 1960. 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 up to 3 years. Rumtek Monastery - Sikkim It is believed that the monastery is an absolute replica of the original Kagyurpa Monastery in Tsurphu, Tibet. The center houses some of the world's most unique religious scriptures, manuscripts and religious art objects.

How to reach :-

Rumtek Monastery is situated in the state of Sikkim, India. It lies at a distance of approximately 24 km from the capital city of Gangtok. It serves as the seat of His holiness Gyawla Karmapa the XVI, the head of the Karma Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. When the 16th Karmapa came to Sikkim, Rumtek Monastery, then Dharma Chakra Centre, was in ruins. He got the monastery rebuilt and it got completed after four years, in 1966. Rumtek Gompa of India is almost a replica of the original Kagyu headquarters in Tibet.