Pemayangtse Monastery

Where

Pemayangtse, about 2 km from Pelling, Gyalshing district

Altitude

About 2,100 m

Distance

About 2 km from Pelling; 110–115 km from Gangtok

Timings

Roughly 8am–4pm or 5pm (reports vary)

Entry fee

Small fee reported (about ₹20); some sources say free

Permit

None

Best time

October–May; Cham dances in February/March

Time needed

1 hour

Pemayangtse Monastery stands on a ridge just below Pelling and is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Sikkim. Its name means "perfect sublime lotus". It is the head monastery of the Nyingma order in Sikkim, and historically its head lama anointed Sikkim's kings.

History

• 1647–1651: Lhatsun Chempo, one of the three lamas who crowned the first Chogyal at Yuksom, founded a small shrine here. Sources differ on the exact year.
• 1705: it was enlarged into the present monastery under the third Chogyal, Chakdor Namgyal, whose capital was at nearby Rabdentse.
• 1710: consecrated, according to most accounts.

Pemayangtse was built for ta-tshang, "pure monks" of unbroken lineage and without physical defect, chosen from Sikkim's Bhutia families. The rule still applies, and only its monks may use the title. A royal decree once required the second of every three sons in a Bhutia family to become a monk here.

What to see

• Zangdok Palri, on the top floor: a seven-tiered painted wooden model of Guru Padmasambhava's celestial palace, made by Dungzin Rinpoche over about five years. It is the monastery's treasure, and most visitors miss it because they stop on the ground floor.
• The main hall, with old murals and statues of Guru Rinpoche and his manifestations.
• The view north to Kanchenjunga from the monastery grounds.

Pemayangtse, Rabdentse and the pilgrim circuit

Pemayangtse sits on Sikkim's old Buddhist pilgrimage circuit: Dubdi Monastery at Yuksom, Norbugang, Tashiding, the Rabdentse ruins, Sangachoeling and Khecheopalri Lake. The ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim's second capital, are a short walk through forest from the road just below the monastery.

How to reach Pemayangtse

It is about 2 km from Pelling, five minutes by car. Pelling is 4.5–5 hours from Gangtok or NJP. See our Gangtok to Pelling cab and Sikkim tour packages.

Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing. Drive times are what we see on these mountain roads, not map estimates.

Timings, fee and etiquette

• Hours: roughly 8am to 4pm or 5pm; sources disagree, so go in the morning.
• Fee: a small entry fee of about ₹20 is commonly reported; some guides say entry is free.
• Photography inside the halls is usually not allowed. Ask first.
• Dress modestly and walk clockwise around the halls.

Weather and best time

Monthly averages for 2015–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the site's elevation (about 2069 m). Rain and snow are rated relative to this location's own year.

• October–December: clear skies and the best mountain views.
• February–March: the Cham dance festival, usually in the 12th Tibetan month around Losar. Dates follow the lunar calendar.
• June–September: monsoon cloud; the monastery is quiet.

Things most guides don't tell you

• Climb to the top floor for Zangdok Palri. If it is locked, a monk will often open it if you ask politely.
• Walk to Rabdentse in the late afternoon, when the light on the ruins and the Kanchenjunga view behind is best.
• Our guide to Sikkim's most beautiful monasteries compares Pemayangtse with Rumtek and others.

Nearby

• Pelling Skywalk and Chenrezig statue, a few kilometres along the ridge.
• Khecheopalri Lake, about 25 km away.
• Buddha Park, Ravangla, on the way back towards Gangtok.