Aritar Gumpa Monastery Aritar

Aritar Gumpa, popularly knowns as Ari Gumpa is nestled on the edge of the Himalayas, offers as a vantage point for the panoramic view of the lush green mountains, winding roads amidst rich vegetation and slow-moving green algae water of Lampokhri Lake. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim lying on the way to Mankhim Top but is often missed by the tourists on their visit to Aritar because of its secluded location. This sacred Buddhist pilgrim, embellished with best artifacts, finely carved and exotically painted murals, ancient manuscripts and traditional architecture, belongs to the Karma Kagyu lineage order of Tibetan Buddhism.

Getting There

One can rent a car to reach this beautiful monastery placed in the solitutory lap of nature. It is about four hours' drive from Gangtok via either Pakyong or Rangpo.

Things to Do & See

On the visit to Aritar Gumpa, one can dwell into the rich traditional Buddhist art and literature. Amongst the nearby attractions, Aritar Lake (Ghati-Tso) comes at the top. It is a newly developed tourist destination where one can enjoy a boating in its peaceful water. Then there are traditional villages close by that one can visit to understand the fascinating culture and life of the local people. The hilltop Mankhim Temple is also a nearby popular tourist destination because of its religious significance and tranquil surroundings.