About Dubdi Monastery
Dubdi Monastery, built in 1701, is the oldest monastery in Sikkim — a small Nyingma gompa on a forested ridge above Yuksom, reached by a 45-minute forest trail from the town. The name means 'retreat house' and the original purpose was contemplative isolation: the ridge was chosen for its height above the valley and its distance from the first capital at Yuksom below. The monastery is small — a single prayer hall, a residential quarter for a handful of monks, and a courtyard with views over the forested hills. The forest trail up is half the experience: dense oak and magnolia, bird calls, the occasional leopard cat crossing — the kind of walk that arrives somewhere worth arriving at. Most Yuksom visitors include Dubdi in the morning before or after the Norbugang coronation site.
Why go to Dubdi Monastery
Oldest monastery in Sikkim (1701)
Three centuries of continuous practice in a small hilltop retreat above Sikkim's first capital. The age is visible in the stone, the worn wooden doors and the quality of patience in the place.
Forest trail approach through intact Yuksom woodland
The 45-minute walk up through the forest is itself the activity — dense oak and magnolia, birdlife, the altitude gain bringing the town below into perspective.
The significance of Dubdi Monastery
Built 1701 under King Chakdor Namgyal — the oldest active monastery in Sikkim, predating the modern district boundaries. A Nyingma 'retreat house' on a ridge above the first Sikkimese capital.
What to see inside
Prayer Hall
320-year-old prayer hall with original murals — dark, low-ceilinged, deeply old. The main altar has a Guru Padmasambhava image and ancient thangkas.
Courtyard View
The small courtyard above the prayer hall looks over the forested ridges of West Sikkim — no other buildings visible, just forest and sky.
Etiquette — please read before you go
- Remove shoes at the prayer hall entrance
- Speak quietly inside
- Walk clockwise around the small chorten in the courtyard
How to reach Dubdi Monastery from Yuksom
On foot from Yuksom bazaar — the trailhead is signposted from the main street. 45 minutes uphill; 30 minutes down. No vehicle access.
Best time to visit Dubdi Monastery
Year-round. October–May for clear conditions. The forest is beautiful in the monsoon but the trail can be slippery.
Time of dayMorning (7–10am) for the best forest light and the coolest walking conditions.
Things we always tell our guests about Dubdi Monastery
- Wear shoes with grip — the forest trail has tree roots and can be muddy after rain.
- Take water (no source on the trail).
- Combine with Norbugang coronation site and Karthok Lake for a full Yuksom morning.
- The resident monks are welcoming but the monastery is small — 20–30 minutes inside is sufficient.
Dubdi Monastery — your questions answered
Other places in Yuksom
- HeritageMonasteryTrekSacred Lake