Morning prayers at the Dharma Chakra Centre
The main hall at Rumtek is tall and dim, lit by butter lamps and windows high up, with rows of low seats for the monks. In the morning the community gathers for prayers, with chanting, drums, cymbals and long horns. Visitors may usually sit quietly at the back or stand by the door.
Come by 7.30 or 8 am from Gangtok, which means leaving around 6.30 am. Afterwards walk around the courtyard and outer prayer wheels, and ask whether the Golden Stupa shrine is open. Timings of prayers vary, so treat any chanting you hear as a bonus rather than a promise.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Can visitors attend prayers at Rumtek?
Visitors are usually allowed to sit or stand quietly at the back of the main hall during prayers. Do not walk between monks, do not use flash, and keep phones silent. If a monk asks you to leave or wait outside during a particular ritual, do so without argument.
What time do morning prayers start at Rumtek?
Prayer times vary with the season and the monastery's ritual calendar. Morning sessions often begin soon after dawn and may continue for an hour or more. Arriving between 7.30 and 8 am gives you a fair chance of hearing chanting. Ask the security staff or monks about the day's schedule.
Is photography allowed during prayers?
Generally no. Photographing inside the main hall during prayers is not appropriate, and signs often say so. You can take photographs in the courtyard and of the building's exterior. If you want a picture of a monk, ask first; many will agree, and some will say no.
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