Tendong Gumpa

Tendong Gumpa
Religion
Affiliation	Tibetan Buddhism
Sect	Nyingma
Festivals	Buddha Poornima, Tshechu
Location
Location	Tendong Peak, South Sikkim, India
Country	India
Location within Sikkim
Geographic coordinates	27°12′22″N 88°24′29″E / 27.20611°N 88.40806°E / 27.20611; 88.40806
Architecture
Style	Tibetan architecture
Founder	Gomchen Pema Chewang Tamang
Date established	1955
Also known as TENDONG DICHHEN SALHUN GUMPA

Tendong Dichhen Salhun Gumpa or Tendong Gumpa as commonly known, is a Buddhist monastery situated atop 8530 ft. altitude from mean sea level (msl). This monastery is surrounded by lush green virgin reserve forest and nearest hamlet is Damthang which is at a six kilometer walking distance. Because of its seclusion, there are no resident monks/nuns in this monastery.

Gomchen Pema Chewang Tamang from Boomtar, Namchi, South Sikkim, was the main founder and head lama of Tendong Dichhen Salhun Gumpa. He did his spiritual studies in Tibet and acquired the title of ‘Gomchen’, (the great meditator) from an eminent Rempoche Yongzi Dangi Wongpo of Namdrolling Gumpa. In Tibet, one of his classmates happened to be Maharani Kunshang Dechen wife of Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal of Sikkim. Being a brilliant student, he had a cordial relation with the Maharani. Maharaja & Maharani later extended great help in building the monastery. He was also one of the Twenty-Four founding members of the world-famous Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Deorali, Gangtok. He possessed a multi-talented personality, yet calm, gentle and simple, spent most of his time meditating in loneliness and sometimes helping the society of all spheres in their spiritual needs.

A small holy cave is also present where Sangey Lama Ghesela, founder of Aahley Dichhen Cholling Gumpa had meditated for 6 months. Tendong Peak also houses Tendong Lho Rumfaat of Lepcha community.

There is an approx. 50 ft. tall tower under Sikkim Tourism Department from where one can have a 360 degree scenic view of the mountain range and also offers a good view of majestic Kanchenjunga range. On a clear morning, one can view a beautiful sunrise too.^[1]