Sangchen Pemayangtse Monastery is on top of a hill, at an altitude of 2,000+ metres. It is 8.9 km from Pelling and 140 km from the state capital Gangtok. It is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim.
Location of Sangchen Pemayangtse
Sangchen Pemayangtse monastery in Tibetan means “most secret lotus summit monastery”. The monastery commands fabulous views of the Himalayas. On a clear day you can see Mount Kanchenjunga in the Great Himalaya Range. The gardens within the monastery grounds are beautiful.
Entry to the Monastery
An entry fee of Rs. 20 per person is levied. Near the main entrance is a huge prayer wheel which occupies most of a small room. Photography is taboo inside the buildings.
History
The monastery was established by Lhatsun Chenpo in the seventeenth century. It was later developed during the reign of the third Chogyal, Chakdor Namgyal, monarch of Sikkim. He succeeded Tensung Namgyal in 1700.
Rituals
There are no elaborate rituals that the tourists can attend. The poojas are mainly for the locals. In the mornings, you can see the monks chanting or doing 108 perambulations of the building. Later, you may be able to watch monks chanting from their scriptures during prayers.
Architecture of Sangchen Pemayangtse Monastery
The architecture has a distinct Tibetan style with sloping roofs and colourful doors and windows. The main building is a three-storied structure with a large prayer hall. The residential accommodation of the monks is also located within the compound. The buildings have withstood earthquakes and other calamities over the centuries.
The building accommodates several sculptures of Rinpoches and saints. The focal sculpture of Padmasambhava is in his enraged form as Dorje Bhurpa Vjarakila with multiple heads and arms. The main prayer hall is decorated with exquisite paintings. The doors and windows are attractively painted in traditional Tibetan designs.
Butter Lamps
A distinct feature of Tibetan monasteries and temples in the Himalayas are butter lamps. The lamps traditionally use clarified Yak butter. The butter lamps help to focus the mind in meditation. For safety, the butter lamps are usually confined to a separate enclosure with a stone floor.
Getting There
The closest airport is the Bagdogra Airport (IXB) in Siliguri, at a distance of 131 km via NH10 (4 hr 5 min). The airport is the gateway to the hill stations of Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest railway station, 125 km (3 hr 57 min).
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