Daramdin Sai Temple is a religious centre and a significant place of worship for the Sai devotees, located at Daramdin Village in West Sikkim. The foundation stone for the temple was laid in the month of December 2012 by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Sri Pawan Chamling. After the completion of the construction, Sai Mandir Daramdin was inaugurated on 15th April 2007.
Commonly regarded as a Hindu shrine, the place is basically a general centre of all religions.
Daramdin Sai Temple is a growing tourist destination in Sikkim as it is obvious because the temple is located in a stunning destination with a compelling history to trace back to. Daramdin is a small hamlet in the West Sikkim that is located at a distance of 120 from Gangtok. The village falls under the latitudes and longitudes of the some of the beautiful places of attraction in West Sikkim like Kaluk-Ringpongchen, Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Sombaria, Soreng, etc.
Contrary to other mountain villages, Daramdin Village has a peculiar feature. It has a massive surface of the flat horizontal area instead of slopes. The name Daramdin is derived from the Lepcha dialect ‘Dalom’ literally meaning ‘a flat land or a place of rest’.
There are folklores associated with Daramdin Village. It so happened many centuries ago, the Lepchas, the original inhabitants of the village has a discussion on the distance separating their hamlet and the sky. Then they decided to build a tower formed of clay vessels placing one above the other. The construction began and after 12 years of consistency, they were on the brink to achieve their purpose.
The man on the uppermost level of the yelled “Kok bing yang tal” meaning “get me a pole to strike the sky”. Sadly, the message was heard ‘Cheka’ meaning ‘destroy the ladder’. Shocked and surprised, the men in the bottom the asked the man on the top to repeat the message. Sadly, the repeated response was the same word Cheka. Thus, the man in the bottom strike down the ladder to the sky and their purpose ended with it. The remains and the broken pieces of potteries are still found today at the site.
Legends even assert that the grand tower fell down overlooking hills of Daramdin, eventually forming three different valleys, presently known as Maney Bhangyang, Reling Bhangyang, and Kaizaley Bhangyang. Thus, Sai Mandir in Daramdin has a lot to offer apart from spiritual fulfillment. The temple maintains a surreal ambiance that is peaceful, clean, and visually compelling.
The vast expanse of Sai Mandir Daramdin is donated by the devotees of Rizal family and Pradhan Family for its construction. Daramdin Sai Temple, Sikkim is first of it’s kind to be constructed in the entire Northeast region. The devotees who cannot make it to south India now can take a pilgrimage to Daramdin Sai Temple in West Sikkim.
The place witnesses a large number of visitors throughout the year. Annual events and fests are organized by the various religious groups at the temple. Since its inauguration in 2007, Mr. KN Rizal has been the caretaker of the beautiful place.Daramdin Sai Temple, Sikkim is an ideal destination for birdwatching and involving oneself in the rural life. Due to the altitudinal variation, the place witnesses a large variety of birds to migrate to and fro within a short span of time. Sai Mandir Daramdin holds significance as a pilgrimage site for the religious fanatics.The temple brightens with the outstretched premises covered with diverse species of Himalayan flowers and plants. A dedicated Hindu priest and Volunteers are always available in Sai Mandir in Daramdin to help and assist the visitors when needed.
Also Read: Hanuman Tok, Gangtok, Sikkim
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