Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in East Sikkim, perched at about 1500 meters elevation with a four-story main temple topped by golden ornamental work. The complex houses religious artwork, accommodation spaces, and serves as a study center for Buddhist scholars.

The monastery was destroyed during a 18th century Nepalese invasion and lay in ruins for a long time before reconstruction began. In 1966, the 16th Karmapa oversaw its rebuilding, restoring it as a center for Buddhist practice.

The walls of the main shrine display paintings showing the Kagyu lineage and various Buddhist saints, revealing how this religious tradition shapes the community's spiritual life. You can see these artworks reflected in how monks and visitors move through and use the spaces each day.

The monastery sits roughly 24 kilometers from Gangtok and can be reached via mountain roads from the city. You can arrange accommodation on-site, and photography is generally allowed in most areas after getting permission from the monks.

Within the monastery grounds sits a golden stupa holding relics of the 16th Karmapa, serving as a sacred memorial to this important religious leader. The complex also houses a Buddhist studies institute where scholars engage in deep study of classical texts.