Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling

History of Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling

Ghoom is spelled as Ghum. It is located about 6 km from Darjeeling. It is as well as the highest point of Darjeeling district. The Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling belongs to the Gelukpa. The most famous statue of this monastery is the high statue of Maitreya Buddha. It was built by Mongolian monks around the 1800s. It has been built for almost 200 years. It is amazing to see how the building is built in fine detail. The interiors and exteriors of the monastery will shiver you because they give you some kind of magical feeling.

The Old Ghoom Monastery is known to be the oldest of its kind in Darjeeling. The year was 1850 when the monastery was established as a place that would worship Maitreyi Buddha or the Coming Buddha. The statue of the Maitreyi Buddha that the building has is approximately 15 feet in height. It stands firm in the central hall of the monastery. The statue of Maitreya Buddha was built with clay that was coming from Tibet all the way to Darjeeling. In front of the Buddha, there are two big candles that are burning all the time all year around. The tenure of Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche, the second head of the Old Ghoom Monastery saw the construction and placement of this statue. There are different art pieces and artworks in the monastery that can be checked out while on a visit here. Along with this, there are many Buddhist manuscripts that are quite sacred. These sacred pieces of information provide a deep insight into the Yellow Hat sect known as Gelupka, the group of Buddhists who worship Maitreyi Buddha. Along with an insight into the culture and lives of this sect, these Buddhist manuscripts provide many stories and details of the important events that happened as Buddhism evolved during the old times.

The architecture of Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling

You will have to be ready for some small cash for donations. You will also find the painting of many Buddha deities and lamas inside the building of Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling. There is also a large collection of Buddha’s manuscripts and a large sacred bell. There is a board in front of the monasteries that you have to pay Rs 10 per picture and Rs 50 for video recording. This money is for donations for the monastery.

Wandering along with the Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling will never fail to amaze you. There are a lot of amazing and magnificent views. There are mountains coated all in the snow in Kanchenjunga. On a bright sunny day, there will be amazing views from the front gate. There are countless mountains and trees which define Yiga Choeling as the real definition of a peaceful atmosphere.

Tips for visiting Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling

It may take some time to get to the original Ghoom, but after arrival, the scenery will never blink the eye. There is one thing that needs to be aware of, there is also a monastery called Samten Choling Monastery that is also referred to as Ghoom Monastery by the local driver. In order to visit Yoga Choeling or Ghoom Monastery, being clear and specific is a must. The thing that must be remembered is the original Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling is located below the railway station.