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Ralang Monastery, Sikkim
Karma Kagyu Tradition, 18th century, about 100 monks.
Ralang Monastery or Ralong Palchen Choling is a Buddhist monastery of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Ralang Monastery, Sikkim. Photo: Twissha Roy.
Location
Ralang Monastery is situated in the southern part of Sikkim, at approximately 6 km from Ravangla.
History
After Gyurmed Namgyal (1707–1733), the fourth Chogyal1 came back from his pilgrimage, the Karmapa performed the Rabney (blessing).
As per the ceremony, he threw grains from the Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet (the main seat of Karmapa). The ground where the grains fell, eventually, became the site for the Ralang Monastery, which was built in 1768.
Features
The old monastery underwent reconstruction in 1975-1981 and in 1995, this new monastery, known as Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute was built by the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche, which retained its Tibetan architecture.
The older Ralang Gompa or Karma Rabtenling monastery is located close west of this new monastery. Ralang serves as the residence of approximately one hundred monks.
One of the major attractions of the Ralang Gompa of India is its collection of paintings.
Buddha. Photo: Prajna Paul.
Festivals
Ralang monastery is host to an annual festival, known as Pang Lhabsol or the worship of Mount Khangchendzonga and Kagyad.
Chaam masked dances are also organized every year, on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Buddhist calendar (August-September) and on the 29th day of the tenth month of the Buddhist calendar (December).
The sacred Mahakala Dance takes place every year in the month of November.
Travel
The nearest airport is that of Bagdogra in West Bengal. It is well connected to Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna and Delhi. Ravangla is approximately 4.5 hours from the airport by road. Regular bus and taxi services are available from Gangtok, Darjeeling and Pelling.
Sources:
• http://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-monastery/sikkim/ralang-monastery.html
• https://1001things.org/ralang-monastery/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralang_Monastery
Footnotes
1. The Chogyal ("Dharma Kings," Sanskrit: Dharmaraja) were the monarchs of the former kingdom of Sikkim in present-day India, which belonged to the Namgyal dynasty. The Chogyal was the absolute monarch of Sikkim from 1642 to 1975, when the monarchy was abolished, and its people voted in a referendum to make Sikkim the 22nd state of India.
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