Thongsa Gompa

Thongsa Gompa, also known as Bhutan Monastery, is the oldest monastery in Kalimpong, West Bengal, located in the town's central area near Relli Road. Established in 1692 by Bhutanese monks, it belongs to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is notable for its traditional Bhutanese architecture, ancient murals, prayer hall and collection of Buddhist scriptures, serving as an important religious and cultural landmark in the Kalimpong hills.

Visitors can expect a small hilltop monastery complex with traditional Bhutanese architecture, a central prayer hall housing Buddhist statues, thangkas and murals, and a quiet courtyard. The setting is within Kalimpong town with views of surrounding hills. Visitors can walk through the prayer hall, observe monks in prayer, see religious artifacts and scriptures, and experience a calm, contemplative environment. The site is compact and easily explored on foot.

Thongsa Gompa was established in 1692 by Bhutanese lamas and is regarded as the oldest monastery in Kalimpong. It was built during the period when Kalimpong was under Bhutanese rule, before the region came under British administration. The monastery was later refurbished and remains an important example of Bhutanese monastic heritage in the Darjeeling-Kalimpong hills.

The monastery belongs to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and serves as an important religious centre for the local Buddhist community. It houses sacred images, murals, thangkas and Buddhist scriptures, and is used for daily prayers and religious observances. Its Bhutanese architectural style reflects the cultural links between Kalimpong and Bhutan.