Located around 111 km from West Gangtok, Pemayangtse Gompa (Pemayangtse Monastery) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region. Settled in Pemayangtse town, the impressive gompa was put up by Lama Lhatsun Chempo, mainly for ‘ta-sang’ lamas (the purest of monks).
Pemayangtse Gompa in Gangtok boasts several ancient Buddhist antique idols and unique sculptures. However, the prime highlight of the monastery is a seven-tiered painted wooden structure portraying Guru Rimpoche’s Heavenly Palace, Santoplari. The structure is there on the first floor of the monastery, and it took around five years to finish single-handedly by Late Dungzin Rimpoche.
The place also holds the famous Chaam monk dance on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar. Dressed up in beautiful outfits, lamas participate in Chaam to represent the Mahakala and Guru Drag-damar. Visit this gompa with our Sikkim tour package, which is customizable as you can modify the itinerary as per your requirements. Contact us for more information and to book a tour with us!
Best time to visit Pemayangtse Monastery
March to June is considered the ideal time to visit Pemayangtse Gompa. The reason is the weather is cool during this period which makes it pleasant for sightseeing.
However, to experience the Chaam dance at the gompa, you have to visit during the Losar festival in February and March.
How to reach Pemayangtse Monastery
Once you arrive in Gangtok, cab rides are available from Gangtok to Pelling (126 km away). On the route, you can stop at Namchi for some refreshments. Once you arrive in Pelling, you can check-in at a hotel, and from there, it is just a couple of kilometers to Pemayangtse Monastery. Making travel hassle-free, read here the fully guide on how to reach Gangtok.
Pemayangtse Monastery rules & tips
Following are some of the things to be aware of before entering the monastery.
- Visitors must take permission from the monastery officials before taking pictures.
- Don’t talk loudly at the monastery premises to maintain the sanctity of the place.
- Monks do not eat in the afternoon, so it is requested not to have snacks around them at that time.
- Visitors are asked not to litter or carry food items inside the gompa.
- Don’t touch, sit or clear near the Buddha statue or on the platform where it is kept.
- While exiting, walk backward, and after you have enough distance between the statue and yourself, you can turn your back.
While touring Pemayangtse Monastery, take some time to prepare a list of famous tourist places in Gangtok for a wonderful experience.
