About Ghoom Monastery
Yiga Choeling (Ghum Monastery) sits at 2,515m in the town of Ghum, 8 km from Darjeeling — the highest point on the toy train route and home to what is probably the most important monastery in the Darjeeling district. Founded in 1850, it is a Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) gompa with a 4.6m clay statue of Maitreya (the future Buddha) as its centrepiece. The statue is depicted with palms facing outward in the preaching mudra, painted in gold and draped in silk, and it fills the entire prayer hall. Ancient tankas, rare Buddhist texts and a remarkable collection of Tibetan religious objects line the walls of this surprisingly small but spiritually dense building.
Why go to Ghoom Monastery
4.6m Maitreya statue — most sacred in the district
The gilded future Buddha statue at Ghum Monastery is considered one of the finest pieces of Tibetan Buddhist art in the Darjeeling district. The prayer hall is small and intimate — the statue fills most of it.
Oldest Gelugpa monastery in Darjeeling (1850)
Founded by Mongolian monk Sokpo Shedup Gyatso, Yiga Choeling predates most of Darjeeling's development and preserves a library of rare Buddhist texts.
The significance of Ghoom Monastery
Yiga Choeling ('place of scriptures') is the oldest and most important Gelugpa monastery in the Darjeeling district. The resident Lama traces direct lineage to the Mongolian founder. The Maitreya statue — future Buddha — is the spiritual centrepiece and is considered to have particular protective power for the region.
What to see inside
Maitreya (Future Buddha) Statue
4.6m gilded clay statue in the preaching mudra. Fills the prayer hall. Considered the most significant Buddhist sculpture in the district.
Ancient Thangkas
Wall hangings depicting Tantric deities and mandalas dating to the 19th century. Some are rare enough to have been photographed for academic research.
Library of Buddhist Texts
Rare Tibetan canonical texts in the back rooms — the foundation of the monastery's reputation as a centre of Gelugpa learning.
Etiquette — please read before you go
- Remove footwear before entering
- Circumambulate the shrine clockwise
- Do not touch the statues or thangkas
- Speak softly or not at all during puja
- Dress modestly — no bare shoulders
Festivals worth timing your trip around
Mani Rimdu
November (full moon of the 9th Tibetan month)Three-day festival with masked dances (Chham), ritual fire offerings and blessing ceremonies. One of the most colourful celebrations in the Darjeeling hills.
How to reach Ghoom Monastery from Darjeeling
Ghum is 8 km from Darjeeling bazaar (20 min by shared jeep toward Jorethang). Also accessible by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train — Ghum is the highest station (2,257m). The monastery is a 5-minute walk from Ghum bazaar.
Best time to visit Ghoom Monastery
Year-round. The Mani Rimdu festival (October–November) brings monks in full ceremonial dress. Morning puja (around 6–7am) is the most atmospheric time to visit.
Time of dayMorning puja (6–7am) or late afternoon (4–5pm) when the monastery is in active use. Midday can be quieter but less atmospheric.
Things we always tell our guests about Ghoom Monastery
- Remove shoes before entering the prayer hall.
- The monastery is still in active daily use — be quiet and respectful during puja.
- Photography inside the hall requires permission from the resident monk; asking respectfully is usually rewarded with a yes.
- Combine with Batasia Loop (5 km back toward Darjeeling) in the same morning.
- The monastery has a small bookshop selling Tibetan texts and prayer items — genuine and modestly priced.
Ghoom Monastery — your questions answered
Other places in Darjeeling
- ViewpointHeritage