Sikkim Lingthem Monastery
An earthquake took away the old structure of the Lingthem monastery and the new structure was built in 1989 with the monetary help of Culture Department and this monastery is famous for all its annual functions including the famous mask dance.
Founded by
This monastery came up during the regime of Chhogyal Tsugphud Namgyal in the years who ruled during 1793-1863.
Description
The Lams of the Lingthem village conduct every year their annual festivals during the winter months, which lasts six days.  Though the villagers are entertained through these masked dances, these also teach the basics of Buddhism and it’s preaching. This is mainly to remove the barricades and bad omens on the village and its people, as also evils on the monastery. The Lamas and other senior Buddhist devotees, these functions and celebrations are of great importance, and carry idealistic views. These depict the deities coming out during death and rebirth and make themselves present and also a judgement by the Death God, who gives verdicts on the acts and happenings of human in the after life period and this has also been nicely pictured by Dawa Tsering Lepcha in Lepcha reserve of Dzongu, in the northern Sikkim. The institute of Namgyal Tibetology in its project venture has pictured this for the second time, and delivers a video record on the deteriorating local and Buddhist practices in Sikkim. It aims mainly to depict the sense of carrying out Sikkim practices within the ambit of their economic and cultural avenues.
Attractions Nearby
It is interesting to trek across the bamboo groves and the rice fields to Lingthem village. Indeed it is challenging and scary to pass through the Mount Kangchendzonga, which the Lepchas feel is deemed to safeguard the village and also the real basic cause of our living,  the main heart of Alpine Forest adores this place and also the monastery. A different type of Rural Sikkimese Nyingmapa Buddhism is on vogue in this area, and one can see a special and customary mask dance being conducted at the Monastery during the month of December every year. Also, Dzongu, Sikkim, Barfok in North Sikkim are other important nearby places to visit. More so, Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple and Padmasambhaya are nearby places of tourist importance. Also Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute in Geyzin Solophok Chardham in Namchi and Hanuman Tok in Gantok are worth visiting.
How to Reach
One can stay at the Nor Khill Palior, Gangtok, and Hotel Soyang, Sikkim and also at Hotel Mandala, Sikkim.  This place is nearer to Gangtok, and people can comfortably reach here through flight or train which are available from important cities in India. On reaching Sikkim, cabs and buses are also available for taking up a comfortable journey to the monastery and other places.
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