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Ghum Monastery

Overview

•Old Ghoom Monastery is the popular name of Yiga Choeling.
•The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect and is known for its 15 feet (4.6 m)-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

Highlights

Old Ghoom Monastery is the popular name of Yiga Choeling.
The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect and is known for its 15 feet (4.6 m)-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.
The external structure of the building was established in 1850 by the Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, who was head of the monastery until 1905.
In 1909, Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche Ngawang Kalsang, popularly called Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche, succeeded Sherab Gyatso as the head.
It was he who commissioned the statue of the Maitreya Buddha, and he remained head until 1952.

Dress Code

Modest, respectful clothing is expected at this site.

Things to Do

Visit Ghum Monastery

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Old Ghoom Monastery is the popular name of Yiga Choeling. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect and is known for its 15 feet (4.6 m)-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Old Ghoom Monastery is the popular name of Yiga Choeling. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect and is known for its 15 feet (4.6 m)-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

It is about 3.1 km from central Darjeeling.

The most comfortable months are January, February, November and December; July is the hottest, with highs around 22°C.