Rinchenpong Monastery and the Adi Buddha
The monastery is a three-storey building with a painted interior, on a quiet slope above the village. The main statue shows the Adi Buddha, the primordial Buddha, seated in union with his consort, a form linked with the Nyingma tradition and seldom seen in Sikkim's monasteries.
The monastery was damaged in the 2011 Sikkim earthquake and has been repaired. A caretaker monk usually opens the hall for visitors. Walk around it clockwise and look out from the courtyard to the snow peaks.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How do I get to Rinchenpong Monastery
It is a short walk or drive above the village, about 15–20 minutes on foot up a paved road and path. Your homestay can point you the right way. Cars can drive close to the gate. Combine it with the walk on to Resum Monastery for a half-day outing along the ridge.
What does yab-yum mean
Yab-yum, Tibetan for 'father-mother', is an image of a male Buddha or deity in union with a female consort. It stands for the union of compassion and wisdom, not for anything worldly. At Rinchenpong the statue shows the Adi Buddha, or Samantabhadra, in this form. View it as you would any sacred image.
Is the monastery open every day
It is generally open during daylight hours, but the main hall may be locked when no monk or caretaker is around. Ask at the monastery or in the village and someone will usually open it. Be patient and respectful, and avoid visiting during private ceremonies unless invited.
Also in Rinchenpong
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