GHOOM MONASTERY

Ghoom Monastery

Near Tiger Hill is the Yiga Choeling Tibetan Monastery also known as the Ghoom Monastery. It is an age old monastery of the Sakya order. Located 8 km away from Darjeeling it offers exquisite scenic beauty. Constructed in 1850, the outer structure was established by Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, a well known monk and a Mongolian astrologer who also remained the administrative head of his monastery. The statue that lies inside this place is of the future Buddha. 60 monks can be easily accommodated in this monastery and is the largest of the three monasteries in Ghum. A 4.57 meter high statue of Maithreya Buddha is the primary attraction of the monastery which attracts people from far and wide to come here. Painted gold, the statue is said to be encrusted with precious stones. You can also check out the thangkas on the walls.

It is also a storehouse of Tibetan translations of famous Sanskrit works, such as the Meghdoot by Kalidasa, Nagamandala by Sriharsa, etc. The Ghoom Monastery is a much revered place for the Buddhist community and it restores some rare Buddhist manuscripts that can hardly be found anywhere else. The monastery follows the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Ghum is the meeting point of several roads. The Hill Cart Road from Siliguri to Darjeeling runs through the town. It is 6 km from Darjeeling. It is 24 km from Kurseong via Sonada. Kalimpong is about 45 km away via Lopchu. Another road leads to Mongpu and then on to the Kalimpong-Siliguri road. There is a road to Kurseong via Dow Hill. Sukhiapokhri, almost on the India-Nepal border, is 11 km on the road to Mirik. People who are religiously inclined, keep this place on their must visit list because calm ambiance of this place helps them in connecting with Buddha. Devotees in large numbers throng this place every month on fifteenth, according to the Tibetan calendar.

Places to visit in Darjeeling

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