Thongsa Gompa

Kalimpong


A short distance below the junction of RC Mintri and Rishi Rds is this charming Nyingmapa-school monastery, also known as the Bhutanese Monastery. The gompa was founded in 1678, but the present main building, surrounded by 220 small prayer wheels, was built in the 19th century after the Gorkhas rampaged across Sikkim.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kalimpong attractions

1. Himalayan Handmade Paper Industry

0.23 MILES

Visitors are welcome to drop into this small workshop to see traditional paper-making processes, from boiling and pulping of the local argayli (daphne)…

2. Tharpa Choling Gompa

0.34 MILES

Built from 1912 to 1922, the main temple of this Gelugpa-school Tibetan monastery of 50 monks contains statues of past, present and future Buddhas. Don't…

3. Macfarlane Church

0.59 MILES

This handsome 1891 church was severely damaged by a 2011 earthquake, when pinnacles from its tower came crashing to the ground. After renovations, the…

4. Lepcha Heritage Museum

0.91 MILES

This offbeat collection of Lepcha treasures could be likened to rummaging through the attic of your grandfather’s house (if he were a Lepcha elder). A…

5. Dr Graham’s Home

1.03 MILES

This orphanage and school was built in 1900 by Dr JA Graham, a Scottish missionary, to educate children of tea-estate workers, and now has 1300-odd…

6. Nurseryman’s Haven

1.28 MILES

Nurseryman’s stocks over 200 orchid species from the Kalimpong–Darjeeling region and is worth a visit to view its blooms that are exported worldwide (best…

7. Shanti Kunj

1.59 MILES

Walk down to Shanti Kunj to view its greenhouses full of interesting plants from begonias and cacti to anthuriums and araucaria-tree seedlings. Bulbs of…

8. St Teresa’s Church

1.61 MILES

A fascinating missionary church built in 1929 by Swiss Jesuits, St Teresa's was constructed to incorporate designs from a Bhutanese gompa. The 12 wooden…