About Norbugang Coronation Site
Norbugang Chorten is the most historically significant site in Sikkim — a stone throne and prayer structure at the spot where Phuntsog Namgyal was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim in 1642, founding a Buddhist monarchy that would last 333 years until 1975. Three Tibetan Buddhist lamas from Kham, Mindol Ling and Katog — who had converged independently on Yuksom, according to tradition — performed the coronation ceremony here. The stone throne is still intact under a large cedar tree. The chorten beside it was built for the occasion and is still active. The footprint of the first Chogyal is preserved in a stone. This is not a tourist monument dressed up with signboards — it is a real place where something historically momentous actually happened, and the combination of the old tree, the throne, the forest and the silence makes it one of the few sites in Sikkim where history is palpable.
Why go to Norbugang Coronation Site
The birthplace of the Kingdom of Sikkim (1642)
The stone throne where the first king of Sikkim was crowned. The original structure is preserved. The cedar tree that witnessed the coronation is still alive beside it. This is where Sikkim began.
Active chorten beside the coronation tree
The chorten built for the 1642 coronation is maintained and prayer flags are regularly renewed. It is a working religious site, not a museum exhibit.
How to reach Norbugang Coronation Site from Yuksom
On foot from Yuksom bazaar — 10-minute walk from the main street. Signposted.
Best time to visit Norbugang Coronation Site
Year-round. Early morning for the quietest atmosphere.
Time of dayAny time. Early morning (before 9am) when no other visitors are present has the most atmosphere.
Things we always tell our guests about Norbugang Coronation Site
- Combine with Karthok Lake (5 min walk) and Dubdi Monastery (45 min up the trail) for the complete Yuksom heritage morning.
- The stone throne can be photographed — no restrictions.
- Read about the Sikkimese kingdom before visiting — the context transforms the site from a pretty forest shrine into a genuinely moving historical place.
Norbugang Coronation Site — your questions answered
Other places in Yuksom
- MonasteryTrekSacred Lake