Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdantse Palace Ruins and Sanga Cholling Monastery : Pemayangtse monastery at an altitude of about 2105 m (6840 ft), is situated about 6 kms from Gyalshing town and less than a kilometer from Pelling. It is the most important monastery of the Nyingmapa order and was first built as a small temple in the late seventeenth century by Latsun Chembo. Later during the reign of the third Chogyal, Chakdor Namgyal, Jigme Pawo who was the third reincarnate of Latsun Chembo extended and rebuilt the structure in the form of a big monastery. The main hall of the monastery has an area of about 180 square meters.The monastery houses numerous religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are priceless because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the monastery there is a wooden sculpture potraying the Mahaguru’s Heavenly Palace, Sangthokpalri. The main dance of the monastery is on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, normally corresponding to the month of Febraury, three days before Losar. A particularly impressive Chaam is on the second day that of the god Mahakal-a huge 8 feet high effigy.

     The highlight of the third day is the unfurling of a huge thanka, the largest in Sikkim, depicting Sakya Muni the living Buddha, at the entrance of the monastery.Rabdantse, which is a couple of kilometers from Gyalshing bazaar and near the Pemayanste Monastery, was the second capital of Sikkim and was established in the late seventeenth century by the second Chogyal of Sikkim. It was abandoned towards the end of the eighteenth century because of the threat posed by the Nepalis and the capital was shifted to Tumlong. The Rabdanste Palace is in ruins and one has to trek about two kilometers from the main road near Pemayanste Monastery through a thick forest to reach it. The chortens around the palace have however withstood the elements of nature. The ruins are now being preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India and have been declared as a monument.Sanga Chelling Monastery, considered the oldest in Sikkim, lies amidst a thick-forested hill top opposite the Pemayanste Monastery towards the west. Less than a kilometer ahead of Pemayanste, on the road to Yoksum is Pelling, and it is from here that one starts walking to this monastery. The track is wide and moderately steep and it takes about half an hour to reach the monastery from Pelling. Just adjacent to the Pemayantse Monastery, is Mount Pandim Hotel suited for the upper class tourists. For tourists on a low budget, cheap but comfortable accommodation is available at the Gyalshing bazaar. Daily bus services are available from Gangtok for Gyalshing.

Pemayangtse Monasteryp>

Rabdentse Palace

Sangacholing Monastery