A 200-year-old Buddhist monastery is a must-visit if you wish to know more about the history and culture. The precise meaning of Enchey Monastery is ‘the solitary temple’. Accessible after crossing crunching conifer trees, the Enchey Gompa, belonging to the Nyingma order of Vajrayana Buddhism, positions itself with beautiful murals and statues of Tantric deities.
The Lama initially found a smaller gompa and then flew to this site from Maenam Hill in South Sikkim. After arriving at the site, he constructed a small hermitage here. Located on the Gangtok- Nathula road, this monastery offers stunning views of the surroundings.
The current structure of the Enchey Gompa was constructed under the reign of Sidkeong Tulku (1909-1910). Today, the monastery offers shelter to about 90 monks belonging to the Nyingma sect. Visitors can spot several images of Gods and Goddesses along with religious objects. Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, and Loketeswara are the three important deities worshiped here.
The monastery comes alive during a vibrant Chaam masked dance and special prayers organized on the18th, the 19th day of the 12th lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, in January and February every year. It is an ideal time to visit and get an insight into the region's culture.
For pleasant weather, March to June and September to October is the best time to visit the monastery. You can visit between 6 am to 9 pm, timings of the monastery.
Also, the renowned Detor Cham ritual dance is celebrated between the months of January and February. Attend this festival to enjoy an exhilarating performance by monks in elaborate costumes and masks.
To reach Enchey Monastery, you rent a cab from MG Marg. Or you can cover the distance by walking on the ridge and then in a northwestern direction. Taxis are also available for hire from Gangtok. Ask the locals for help.
For easy access to the monastery and its nearby places, here are some hotels with distance from the monastery you can stay at -
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