Culture and history · Ravangla
Buddha Park in the quiet first hour
Walk into Tathagata Tsal as the gates open, circle the 130 ft gilded Buddha with the prayer wheels, look into the hall at its base and, on a clear morning, see Kanchenjunga behind it. Then visit the old Rabong Gompa next door before the tour cars arrive.
Buddha Park, officially Tathagata Tsal, was built by the Sikkim government to mark the 2,550th Buddha Jayanti and consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama in March 2013. From the gate a long, straight path climbs gently between lawns and flower beds towards the statue, which sits on a raised base above the ridge. The Buddha is about 130 ft tall and covered in gold-coloured finish, with the hand held in the earth-touching gesture. On a clear day the Kanchenjunga range stands to the north-west.
Go at opening time. In the first hour the park is quiet, the light is soft and the mountains are most likely to be out; by late morning in holiday weeks it fills with tour groups and cloud often rises from the valleys. Walk the circuit around the statue clockwise, turning the prayer wheels as local visitors do. The base of the statue holds a hall with paintings and displays on the life of the Buddha; photography rules inside change, so follow the signs.
Leave time for the Rabong Gompa beside the park, a working monastery that predates the statue by decades and feels far more lived in. Morning prayers, the sound of horns and the smell of butter lamps are the counterweight to the scale of the new park. Entry to the park is a small fee, roughly ₹50–100 for Indians and more for foreign nationals; hours and fees change, so check current status before you travel.
Cost: Entry roughly ₹50–100 pp; check
Questions people ask
Good to know
What are Buddha Park Ravangla's timings and entry fee?
The park usually opens in the morning and closes in the late afternoon, around 5 pm, with a small entry fee of roughly ₹50–100 for Indian visitors and a higher fee for foreign nationals. Timings and fees change and may differ on festival days, so check at the gate or with your hotel the day before.
How tall is the Buddha statue at Ravangla?
The Buddha at Tathagata Tsal, Ravangla, is about 130 ft, or roughly 40 m, tall. It was built to mark the 2,550th Buddha Jayanti and consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama in March 2013. It stands on a raised base on the ridge, so it is visible from many points around the town.
Can you see Kanchenjunga from Buddha Park?
On clear mornings, yes. The Kanchenjunga range rises to the north-west of the park, and photographers like to frame it with the statue. The best chances are October to December and early spring, in the first hours after opening. From June to September and on most afternoons, cloud usually hides the mountains.
Also in Ravangla
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