Monasteries · Dzongu
Tholung Monastery in upper Dzongu
Tholung Monastery stands at about 2,400 m in remote upper Dzongu, within the Khangchendzonga National Park buffer zone. It was built in 1789 and holds relics hidden here during the Gorkha invasions, shown publicly once every three years. Access is a long drive and walk.
Tholung was revealed as a sacred place by the 4th Lhatsun, Kunzang Jigmed Gyatso, in 1760, and a monastery was built here in 1789 by Pema Dechhen Gyatso. When Gorkha armies from Nepal invaded Sikkim in the late 18th century, precious manuscripts, images and relics from other monasteries were carried to Tholung for safety. They have stayed in sealed boxes ever since.
Because of the damp climate, the relics are taken out every three years to be aired, in a ceremony called Kamsel, held in April and overseen by the state's Ecclesiastical Department. On other days you see the monastery, rebuilt in 1980, its setting in deep forest and the quiet of the upper valley.
Reaching Tholung means a long drive on the upper Dzongu road and a walk; landslides often change the route. Ask your homestay to arrange a car and a local guide, roughly ₹2,500–4,000 for the day, and confirm that access is open. The area is inside the national park buffer and may need extra permission.
Cost: Free · taxi and guide ₹2,500–4,000 (indicative)
Questions people ask
Good to know
Why is Tholung Monastery important?
Tholung is one of the most sacred monasteries in Sikkim. It holds manuscripts, images and relics brought here for safety during the Gorkha invasions of the late 18th century, including a metal chorten with the ashes of an incarnation of Lhatsun Chenpo. The relics are shown publicly every three years.
How do I get to Tholung Monastery?
From a Dzongu homestay, take a car up the upper Dzongu road and then walk the last stretch with a local guide. The route depends on landslides and road repairs, so ask your host for current access. It is a full-day trip; start early.
When is the Tholung Kamsel?
Kamsel, the airing and public display of Tholung's relics, is held every three years in April. The exact dates follow the Tibetan calendar and are announced by the monastery and the state's Ecclesiastical Department. Check current status before you travel.
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