Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre Tourism

The Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre, also known as the Rumtek Monastery, is a gompa located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Gangtok. Founded originally in the 16th century, Rumtek served as the main seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Sikkim for some time. However, the monastery gained significant prominence when the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, went into exile from Tibet and rebuilt this monastery in the 1960s as a replicate of his Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet. The new Rumtek Monastery stands as one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim and has become a focal point for the sectarian tensions within the Karma Kagyu school. The monastery is surrounded by lush green mountains and embodies the vision of the Karmapa, with traditional Tibetan architecture, exquisite murals and paintings, and an impressive golden stupa containing the relics of the 16th Karmapa. Rumtek is not just a monastery but a hub of Tibetan Buddhism and a place for studying and meditating. It is also the international headquarters of the Karma Kagyu lineage.