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The white, red and gold front of Phodong Monastery with a blue-roofed upper hall, steps and a paved forecourt
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Photo: dhillan chandramowli · CC BY-SA 2.0
temple1 h 27 min from Gangtok

Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road

Phodong Monastery of the early 18th century and Labrang Monastery of 1826–1843, two old Kagyu monasteries on the North Sikkim road beyond Gangtok, with murals.

What it is

Phodong Monastery, also written Phodang or Podong, is a Karma Kagyu monastery on the North Sikkim road, about 28 km from Gangtok by Wikipedia's figure. Wikipedia dates it to the early 18th century and says an older monastery stood on the site, and that the 9th Karmapa, invited by the king of Sikkim, founded three monasteries: Rumtek, Phodong and Ralang.

Photos: Biswas Dibyendu (CC BY 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Phodong

Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal, recognised as the reincarnation of his uncle the abbot of the monastery, reconstructed it. It is home to about 260 monks and holds a collection of old murals, which are the reason to go in.

Labrang

About 2 km away, at Tumlong, Labrang Monastery was begun in 1826 and finished in 1843, to commemorate Latsun Chembo, a lama from Kongpo, and renovated in 1978. Wikipedia says it retains its original structure when similar buildings in Sikkim have burned, with steel reinforcing the wooden pillars and roof, holds a bronze statue of a wrathful form of Padmasambhava, and has a museum of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. The 2006 earthquake damaged it.

Getting there

Both lie on the road north of Gangtok; see the quick facts for the measured road time to Phodong. The Kabi Lungchok site is on the same road, on the way. We have no verified opening hours or entry rules.

Combine it with

The North Sikkim road day links the three. For Gangtok's own monasteries see Enchey and Rumtek, and read how to reach Gangtok.

Plans that include this

All 1 plans that stop here →
The white, red and gold front of Phodong Monastery with a blue-roofed upper hall, steps and a paved forecourt
North Sikkim road day from Gangtok — Kabi Lungchok, Phodong and Labrang
Day plan · culture · Temples & heritage
A day trip north of Gangtok: the Kabi Lungchok blood-brotherhood site, Phodong Monastery of the early 18th century and Labrang of 1826–1843, with road times.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Gangtok →
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
monument · 3.0 km away
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
waterfall · 7.2 km away
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
temple · 8.5 km away
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
temple · 9.1 km away
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
temple · 10 km away
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
museum · 11 km away
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
temple · 11 km away
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
temple · 14 km away

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Questions people ask

What is Phodong Monastery?

A Karma Kagyu monastery of the early 18th century in North Sikkim, on the highway north of Gangtok. Wikipedia says an older monastery existed here before the present one and that it was reconstructed by Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal. It has a community of about 260 monks and a collection of old murals.

What is Labrang Monastery?

A monastery about 2 km from Phodong, begun in 1826 and completed in 1843 at Tumlong, whose name means the lama's dwelling. Wikipedia says it kept its original structure while similar buildings in Sikkim burned, with steel added to reinforce its wooden pillars, and that it houses a museum of Buddha statues, sutras and murals.

How far are Phodong and Labrang from Gangtok?

Wikipedia gives about 28 km to Phodong and 38 km to Labrang from Gangtok; our own routed road time to Phodong is in the quick facts above. They are on the North Sikkim road, which landslides can close in the rains. We have no verified opening hours, so ask locally.