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At 8000 feet of grand elevation, the Yiga Cheoling it Old Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling is one of the oldest Tibetan monasteries of Buddhists. A person named Lama Sherab Gyatso established the Ghoom Monastery Darjeeling in the year 1850. This shrine is a part of the Yellow Hat Sect which is also known as Gelpuka. These people worship the ‘Maitreya Buddha'or ‘coming to Buddha'. A 15 foot Maitreya Buddha is found in the central hall of the place.
This statue is genuinely made of mud entirely which is brought from Tibet. This statue was established during the period of the second head of the monastery Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche. One can also find several rare Buddhist Manuscripts inside the premises. The visitors are treated with the amazing and beautiful view of the majestic mountain Kanchenjunga outside the monastery. In the typical tradition of Tibet, the monks fly the Prayer flags.
With Yiga Cheoling one can get to see several Buddha Deities and Lamas. Such as the Buddha of compassion, the Chenrezig and the Tsongkapa, who was the founder of the Gelupka Sect. In front of the Maitreya Buddha hangs two oil lamps which are kept burning thought-out the year. The wall of the monastery is painted and depicted with several different images of Buddhism and bodhisattva.
All the pictures are placed in a symmetrical order for the visitors to understand the basics of Buddhist Philosophy. On the hilltop, there is a temple of Ma kali where devotees come and pray on every new moon day and the fifteenth day of every month according to the Tibetan Calendar.
Other nearby attractions near Ghoom Monastery Darjeeling
• The Tiger Hills: Watch beautiful sunrise over the Kanchenjunga. A trip to the Himalayas is incomplete without the snow-clad peaks and sunrise. Tiger hills are the highest point in Darjeeling from where you can witness the bright artwork of nature.
The sun gently strides in and illuminates the face of Kanchenjunga which is the third highest peak in the world. It is advised to people to leave the hotel or resort before daybreak and take place at the side ring of the viewing gallery. The experience is excellent and will always be in your memory forever and ever after.
• The Zoo of Darjeeling: The Padmaja Himalayan Zoological Park is quite lesser known among the people. It is the place where you will get to witness several beautiful animals and natural beauty.
It is widely known as Darjeeling Zoo, and it is famous for what they do. It is only one such zoo in Asia that protects endangered species from eastern Himalaya. It has also won several prizes for it and you can see red pandas, Tibetan wolves and snow leopards over here.
• The Lama Hatta Village: The meaning of Lama Hatta is the “abode of the monks,” and when you visit the place, you will get to know the reason why it is called so. This village in the Sikkim-Gangtok road is a place where the mountain communities live in harmony and peace with the nature surrounding it. So if you like to meditate, you can do so here on the roadside garden under the ethic shades. So come and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature and the people’s culture and tradition.
Tips to visit Ghoom Monastery
Near to the Ghoom monastery, there is another monastery named Samten Choling Monastery. Often people get confused between this to the monastery so if you want to visit Ghoom Monastery mention address it as the local guide will take the old Ghoom monastery, and you there.
Interesting information you must know before your visit
You need to spend at least one to two hours to get the round of the whole Monastery. The entry is free of cost and if you have a camera, then you have to pay rupees 10. If you want to shot a video inside, then you need to pay rupees 50. The monastery is open for visitors from 9 am to 6 pm.
