One of Sikkim's oldest and most revered gompas, Pemayangtse dates to the 17th century and stands at around 2,100 metres, two kilometres uphill from Pelling. The monastery belongs to the Nyingma order and is a "perfect sublime lotus" — only monks of pure Sikkimese-Tibetan lineage were traditionally admitted. The three-storey building contains murals, thangkas and an intricate seven-tiered wooden model of the celestial palace of Guru Rinpoche, handmade by a single monk over five years. The views of Kanchenjunga from the monastery grounds are exceptional.
Pemayangtse Monastery
17th-century Nyingma gompa with stunning Kanchenjunga views and a remarkable celestial palace model