Rumtek monastery combines conventional Tibetan design with latest construction techniques. It is located at a height of 5,500 feet above sea level, and is on a hill that faces towards the city of Gangtok. The main shrine has monks' quarters on its sides and there is a spacious stone courtyard in front, where the ritual lama dances take place on important dates in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. The main shrine room is 2400 square feet and is designed to accommodate the practices and rituals of the faith. The main shrine room is dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha and features one of the most beautiful statues of the Buddha in the world. The decorated Main Shrine Hall is supported by red pillars. Ancient thangkas and round silk banners hang from these columns.

There are several other shrines in the monastery. For example, the Tara shrine room which is used for regular chanting and meditation practice. There are other personal shrines in the quarters of His Holiness, and lineage protector shrines flanking the main entrance ... More

Rumtek monastery combines conventional Tibetan design with latest construction techniques. It is located at a height of 5,500 feet above sea level, and is on a hill that faces towards the city of Gangtok. The main shrine has monks' quarters on its sides and there is a spacious stone courtyard in front, where the ritual lama dances take place on important dates in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. The main shrine room is 2400 square feet and is designed to accommodate the practices and rituals of the faith. The main shrine room is dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha and features one of the most beautiful statues of the Buddha in the world. The decorated Main Shrine Hall is supported by red pillars. Ancient thangkas and round silk banners hang from these columns.

There are several other shrines in the monastery. For example, the Tara shrine room which is used for regular chanting and meditation practice. There are other personal shrines in the quarters of His Holiness, and lineage protector shrines flanking the main entrance to the monastery. The temple is encircled by the monks’ quarters that enclose a spacious stone courtyard. Opposite the monastery there is a college building, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies.

On the right side and at the back of the main shrine hall there are other shrine rooms dedicated to Mahakala and Mahakali. Here a prayer ceremony is held every morning and evening. Mahakala is considered as the special protector of the Kagyu sect. On the left side of the main hall there are the two gonkhangs or chapels of Tsering Che Nga, female protector of the Kagyu lineage, and Dorje Drolo, the wrathful form of Guru Padmasambava.