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The Tsuklakhang royal chapel with its layered golden roofs and white walls seen across a green lawn and a clipped tree
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Photo: Mahabalaindia · CC BY-SA 4.0
temple8 min from Gangtok

Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals

The Tsuklakhang, the royal chapel and monastery of Sikkim's Chogyals in Gangtok: its role in coronations, the Pang Lhabsol festival and how to visit.

What it is

The Tsuklakhang, sometimes written as the Tsuklakhang Palace, is the monastery of the royal family of Sikkim in Gangtok. Wikipedia describes it as the main centre of prayer for the Chogyals, the former kings of Sikkim, beside the palace they built when the capital moved here.

Photos: Mahabalaindia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

History

Wikipedia says the Chogyal Thutob Namgyal moved the capital from Tumlong to Gangtok in 1894 and built a grand palace and other state buildings there. The royal chapel stood at the centre of that precinct, and Wikipedia says coronations, marriages and victory ceremonies of the royals took place at the palace.

What you see

A prayer hall with an assembly room in the middle, a large store of Buddhist scriptures and altars bearing the Buddha, bodhisattvas and tantric deities, under layered golden roofs. A painted gateway leads in, and the courtyard lies behind it.

Festivals

The Pang Lhabsol, held in mid-September in honour of Mount Khangchendzonga, is celebrated here, and the Kagyad in early December. Ask locally for the dates, which follow the lunar calendar.

Getting there

It stands in the centre of the old palace area, a short drive from Mahatma Gandhi Marg; see the quick facts for the road time. We have no verified opening hours or entry rules.

Combine it with

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and the Enchey Monastery fit the same day, as in the one-day plan. Read how to reach Gangtok.

Plans that include this

All 2 plans that stop here →
The red, white and yellow main hall of Enchey Monastery with a palm tree and tall conifers behind it on a sunny day
One day in Gangtok — monasteries, the royal chapel and the ridge
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Gangtok plan: the Do-drul Chorten, the Tibetology museum, the royal Tsuklakhang, Enchey Monastery, Hanuman Tok and an evening on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
The red-pillared prayer hall of Rumtek Monastery across a wet courtyard, with mist and trees behind it
Two days in Gangtok — the town, Banjhakri Falls and Rumtek Monastery
1 night · 2 days · First visit · Classic
A two-day Gangtok plan: the Do-drul Chorten, the Tibetology museum, the Tsuklakhang and Banjhakri Falls, then Rumtek Monastery, Lingdum and Saramsa Garden.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Gangtok →
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
museum · 1.5 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 · 1.8 km away
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
temple · 2.0 km away
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
temple · 2.8 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 · 3.0 km away
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
temple · 6.7 km away
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
monument · 8.1 km away
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
temple · 10 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The town of Almora spread across a terraced ridge under a blue sky with clouds
Almora
912 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Nainital
924 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
A wide panorama of forested ridges below a long line of snow-capped Himalayan peaks seen from Ranikhet
Ranikhet
933 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
Joshimath's houses spread down a steep mountain slope above a deep valley, with high ridges and blue sky beyond
Joshimath
951 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
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Questions people ask

What is the Tsuklakhang?

The royal chapel and monastery of the Chogyals, Sikkim's former kings, beside the old palace in Gangtok. It was the main centre for royal prayers, with an assembly hall in the middle and a large store of Buddhist scriptures, and altars with images of the Buddha, bodhisattvas and tantric deities.

What festivals are held at the Tsuklakhang?

Wikipedia says the Pang Lhabsol, honouring Mount Khangchendzonga, is held in mid-September, and the Kagyad is celebrated in early December. The royal chapel also served for coronations, marriages and victory ceremonies of the Sikkimese royalty. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so ask locally for this year's.

Why is Gangtok the capital?

Wikipedia says the Chogyal Thutob Namgyal shifted the capital from Tumlong to Gangtok in 1894 and built a new palace there. Gangtok remained the capital after Sikkim joined India in 1975. The Tsuklakhang is part of that old palace precinct, so it is the town's clearest link to the royal period.