13 Results found for Search: north east
1. Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok.
Located strategically on a hill that is easily accessible from the main market of Gangtok, the Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology stands tall in its commanding structure. The structure itself is a work of art with exquisite murals and paintings adorning the walls. The site on which the institute was established was donated by the late Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal in memory of his departed son Paljor Namgyal. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by the 14th Dalai Lama in the year 1957 and the institute was declared open by the late Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the 1st of October 1958.
2. Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok.
Rumtek Monastery is situated at an altitude of about 5800 feet (1547 meters) and is located in eastern Sikkim. 24 kilometers from Gangtok, the 300 year old monastery was mostly in ruins and surrounded by dense jungle growth till about half a century ago. In 1959, His Holiness the Sixteen Gyalwa Karmapa accepted the Chogyal's invitation to set up his seat in Sikkim. And he gathered resources to begin construction of new facilities to support his monastic seat surrounding the old monastery.
3. Enchey Monastery, Gangtok.
Shaped in the form of a Chinese Pagoda, Enchey Monastery worships Buddha, Loki Sharia and Guru Padmasambhava. This 200 year old monastery can be reached by taking regular buses, jeeps or by hiring taxis from Gangtok. The drive to the monastery is dotted with colorful blooms, intermittent waterfalls, beautifully stacked shops of green leafy vegetables and local produce. The green of the forest and the hazy blue of the sky merge with the spiritual flavor of monastery area and the effect is transcendental.
Emchey means ‘a solitary temple’. True to its name the monastery is surrounded with tall pines and glistening mountain ranges, instilling one with a typical quiet and calm, so intrinsic to any spiritual exercise. The beautiful landscape adds to this spiritual content.
The monastery houses hundred monks belonging to the Nyingma order.
4. Do Drul Chorten, Gangtok.
Do Drul Chorten is a very important stupa in Sikkim. An uphill walk up to the monastery with alpine forests on either side leads to a calm and picturesque setting. This holy stupa was built under the direction of Late Truslshi Rimpoche in 1945. It is part of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
There are 108 prayer wheels and the wheels have a special meaning. Turning of these wheels goes along with the chanting of the mantras engraved on them. While turning the wheels, one ought to say 'hail to the jewel in the lotus'. One can see the devout and monks do the same. The sound of a collective chant emanates from the prayer and meditation rooms in the monastery can also be heard in the background.
5. Changu Lake, Gangtok.
A trip to Sikkim is not complete without sighting the Changu Lake. A glacial lake in East Sikkim, Tsomgo or Changu as it is popularly called means ‘Source of the Lake’. It is 40 km away from Gangtok and takes 2½ hours to reach by a hired car. The journey to the lake is an enchanting one with a number of beautiful waterfalls en route. The lake is surrounded with beautiful flowering plants/trees like primula and pine, thereby producing a breathtaking effect.
The lake remains frozen throughout the winters right up to April. To enter the lake area, tourists, especially foreigners, are expected to possess a permit, which can be easily arranged by a registered and recognized travel agent or from any of the Sikkim Tourism offices.
6. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute or HMI for short, is a museum and also a training centre for budding mountaineers. The equipments used by the famous duo Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay are on display at the centre including their boots, their torch, their personal items, clothing and mountaineering essentials that they had carried along when scaling Mount Everest, the world's highest peak in 1953. The humble start of the Sherpa is highlighted. Born in the village of Moyey, he was raised in Nepal and was a resident of India for much of his adult life. Tenzing never learnt to read or write, but had an active mind and was fluent in several languages. Known for his daring spirit and competence in trekking, Tenzing Norgay (1914-1986) went to Everest as a high altitude porter on the 1935, 1936 and 1938 Expeditions. In 1952, he was a climbing member of the Swiss expedition's attempt on Everest. The following year with Edmund Hillary, Tenzing completed the same route, thus making the first successful summit ascent. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister and a visionary to commemorate the famous Everest feat and to laud the enthusiasm of the youth opened a mountaineering institute (HMI) in Darjeeling and equipped the institute with a technical expertise that could be imparted to young and keen mountaineers. Today it is one of the foremost mountaineering institutes of the world.
7. St. Paul's School, Darjeeling.
St. Paul's School is one of the India's oldest and pre-eminent public schools, known for its academic tradition and alumni. At about 7500 feet above sea level, it offers a great scenic pleasure and has the famous Kanchenjunga mountain range right behind. St Paul is physically separated from Darjeeling by its location on a high hill that is a few kilometers above the main town. Large expanses of wild land and greenery surround the campus, affording the campus a spectacular view of the town, the high foothills and snowy peaks of the Himalayas.
8. Batasia Loop, Darjeeling.
About 5 km from Darjeeling, the Railway Loop is a marvelous feat of engineering. It is fascinating to watch the toy train wind its way round the loop. The War Memorial constructed in the memory of brave sons of Darjeeling who died in different action since 1947, is worth a visit.
9. The Mall, Darjeeling.
The Mall is Darjeeling's popular commercial street with book shops, Tibetans selling hand-knitted sweaters, souvenir shops, eateries and tea/coffee stalls accompanied with hot steaming momos. The Mall leads to Chaurasta, a square, which also is pony riding territory for children.
10. Tiger Hill, Darjeeling.
Situated at an altitude of 2590 meters (8482 ft.) and 13 km from the town, this spot has earned international fame for the magnificent view of the sunrise over "Kanchenjunga" and the great Eastern Himalayan Mountains. Even Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, is visible from here. The snow-clad Himalayan ranges have a majestic presence in the background and Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, is visible on bright sunny days and is a major tourist attraction.
11. Sangachoeling Monastery, Pelling.
Sangachoeling Monastery, the second oldest monastery in Sikkim rests peacefully on what looks like a mesa, about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) southwest of Upper Pelling. Literally meaning the “land of the sacred spell,” Sangachoeling Monastery was initially built in 1697, although the original structure crumbled under the impact of a serious earthquake. The surreal ambience of the monastery is ideal for visitors who want to enjoy some quality soliloquy and meditate amongst the resplendent nature around. The followers of the Nyingma-pa sect hold the Sangachoeling Monastery in great reverence, even as the historical complex is considered a great centre for Tibetan Buddhism studies in India.
12. Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling.
Rabdentse was the seat of the second capital of the then princely state of Sikkim. It became the second capital of Sikkim after the second Chogyal (monarch) shifted his royal base from Yuksom in 1670 to this very place. Bounded by a valley thickly overgrown with virgin forests, Rabdentse Ruins is really a remarkable sight. Even the leisurely walk to the ruins will take you through a scenic route that will seem like a poetic illustration out of a fairy tale, with goldfish-filled placid lakes and exotic species of orchids giving you company all the way. The parapet of the former capital affords some of the most spectacular views of the misty mountains beyond. The best time to visit this ruins would be the spring season when the whole valley comes alive, enhancing the splendor of the destination by greater levels.
13. Pemayangtse Monastery, Pelling.
As one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and surely the most sacred of them, Pemayangtse Monastery holds a special place in the labyrinth of the state’s cultural history. A moment of reclusive peace, a feeling of mind-whirling introspection, a newfound urge to set off on an unending soul search – Pemayangtse makes you go through all these and more. Of course, when a place means something like “perfect sublime lotus” literally, your mental projection would scarcely head towards some other direction. Pemayangtse Monastery is a tri-level building filled with some magnificent artifacts of great historical value on each of the floors. The third floor of the monastery contains what would be the most fascinating of the lot – a seven-tiered painted wooden structure of Guru Rinpoche’s abode, Zandog palri, done up with dragons, rainbows and an entire ensemble of all the Bodhisattvas.