Gonjang Monastery - History, Timings & Entry Fee

Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Gangtok SNT Bus Station): 8 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins - 1 Hr

Place Location: At Fatak Bojhogari

Transportation Options: Cab

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 8 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Gonjang Monastery is situated at Fatak Bojhogari near Tashi Viewpoint in Gangtok, Sikkim. Located at an altitude of 6066 feet, it is one of the famous monasteries in Gangtok and among the best Gangtok attractions.

Gonjang Monastery was built in 1981 by H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rimpoche. He was recognized as an incarnation of Yolmo Terton Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo, a 15th century Nyingmapa Terton. The monastery follows Jangter tradition of Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Monastic education along with Tibetan language and English are taught to the monk students here. The monastery imparts knowledge on close and comparative studies of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy based on moral values.

The monastery looks impressive from outside with a massive Buddha figure inside. Inside this monastery one can see the Idols of Khen-lop Cho-Sum, three Religious Personalities or founding Fathers of Tibetan Buddhism in 8th century, and the engraved statues of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Padmasambhava called Je-bang Nyer-Nga. Today, the monastery has over 100 monks. The monastery has Thadrol Dorjee Memorial Community Health Care Centre for providing medication to monks and the local people.

Timings: 7 AM to 5 PM