Buddhist Monastery

We did visit many monasteries in Sikkim.  I am including a write-up on the one which impressed me most, a monastery easily accesible from Gangtok.

The Rumtek Monastery is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Sikkim.  it is perched on top of a hill 23 km from Gangtok. It is also called as the Dharmachakra Centre.

The Monastery houses a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery for the monks which were established with the aim of spreading the Buddhist teachings around the world. Verdant green mountains surround the monastery and thus serves as a visual treat besides being a focal point for spiritual solace. If you climb on top to the Rumtek Monastery, you can have a breathtaking view of the whole Gangtok town situated right opposite the hill. Besides this, the architecture of the striking monastery is one of the finest in the world.

The monastery belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists who originated in Tibet in the 12th century. The Karma Kagyu school belongs to the Vajrayana branch of Mahayana Buddhism.

The gompa, an epitome of Tibetan architecture, was designed by the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje himself based on his memories of the Tsurphu Monastery of Tibet, the original headquarter of the Black Hat order. Tsurphu was completely destroyed by Chinese authorities in 1966.

Built in the 1960s, the monastery is the main seat of the Karma Kagyu, a sect within the Nyingma school of Buddhism that originated around the 12th century in Tibet.

Vajrayana Buddhism has many rituals.  

Between February to March, which is the end of lunar year’s 12th month, there is an organization of 10day rituals for Mahakala protector. This is followed by the sacred tradition dance of the Mahakala. Monks dress up in the colorful attires and wear to dance with the traditional instruments. You will be surprised to find that how they go into some kind of trance with the beats. Since this is one of the ritual dances, they only have well-trained dancers.  The empowerment of the prayer music in the dance comes from compassion, concentration and mindfulness.  Buddhism asks all of us to turn the wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings(human and non human alike) 

Enjoy this video shot in the monastery

Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim - Vajrayana Buddhism          

https://youtu.be/Xfiquyo23pI

Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism and the two main branches of Buddhism. I requested Mohit, research assistant in Buddhism studies at IGNCA, New Delhi to explain in brief the progression of Buddhism as it spread out from India.  I have included a talk by him to put the visuals in perspective. 

In view of the  COVID-19 linked locked down,  Mohit recorded the talk and sent the audio to be added.

Mount Kanchenjunga

Any write-up on Sikkim would be incomplete if we do not cover Mount Kanchenjunga, the all pervasive mountain range which oversees Sikkim.

Kangchenjunga, also spelt Khangchendzonga, is the third highest mountain in the world. It rises with an elevation of 8,586 m in a section of the Himalayas called Kangchenjunga Himal.   Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world.

Kangchenjunga was first climbed on 25 May 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. They stopped short of the summit in accordance with the promise given to the Chogyal(erstwhile rulers of Sikkim) that the top of the mountain would remain intact. Every climber or climbing group that has reached the summit has followed this tradition of stopping short by 10 feet. 

Kanchenjunga translated means “The Five Treasures of Snows”, as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 metres.

Sikkimese worship Mt Kanchenjunga as their guardian deity. It is believed that the ‘mountain god’ played an active role in introducing Buddhism into this former kingdom.

The Kanchenjunga mountain range in Sikkim, India    

https://youtu.be/-5CGn48YLwA

Bird Sanctuary

For serious birdwatchers, Sikkim has a bird sanctuary not very far from Gangtok, the capital city.  

Kitam Bird Sanctuary is a protected sanctuary located near Namchi, Sikkim. From Gangtok, it is 71 km away.

The bird sanctuary lies between 1200 feet and 3200 feet above sea level, and  occupies an area of more than 6 square kilometers within thick vegetation of shrubs and sal, pine forests. This sanctuary has two rivers namely, River Rangit and Manpur River. Sumbuk and Kitam are the two villages located in the sanctuary. Tumbol Schor, the highest point of Kitam Bird Sanctuary, offers great panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Kitam Bird Sanctuary is heaven for bird lovers and attracts domestic and international tourists around the year for birding. Kitam is the only low altitude bird sanctuary and remain open throughout the year. Home to over 200 species of birds, Kitam is also known for several beautiful butterflies.

There are many bird watching trails and a few watch towers and viewpoints in this sanctuary that are ideal for bird watching. 

The best time to visit this place is during the months of October to May, as in winters several colourful migratory birds come to visit here.

To enjoy birding in the early morning hours, one must opt to stay at a homestay in Kitam.  Look for Barbet Home Stay Kitam on google.   We had done a day trip from Gangtok. Here is a documentation of our trip

Kitam Bird sanctuary, South Sikkim       

https://youtu.be/dUoccdm1g0c