Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery
4.5
About
Dharma Chakra Centre consists of a beautiful temple, the famous Golden Stupa, and Tibetan Buddhist monastery that houses very important relics.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
351 reviews
Excellent
200
Very good
127
Average
22
Poor
2
Terrible
0
kapilrangan
Bengaluru, India152 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Beautiful monastery tucked away on a hill about an hours drive from Gangtok city. One can see the traditional Buddhist architecture and paintings, as well as interact with the monks and watch them in their prayers. You can also go upstairs and see the golden stupa which is the sacred place of worship. Visitors are allowed inside the sanctum, as long as you are dressed decently and maintain decorum.
Vehicles are not allowed all the way to the top of the monastery, and hence you need to walk uphill for at least half a kilometer (can be tiring!). There are plenty of nice Sikkimese and Tibetan handicraft shops on the way to the top. Aadhaar card verification is required for visitors entering Rumtek monastery too. The entry fee is a nominal 10 rupees.
Vehicles are not allowed all the way to the top of the monastery, and hence you need to walk uphill for at least half a kilometer (can be tiring!). There are plenty of nice Sikkimese and Tibetan handicraft shops on the way to the top. Aadhaar card verification is required for visitors entering Rumtek monastery too. The entry fee is a nominal 10 rupees.
Written May 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arun Kumar
2 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
Rumtek Monastery is also called the Dharma Chakra Centre, is about 26 Km from Gangtok. It is the seat-in-exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa, inaugurated in 1966 by the 16th Karmapa. Originally built under the direction of Changchub Dorje, 12th Karmapa Lama in the mid-18th century, Rumtek served as the main seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Sikkim for some time. But when Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa, arrived in Sikkim in 1959 after fleeing Tibet, the monastery was in ruins. Despite being offered other sites, the Karmapa decided to rebuild Rumtek. To him, the site possessed many auspicious qualities and was surrounded by the most favorable attributes. For example, flowing streams, mountains behind, a snow range in front, and a river below. With the generosity and help of the Sikkim royal family and the local folks of Sikkim, it was built by the 16th Karmapa as his main seat in exile. After four years, construction of the monastery was completed. The sacred items and relics brought out from Tsurphu Monastery, the Karmapa's seat in Tibet, were installed. On Losar in 1966, the 16th Karmapa officially inaugurated the new seat, called "The Dharmachakra Centre, a place of erudition and spiritual accomplishment, the seat of the glorious Karmapa." The monastery is currently the largest in Sikkim. It is home to the community of monks and where they perform the rituals and practices of the Karma Kagyu lineage. A golden stupa contains the relics of the 16th Karmapa. Opposite that building is a college, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keypeepee
Chennai (Madras), India113 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
A grand Monastery where visitors are allowed. Being a place of learning and purayer please remember to respect the dignity of the place. Please remember to carry a government approved photo identity card to enter the monastery. There is no entry fees for entry. You can enter the prayer hall and join the prayers during the day. The view of Gangtok from the nearby mountains are breathtaking to say the least. You will have to park your vehicle outside the main gate and walk up about half a kilometer to reach the monastery.
Written December 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikhil Agrawal
Bengaluru, India34 contributions
Dec 2019
Rumtek monastery is the biggest monsatry in eastern India. One will need to carry original id and address proof to get an entry to the monastry. Vehicles are not allowed inside the gate so one needs to walk up till the main monastry. The view from Monastry is breath taking as one can get a full view of Gangtok city. The place is quiet and gives a wonderful feeling. Paintings on the wall of the main monastery is mesmerizing.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pallavi
17 contributions
Apr 2023
We had an excellent guide who explained the history of the monastery and took are around. Recommend that you spend a few moments simply enjoying the peace and quiet at this hilltop monastery. There is quite a large presence of armed forces in and around the monastery.
Written April 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K72
Melbourne, Australia3,086 contributions
Jan 2020
We were lucky enough to visit on a day when the monks were dancing, drumming and chanting...wow. Wonderful experience. So calm and relaxing. Loved seeing the monks meditating and enjoying what they do. We had a guided tour by Monet- who was very animated and enthusiastic. We learnt a lot about the monastery and the monks. The golden stupa is their pride and joy, be prepared to remove your shoes.
