Pemayangtse Monastery — Attraction in Sikkim

A beautiful and peaceful place that is a must visit if you are in Pelling.

If you are a solo traveler, and fit enough to walk/hike then it can be covered by walking easily if you are staying in upper Pelling.

Though be prepared to tread through upwards hiking and it can be tough for those who are not used to hiking.

Actually, when you walk to the Monastery, it is so picturesque and so beautiful. Though you can also cover the place in booked private taxi.

Also, the washrooms inside the monastery are so clean and well-maintained. There are cute dogs inside the Monastery premises.

There is an entry fee of Rs 20 that goes towards the maintenance of the place.

Inside there are ample sitting spaces, where you can simply sit quietly and relax. No one will disturb you and it is the most safe place you would be at.

If you are lucky enough and the weather is clear, you will get view of Kanchenjunga mountain and other nearby bigger ranges.

Again, if you are walking from Upper Pelling, make sure to go to the place and come back before 3 PM. At around 4 PM darkness starts to approach the area.

If you walk swiftly and consistently, it should take you no more than 30 minutes or 40 minutes to reach this monastery from Upper Pelling.

Make sure to carry sufficient hydration with you. Also, carry a umbrella as it may rain out of nowhere if the weather have been cloudy.

Do not rely on Google Map. The network can get totally sketchy. Take screenshots of map before your trip or have any manual map with you.

Mind you that there is no nearby place for foods. It is only mountainous road with cliffs on either side. The roads will be deserted. Eateries are available only at Pelling square.

Besides, approaching the monastery on the road, you will come across some shades with bench on them. be careful if you are planning to sit there.

There may be small crawling insects that would be full in such benches and in the roof of the shades. Be careful and watch before you sit in...

Pemayangtse Monastry is one of the oldest and premier monastries of Sikkim. It is located around 45kms away from Pelling. This monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that order in Sikkim. The monks of this monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias community of Sikkim. The monastery was built for "pure monks" meaning "monks of pure Tibetan lineage", celibate and without any physical abnormality. This practice is still retained. Only the monks of Pemayangtse Monastery are entitled to the title "ta-tshang". This place is located only 10 mins away from Rabdentse Ruins. You can plan both the places at the same day. I will personally recommend to visit these places at late afternoon. So you can witness the sunset from either of these places. Well-managed parking space is there for both four wheelers and two wheelers in front of main gate. Although the monastray opens for the monks from 8am onwards, however the visitors are allowed to pay a visit in between 9am to 5pm. There is a nominal entry fees of Rs 20/- for Indians and Rs. 50/- for Non-Indians. Being the off-season, everywhere Rhododendron plants were flower-less. Finally, Rhododendron welcomed us at Pemayangtse Monastry. The Mount Khanchendzonga has really a commanding and an impressive view from this monastery. Hotel Elgin Mount Pandim is located in close proximity to the monastry. But if you are on a pocket-friendly trip, then you should avoid it as it is bit expensive. Plenty of budget hotels are located in Pelling which are only 10 mins away...

Pemayangtse Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, founded in the 17th century by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. The name means Perfect Sublime Lotus, and it was originally meant for the purest monks of Tibetan lineage. Standing on a ridge above Pelling, the monastery overlooks the majestic Kanchenjunga peaks, making the setting as divine as the monastery itself. The inner structure of Pemayangtse is breathtaking. The main prayer hall houses vibrant murals, thangkas, and life-sized statues of Padmasambhava. Every wall and ceiling is covered with intricate paintings depicting Buddhist cosmology. Higher floors safeguard some of the monastery’s most priceless treasures — preserved Buddhist manuscripts and lipis (ancient scripts) that hold centuries of spiritual knowledge. The greatest masterpiece is the seven-tiered wooden structure “Sangtok Palri,” a detailed model of Guru Padmasambhava’s heavenly palace, carved single-handedly by Dungzin Rinpoche over five years. What makes the visit unforgettable is how alive the monastery feels — monks chanting, the faint smell of incense, the colorful prayer flags outside, and the sense of stepping back into Sikkim’s sacred past. During the Cham festival, the courtyard comes alive with masked dances that symbolize the victory of good over evil, carrying forward centuries-old tradition. For anyone visiting West Sikkim, Pemayangtse Monastery is an absolute must. It’s not just a religious site — it’s a living museum of Buddhist art, scriptures, and culture, with the Himalayas as...