Yiga Choeling Monastery in Ghoom is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling, established in the year 1850. Famous for housing a magnificent 15-foot statue of the Maitreya Buddha — the Buddha of the Future — this monastery is a place of profound spiritual significance and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Darjeeling Hills.
History of Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghoom
The monastery was established by the famous Mongolian astrologer and monk, Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, who served as its head from 1850 to 1905. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa sect — also known as the Yellow Hat sect — one of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The 15-foot statue of the Maitreya Buddha housed within was constructed during the tenure of the second head of the monastery, Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche (1910–1952).
The Maitreya Buddha Statue
The centrepiece of Yiga Choeling Monastery is the 15-foot statue of Gyalwa Shampa — the Maitreya Buddha, or the Coming Buddha — one of the biggest and oldest statues of Buddha in the Darjeeling area. The statue was made using clay brought from Tibet. In front of the statue, two huge oil lamps burn continuously, kept alight throughout the year as a symbol of eternal devotion.
