Chakdor Namgyal from the second wife of Tensung Namgyal, succeeded in the year 1700, however his half sister, whose mother was from Bhutan, claimed that she was entitled to the throne. In order to snatch the throne she went to the extent of the taking the help of the Bhutanese to invade Sikkim, and evict her brother. Chakdor Namgyal had to flee Sikkim, and the Bhutanese forces occupied the capital Rabdanste. In the process, Kalimpong which was a part of Sikkim was lost to Bhutan.

Chokdor Namgyal remained in Lhasa for about seven years, again returned as King with the help of Tibetans. Chakdor introduced and choreographed many Lama dances, such as one performed in Phang Labsol festival. He also introduced a system of sending one son from citizens to the monastery to become a lama. ns to the monastery to become a lama.

When Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal was resting at the Ralong hot spring in 1716, his half sister Pendeongmu had him murdered, She was later caught and strangled to death.