Rumtek Tours And Travel - Day Tours

The largest monastery in Sikkim, Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism. It also serves as one of the most important seats of the Kagyu (Black Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet and is also known as Dharmachakra Centre.Located about 23 km from Gangtok, the monastery was built by the fourth King of Sikkim under the supervision of the ninth Karmapa (head of the Karma Kagyu sect). At an elevation of almost 5000 ft and surrounded by lush green landscape, the monastery is a visual treat besides offering spiritual solace. The architectural design is almost identical to the original Kagyu headquarters in Tibet. The Kagyu (also called Kagyupa or Kagyud) school is one of six main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.It is believed that the first Karmapa meditated for many years in a cave and ten thousand fairies offered him a strand of hair each after they congratulated him for his feat. The strands of hair were woven into a black hat and it has been passed down over the generations and it still remains in the Rumtek Monastery. Worn by following Karmapas during ceremonies, the hat is said to fly away unless it is held by hand or kept in a box.