Enchey Monastery

INDIA, Sikkim, Gangtok

Enchey means Solitary. The monastery was founded by the 8th Chogyal of Sikkim in the 1840s. It belongs to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was re-established in 1909 with an elegant construction, and was rebuilt in 1948. The monastery was damaged by earthquakes in 1980, 1988 and 2006.
The monastery consists of a long circumambulation path lined with prayer wheels after the main gate. There is a large courtyard in front of the main building, and on one side there is a white stupa with a square base surrounded by prayer wheels.
The stone masonry building uses 50cm thick walls with a two-story timber frame structure supported by columns and beams. The wooden-trussed roof is covered in galvanized iron sheets, and is surmounted by a square golden pavilion. The walls in the assembly hall are completely covered with murals and paintings, and the four columns are elaborately carved. Window frames are ornately carved and painted in traditional Tibetan style. Statues of the Buddha, Loki Sharia, and Padmasambhava are enshrined in the hall.
The monastery has a library with a large collection of books. It also houses a large number of masks used for ritual dances.