Monasteries · Ghoom
Ghoom's two quieter monasteries
Most visitors stop only at Yiga Choeling. Walk instead to Ghoom's two other Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, Samten Choling and the Sakya monastery, both a short walk or jeep hop from the station, for morning chanting, prayer wheels and almost no crowds.
Ghoom is unusual for a small town in keeping three working monasteries. Yiga Choeling, founded in 1850, belongs to the Gelug school and takes nearly all the visitors. Samten Choling and the Sakya monastery are the other two, and they see a fraction of the crowds. The Sakya school is one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, known for its scholars and for a leadership long held within the Khön family, and its presence here shows how varied the town's Buddhist life is.
Ask at the station or any tea stall for the way: both are a short walk or a quick jeep hop along the roads around the saddle, and part of the pleasure is the walk itself, past houses with prayer flags and small chortens. Visit in the morning, when chanting is most likely. Sit quietly at the side of the hall, keep your voice low, and follow the lead of any monk who shows you in. You will often have the courtyard to yourself.
There is normally no fee at either; leave a small donation by the altar. Walk clockwise around buildings and prayer wheels, remove shoes where others do, and ask before photographing inside. Combine the two with Yiga Choeling and the railway museum for a half day in Ghoom, then catch a ₹30–50 shared jeep back to Darjeeling or walk down via Batasia Loop. At Losar, in February or March, all three monasteries are busy with prayers and family visits.
Cost: Free · donation welcome
Questions people ask
Good to know
Which monasteries are there in Ghoom?
Three are commonly visited: Yiga Choeling, the Gelug monastery founded in 1850 by Lama Sherab Gyatso and usually called Ghoom Monastery; Samten Choling; and a Sakya monastery. All are a short walk or jeep hop from the station. Yiga Choeling gets the tour groups; the other two are much quieter and worth the extra hour.
Is there an entry fee for Samten Choling or the Sakya monastery?
Usually not. Both normally let visitors in free, and a small donation at the altar is welcome. Rules on photography inside the prayer halls differ, so ask first. Visiting hours can change around festivals and special prayers, so check current status before you travel if you are making a special trip rather than combining them with Yiga Choeling.
Can I visit the monasteries during Losar?
Yes, and it is a good time to go, though busier. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, falls in February or March by the lunar calendar, and the monasteries hold prayers while families visit in their best clothes. Dates move each year, so check them before you plan. Dress warmly, because Ghoom in February is often close to freezing at dawn.
Also in Ghoom
More things to do
Monasteries · 1–1.5 hoursMorning prayers at Yiga ChoelingGhoom · Small fee or donation
Toy train · About 2 hoursSteam joyride from Darjeeling to GhoomGhoom · ≈ ₹1,500–1,800 steam · ≈ ₹1,000–1,300 d…
Treks and walks · 2–2.5 hoursWalk from Ghoom to Darjeeling by BatasiaGhoom · Free · ≈ ₹20–50 Batasia entry