HERITAGE WEEK: 18th to 24th November, 2021

Day-3: Sikkim-Enchey Monastry, Gangtok

What lives in abode of Kangchenjonga mountains is pilgrimage city of Gangtok. It is believed that Gangtok was actually a serene valley in the Himalayan trails. It was Lama Druptub Karbo who came here and had his hermitage. In the pristine valley of Kanchenjonga Lama Druptub Karbo had his place to meditate. According, to the legends Lama Druptub a propounder of Nyingma school of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism had the powers and abilities to fly, so, he flew from the territories of South Sikkim and made himself at ease at Gangtok and established the Enchey Monastery which literally means 'Solitary'. While staying in Enchey through his meditative powers the sacred Himalayan deities Kanchenjonga (The second highest mountain peak of the Himalayas)and Mahakaal also accompanied him. Eventually, around Enchey started growing a small hamlet and later a city.

Gangtok, remains major trade route town via Nathula pass for Indo-Tibetan-Chinese trade route since ancient times and even today.  As the prominence and faith of Enchey monastery grew among people of Sikkim and Darjeeling, Gangtok grew as a major pilgrimage centre. In 1700's Enchey monastery started shaping as a prominent religious-cultural centre. In 1840's the then Chogyal (King of Sikkim)patronized construction of a larger monastery in Enchey and in 1894 Thutob Namgyal the Sikkimese monarch shifted his capital from Tumlong to Gangtok. Till today Enchey monastery remains in the cultural centrality of Gangtok, for people of Gangtok it is their sacred place of peace and protection. 

When in 2006 I visited this sacred place I met elderly people of the city coming their and offering their prayers... a culture which continues to live... 

Text copyright: Bina Sengar

Images copyright: Bina Sengar 

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Reference links

http://gorkhapedia.wikidot.com/gangtok

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchey_Monastery