Description:
Phodang Monastery, located in the town of Phodang, some 28 km north of Gangtok, is counted amongst the six most important monasteries of Sikkim. Although it was first constructed by Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal in the first half of the eighteenth century, the structure has been rebuilt and is today one of the most beautiful monasteries in Sikkim. The walls of the monastery are adorned with beautiful murals, paintings, and frescos.
The main festival of the monastery, Loosang, is celebrated on the 28th and 29th day of the 10th Tibetan month (around December). The festival sees the performances of the religious dances known as Chaams along with feasting and archery contests.
Currently, the Phodong Monastery is a major tourist attraction of Sikkim, and houses around 260 monks of the Kagyu lineage.
