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 Yuksam,
the first Capital of Sikkim - About 35 kms from Pelling the next
great tourist interest, after the visiting some interesting tourists
spots on the way is Yuksam. The first capital of Sikkim at the height of
5500ft, where the three great Buddhist monks from Tibet arrived here and
eventfully they enthroned the first King by name Phintsog Namgyal in the
year 1641, the beginning of the Namgyal dynasty that ruled Sikkim for
332 years. The names of these three Monks are Gyalwa Lhatsun Namkha
Jigme, Kathok Rigzin Chenpo and Ngadak Sampa Chenpo. Lhatsun Namkha
Jigme personally was responsible for making the Ngingma sect as
influential sect among other sects in Sikkim. The coronation throne with
a great stupa and the remaining of the palace do still exist and
tourists can visit them. On the top hill about one hour walk high up
from Yuksam there is the first oldest monastery in Sikkim named, Dubdi
that was built by Lhatsun Namkha Jigme in the year 1670. It is said that
two more monasteries did exist in the beginning at two different places
at Yuksam where two other monks Kathok and Ngadak had their seats .Later
these monasteries ran down and are not remaining . His Holiness
Yangthang Renpoche who lives at Yuksam kindly built two new monasteries
on the same sites . H.H.Yangthang Renpoche is one of the great Buddhist
reincarnated masters of Ngingma school of Tibetan Buddhism who live in
Sikkim. He is the incarnation of one of the treasure revealers Terton
Dorjee Dechen Lingpa. He also has his monastery in Kham province of
Tibet. He was born in the village of Yangthang in West Sikkim and is the
ceremonially admitted monk of Pemayangtse Monastery. At present he is
the master for many monks and living Buddhist practitioners within and
outside Sikkim. Yuksam not only famous for its historical importance but
it is also the base take up point for high altitude trekkers and
mountaineer where from Dzongri, Goechala and other snow peaks are next
destinations. Yuksam where the tourism in different fields is the
profession and source of income for many locals is a nice little village
with rich ethnic culture and way of life. The other worth visiting spots
within Yuksam are the Kathoke lake and helipad where the views are
superb. The old monuments particularly the coronation throne and Dubdi
monastery have recently been restored by the Archeological survey of
India.
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