Ghoom Monastery (Yiga Choeling)

Ghoom Monastery, formally Yiga Choeling, is a Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ghum, a few kilometres south of Darjeeling in West Bengal, India. It was built in 1850 and is among the oldest and best-known monasteries in the Darjeeling hills. The main hall houses a large, colourful statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, around three metres high, along with smaller images, murals, butter lamps and a collection of old Tibetan manuscripts and scriptures. Prayer wheels line the outer walls, and visitors may turn them clockwise as they walk. Monks conduct prayers in the early morning and at other set times, with chanting, horns and drums that visitors can quietly observe. The setting among pine and fir trees, often wrapped in mist, adds to the atmosphere. A visit takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The monastery is close to Ghum railway station and the Batasia Loop, so it combines easily with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ride, and shared jeeps and taxis run from Darjeeling town. It is open during the day, usually from morning to late afternoon, and entry is generally free or by small donation, although a small camera fee may apply. Morning is the best time, to catch the prayers. Weekdays are calm, and Buddhist festivals such as Losar, the Tibetan New Year, bring crowds and ritual dances. Visitors should dress modestly, remove shoes, speak quietly and ask before photographing monks or interior images, since photography inside is often limited.