culture · Gangtok, Gangtok
Tibetology institute and Do-drul Chorten
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology stands in wooded grounds at Deorali, a short shared-taxi ride below MG Marg. The 14th Dalai Lama laid its foundation stone in 1957 and Jawaharlal Nehru opened it in 1958. It is named after Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal. The building is in Sikkimese style, and the museum on the ground floor shows thangkas, statues, ritual objects and old texts. The fee is about ₹25.
The museum is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sundays and government holidays; check current status before you travel. Photography rules inside can be strict, so ask at the desk. Allow an hour if you read the labels. The institute also runs research and publishes the Bulletin of Tibetology, and the institute says its library holds one of the largest collections of Tibetan texts in the world.
From the institute, walk about 500 m uphill to Do-drul Chorten. Work on the stupa began in 1945 under Trulshik Rinpoche, who placed ritual objects and scriptures inside. Around it turn 108 prayer wheels, each carved with the mantra Om mani padme hum. Walk clockwise, as locals do. A monastery for young lamas stands beside it. The ropeway's Deorali station is close by if you want to ride up afterwards.
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Questions people ask
Good to know
Is the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology open on Sunday
No. The museum is open 10 am to 4.30 pm from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and official government holidays, according to the institute. If your only free day in Gangtok is a Sunday, visit Do-drul Chorten, which is open to walkers daily, and save the museum for another trip. Check current status before you travel.
How do I get to Deorali from MG Marg
Take a local shared taxi heading to Deorali for about ₹20–40 a seat, or walk down for roughly 30–40 minutes on steep roads. A reserved taxi costs a little more. Many half-day sightseeing packages also stop here, but they often allow only twenty minutes, which is too short for the museum and the chorten together.
Can I take photos at Do-drul Chorten
Photos of the stupa and prayer wheels from outside are generally fine. Inside shrine rooms, ask first, and do not photograph monks at prayer without permission. Walk clockwise around the chorten and the prayer wheels, keep your voice low, and do not sit on the steps of the shrine. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
