Druk Sangag Choling Monastery, Darjeeling

Druk Sangag Choling Monastery is one of the most prominent monasteries of the Drukpa Order, built by 1st Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche in 1971. Located around 4 km away from the main town of Darjeeling, this religious site is popularly referred to as Druk Thupten Sangag Choling Monastery. This monastery is home to about 300 monks, who came to live here from the Himalayan region. More importantly, it serves as the headquarters of the Drukpa Lineage.

Kyabje Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche now takes care of the management and administration of the monastery after his master’s degree in Buddhist philosophy from Tango University in Bhutan. He looks after all the activities at the monastery, his main seat. Rinpoche not only take care of the monastery but the entire drukpa lineage spiritual activities in Ladakh besides managing Druk Pema Karpo School as a Chairperson. He is also responsible for taking care of drukpa centers in Europe and also as well as anywhere else there is a devotee.

When you look at the monastery from a little distance standing on the Hill Cart Road, it looks awesome. It’s one of the largest monasteries with white buildings built in typical Tibetan style and perched on a steep hill and overlooks the Hill Cart Road which is the main arterial road of Darjeeling.

As you enter through the arch gate and walk up along the ramp, you will be awestruck with the structure of the monastery.

Here are some pictures showing the activities taking place inside the monastery