Sanga Choeling Monastery, Pelling — a ridge-top gompa of 1697
What it is
Sanga Choeling, also spelt Sange Choeling, is a Nyingma monastery on a ridge top above Pelling, and Wikipedia counts it among the oldest in the area. The name means "island of the secret mantra teachings". Lama Lhatsun Chempo established it in the 17th century, and Wikipedia says the monastery was built in 1697.
Photos: walter callens (CC BY 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The place
Clay statues from the 17th century stand inside, and the building has been hit by fire several times and rebuilt. Wikipedia says lamas recite hymns here on a set day of each Tibetan month, and that only men may enter the monastery, which follows the Nyingma tradition. The ridge top gives a wide view in every direction.
Getting there
Wikipedia describes a steep forest track of 4 km, and puts the monastery 7 km from the Pemayangtse Monastery. Our routing ends at a road point about 6 minutes from the town centre, close to the skywalk, so the sources differ on how much of the way is walking. We have no verified walking time.
Combine it with
It forms a pair with the skywalk and statue on the same ridge. The Pelling ridge day takes both with Pemayangtse and Rabdentse; read things to do in Pelling and how to reach Pelling.
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Questions people ask
What is Sanga Choeling Monastery?
A Nyingma monastery on a ridge top above Pelling, one of the oldest in Sikkim. Wikipedia says Lama Lhatsun Chempo established it in the 17th century, that the present building dates from 1697, and that it has clay statues from the 17th century. Fires have damaged it more than once.
How do you reach Sanga Choeling?
Wikipedia says it is reached by a steep forest track of 4 km, and gives 7 km from Pemayangtse. Our routing reaches a road point about 6 minutes from Pelling near the skywalk, so the two figures differ. We have no verified walking time or access rule, so ask locally.
Who may enter Sanga Choeling?
Wikipedia says only men may enter, and that the monastery follows the Nyingma tradition. We have no verified visiting rule beyond that, and the site is a working monastery, so ask at the gate or locally about access before you go up.