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Dubdi Monastery

Dubdi monastery is an hour’s walk from Yuksom which do not have laid road and the walk to the monastery takes guest through a stone paved path covered with greenery. The monastery is situated at a height of nearly 7000 feet on a spur and is also known as the Hermits Cellafter its ascetic founder Lhatsun Namkha Jigme. Dubdi is two storied structure which has painted interior with images of divinities, saints and other symbols with collection of manuscripts or text in the monastery. It is based on square plan and faces south with two side aisles nicely decorated. It has a tapering tower with a flat roof.  The aisles by the sides have a rare collection of manuscripts and other ritual texts which are preserved there. Statues of three lamas responsible for establishing Yuksom are also installed in the monastery. It is one of the oldest monastery with huge followers and with annual festivals being held here as ritual. Other than the Dubdi monastery three more monastery were constructed over spots consecrated by Guru Rimpoche, namely Tashiding, Pemayangtse and Sangachoeling

It is popularly known or called Yuksom Monastery is a Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Dubdi is situated at an altitude of 2,100 metres  / 7,000 feet) on a spur. This is part of the holy Buddhist religious / pilgrimage circuit including the Norbugang Chorten, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, the Sanga Choeling Monastery, the Khecheopalri Lake, and the Tashiding Monastery.

This was established in 1701 and is suppose to be the oldest monastery in Sikkim and is located on the top of a hill which is about an hour's walk (3 kilometres) from Yuksom. It is also known as the Hermit's Cell after its ascetic founder Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, who along with two other lamas from Tibet met at Norbugang near Yuksom and crowned Phuntsog Namgyal as the first King or Chogyal of Sikkim at Norbugang Yuksom in 1642. The literal meaning of 'Dubdi' in local language is the retreat.

Established during the reign of Chogyar Namgyal, the Monastery has an elaborately painted interior area. Images of divinities, saints, other symbols and collection of manuscripts and texts are housed in the monastery. The statues of three lamas who were responsible for establishing Yuksom are also installed in the monastery. It is a two storied structure built in stone. The top of the roof has a bell shaped gilded dome known as “Gyaltshen”. The monastery has two side aisles where a rare collection of manuscripts and other ritual texts are preserved.  It is square in plan and faces south. It has a tapering tower with a flat roof made of iron sheets with projecting eaves.

Dubdi monastery is central to the history of Sikkim as it is closely linked to the founding of the State of Sikkim at Yuksom in the middle of the 17th century by Lhetsum Chenpo and his two associate lamas. Chenpo’s green image is enshrined in the Dhubdi monastery as it was established by him to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Sikkim. It is the only monastery (purported now as the first monastery built in Sikkim) surviving out of the four built at that time, the other three locations are now identified by: a cluster of four juniper trees was the location where a monastery of Khardokpa sect existed; another location of a monastery established by Lama of Nadakpa sect now seen in the form of a rocky mound and two juniper trees, and the third site has now a chorten, which was originally the location of the residence of the King of Sikkim who was crowned at Yuksom by the three lamas.  Monastery had thirty monks some time back. Now to gain access to the monastery, the only monk who stays in the monastery has to be informed in advance

Communication

It is nearly 43 Kilometres from Pelling. One can reach Bagdogra airport (IXB) nearly 175 kilometresin West Bengal which is well connected with flights from flights from Kolkata, Patna, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Paro, Bangkok and Bangalore. The nearest railway link is at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) some 175 kilometres by drive i.e. 5 - 6 hours. It is better to reach by road after reaching Siliguri / Bagdogra airport (IXB) / New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP).  From Bagdogra Airport (IXB) airport daily helicopter services reach Gangtok and requires early bookings.Private vehiclesare available if booked early as there is shortage of registered Taxi.