You will need to show travellers permit and passport to enter the site, so allow some time for that too. The road leading up to the monastery is quite steep and a fair walk if you're not fit (as some of our group struggled). The mountainous backdrop is stunning.
You will need to show travellers permit and passport to enter the site, so allow some time for that too. The road leading up to the monastery is quite steep and a fair walk if you're not fit (as some of our group struggled). The mountainous backdrop is stunning.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ashish
Bengaluru, India289 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Not sure why this has a high rating, except perhaps because of religious reasons. I am visiting from a pure tourist perspective, albeit not atheist, so I will recommend you Ranka Monastery over this anytime.
Darshan hall is small and so is the overall compound. The scenery nearby isn't worth talking about, either. For reasons unknown, this has armed security and tickets to get in.
Darshan hall is small and so is the overall compound. The scenery nearby isn't worth talking about, either. For reasons unknown, this has armed security and tickets to get in.
Written January 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bhikaji Deshmukh
Aurangabad District, India221 contributions
May 2021
Rumtek Monastery also called the Dharma Chakra Centre. Very peaceful and beautiful monastery near Gangtok. Prayer wheels in and around the monastery looks attractive .Huge and beautifully constructed still well maintained
Written May 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Im_GPS
Bengaluru, India693 contributions
Nov 2022
This is one of the oldest Buddhist Monastery in the middle of the hilly region in Gangtok. There are many students studying Buddhism from their childhood. This is a vast place with several pockets of buildings with something related to the Monastery. Has an ample parking space for your cab and has a nice coffee shop near this place. We enjoyed a nice coffee on a rooftop sitting area, to make this visit a memorable one.
Written June 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shanti D
39 contributions
Mar 2020
Its the largest monestary at Gangtok, located around 25 kms from Gangtok and is very beautifully maintained.
It also has the holy and beautiful Golden Stupa.
Do carry your voter id card to get entry. PAN Card and AADHAR card is not accepted anywhere in Sikkim.
It also has the holy and beautiful Golden Stupa.
Do carry your voter id card to get entry. PAN Card and AADHAR card is not accepted anywhere in Sikkim.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it easy to get a taxi to drive back to Gangtok from the monastery?
Written October 16, 2024
Hi travellers, one quick question, is photography allowed inside of Rumtek or any other monastery in Sikkim?
Written January 7, 2020
How much time does it take to go to Rumtek from Gangtok? Are there share cabs?
Written June 16, 2019
Share Cabs and single passenger cabs are available, in Gangtok. The trip took us more than an hour. The good news, there are also taxis outside of the Monastery to help with your return trip. Or feel free to hire a car for the day. If you are staying at a hotel, they would be more than happy to arrange a vehicle.
Written June 17, 2019
we reached gangtok on 26th decm. around 10 or 11 am. can we visit this place on the same day? is there other place to dee nearby?? how can we book a cab?
Written October 29, 2017
Yes, should be possible to visit the same day. Check the route from where you’re staying, and consider visiting other places basis time you’d like to spend at Monastery
Written October 31, 2017
can we get shared Jeep to reach rumtek monastery and for return from Gangtok
Written January 16, 2017
Shared jeeps are available from Gangtok to Rumtek monastery till 1500HRS.(appx) but it depends on availability. Same for returning, but you may not get any shared taxi after 1200HRS. So plan accordingly. In this respect it will be better to have a reserved taxi for Gangtok to Rumtek Moneastry and return. Fare will depend on the time of visit(season/off season).
Written March 27, 2017
Hi,
What is the best time of the day to attend the prayers at Rumtek Monastery? What is the duration of the prayer session? Is there a separate seating area for visitors attending the prayers?
Written February 12, 2016
When I visited in Sept. 2016 on a weekday, the afternoon prayer started at approximately 2:00pm, and lasted 60 to 90 minutes.
There are 3 small benches in the back corner of the hall to the side of the entrance where you can sit while attending..
Written November 2, 2016
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