The town of Sikkim located high in the Tibetan Himalayas is awash with spirituality and the feeling echoes out of the Buddhist monasteries and reverberates off of the mountainous landscape. Being a region that is known for its breathtaking scenery, unspoiled by commercial tourism it is no wonder that Sikkim is a secret known only to ardent travellers. It seems that this relative obscurity has been a blessing to the town as it draws a special class of travellers: one that is prepared to trek miles on foot in search of one of the worlds best kept secrets- the Rumtek Monastery.
The geographical area in which the Rumtek Monastery is located is politically contentious; it is a landlocked state that is officially recognized for being Indian, though being historically linked to Tibet. Geographically, Sikkim is surrounded by China, Nepal and the Tibetan Autonomous region. Despite being situated on land that is disputed, the Rumtek Monastery offers travellers an oasis of calm.
Having been built in the 16th century AD by a Karmapa, a position that is occupied by a leader of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, this monastery has seen numerous additions throughout the years. However following a waning of the Tibetan Buddhist fate during the 17th century, the monastery fell into ruin, but was salvaged later owing to the untiring efforts of the Sikkim royal family and the financial backing of the Indian government.
As in other Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, the prime objective of Rumtek is to educate student monks on theology and religious practices. Hundreds of such monks can be seen chanting prayers in the prayer hall. Visitors are welcome to explore the monastery, offer prayers and marvel at some of the historical artefacts that can be seen such as the gold gilded Buddha statue.
Though the Rumtek Monastery is located in a relatively remote part of India,
Sikkim Hotels such as The Retreat by Zuri Baiguney, Sikkim can be found conveniently located among the states major attractions. Though not catering to a large number of tourists, this
hotel in Sikkim offers comfortable accommodation for the travellers to this region.
