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Dubdi
It means "The Retreat". It is the first monastery built in Sikkim in 1701 .It is located on a hill-top, 3 kms. trek from Yuksom.

Tashiding
It is nestled on a rooftop between the Rangit and Rathong rivers and is surrounded by a profusion of prayer flags.Built in 1717 by Ngadak Sempa Chembo (one of the three lamas who coronated the king) belonging to the Nyingmapa order. It is a 45 minutes hike up from the Tashiding village (West Sikkim). The Bumchu festival is held here in the month of January.

Pemayantse
The perfect sublime lotus is one of the state's most important monasttry of the Nyingmapa order. It was built arround the seventeenth century by Latseen Chembo (one of the three lamas who coronated the king). It is a three storied structure filled with wall painting, sculptures and antiques. On the third floor there is athe Zandog Phalri - an amazing seven tiered painted wooden model of the abode of Guru Rimpoche, complete with rainbows, angels and whole panoply of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The model was built single handedly by late Dugzin Rimpoche in 5 years. In Febuary month the Chaam or Masked Dance is performed by the monks.

Sangachoeling
It is the second oldest monastery in Sikkim and has a magical position high on a ridge. A 45 minutes walk, west from Pelling, past the helipad and through the forest, leads to the monastery.

Phodong
Phodong monastery was the most important of Sikkim's three monasteries of Kargyupa order before the 16th Karmapa established himself at Rumtek in 1959 after his fled from Tibet. Phodong is a fairly recent structure though the original one was founded in 1740. It is about 40 kms. from north of Gangtok. The main puja is performed on 28th and 29th day of the 10th month of Tibetan Calender.

Phensang
The Phensang monastery, under the Nyingmapa orderis situated on the gentle slop stretching from Kabi to Phodong with perhaps one of the best landscape in the region. The monastery was built in 1721 during the time of Jigme Pawo. It was gutted by fire in 1947 and rebuilt in 1948 through the efforts of the lamas. The anual festival of Chamm is performed on 28th and 29th day of the 10th month of Tibetan Calender.

Labrang
Labrang monastery follows the Nyingmapa order. It was established on 1844. It is 1 km. uphill from Phodong.

Lachen
Lachen monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa order.It was built in 1806. It is situated in a small village in North Sikkim.

Lanchung
Perched on a hill-top surrounded by apple orchard Lanchung monastery is the beautiful monastery in Lanchung. It was built in 1880 and belongs to the Nyingmapa order. It is in the quaint Bhutia village of Lachung.

Enchey
Lama Durptob Karpo is said to have flown in here from Mainam Hill more than 200 years ago and he built a small hermitage at the spot of Enchey monastery.In 1901 during the regin of Sidkong Tulku, a monastery was built in the form of a Chinese Pagoda. It belongs to Nyingmapa order.The monastery is 2 kms. away from the main Gangtok town, near Telecom tower. The main puja is held here on the 18th and 19th day of the 12th month of Tibetan Calender.

Rumtek

Rumtek monastery is the seat of the Gyolwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyuap order of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built in 1960. The Kagyuap order was founded in the 11th century by Lama Marpa, the disciples of Indian Guru Naropa. It is one of the huge and wealthy monastery in Sikkim. It is said that the 1st Karmapa spent many years meditating in a cave and ten thousand fairies came to congratulate him and each offered a strand of her hair. These strands of hair were woven into a black hat which was passed down and is still worn by the karmapas on cerimonial occasions. Behind the main monastery is the Karma Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies and the building opposite to it is a small hall featuring a beautiful jewel studded Chorten, which contains the ashes and the bones of the 16th Gyolwa Karmapa. Half a kilometer uphill from the monastery there is a hermotage in which monks go into complete seclusion and can meditate for a period upto 3 years. It is 24 kms. away from Gangtok. The religious dance called called the Tse-chu is performed on the 10th day of the 5th month of Tibetan Calender (May) and depicts events in Guru Rimpoche's life. A chamm or masked dance, representing the battle between good and evil, takes place 2 days before the Tibetan New Year (arround late February or early March).

Ralong
The monastery of Ralong is one of the oldest monastery in Sikkim. It belongs to Kagyupa order. It is situated towords the north of Ravangla and is 45 minutes drive from it. The anual dance ritual and fair is held every year in the month of December during the Lossong Festival.