The major tourist spot of Sikkim is Gangtok, the capital city of the state. Religious places abound in Sikkim and the bulk of them forms the back bone of the tourist spots in Gangtok. In and around Gangtok there is Enchey Monastery, the Rumtek Monastery, Tsuk-La-Khang and obviously, Do-Drul Chorten. Regarded as the most important ‘stupa’ in Sikkim, Do-Drul Chorten was built by Trulshi Rimpoche way back in 1945. He was the head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1944, his Holiness, the Dud-Zom Rinpoche prophesied the establishment of such a monastery and Do-Drul Chorten of Sikkim stands in accordance to that.
The touch of aesthetic stamp makes the architecture inside the monastery immortal. There is a complete set of Dorji Phurpa, locally known as Bajra Kilaya. There is a set of Ka-gyur holy books, complete mantras(‘zung’ for the Buddhists) and various other relics and religious objects. The top of the Holy ‘stupa’ is topped with a gold shikhara. Around the ‘stupa’, there are 108 prayer wheels which the Sikkimese people call Mani-Lhokor. These wheels are rotated by the devotees and simultaneously chant the prayer ‘Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus’ to invoke the Bodhisattva.
Do-Drul Chorten in Sikkim is surrounded by Guru Lhakhang, Chortne Lhakhang, Meditation Center (Drupda), Institute of Nyingma Higher Studies (Nyingma Shede) and many other small monuments like the ‘kudung’. In Guru Lhakhang and Chortne Lhakhang, there are two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche. The disciples in Do-Drul Chorten and also the inmates of the Drubda are guided by His Eminence, Dodrup Chen Rinpoche of Sikkim.
Do Drul Chorten is the most significant and perhaps the biggest stupa in Sikkim. Located near Gangtok, Do Drul Chorten makes a major part of the itinerary in the East Sikkim. In 1945, this holy stupa was built under the direction of Late Truslshi Rimpoche, who was the head of Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Do Drul Stupa was built in compliance with the desire revealed by Dud-Zom Rinpoche in 1944.
Do-Drul Chorten embraces the entire ‘Mandala’ sets of ‘Dorjee Phurba’ (Bajra Kilaya), one set of ‘Ka-gyur’, full ‘zung’ (mantras), relics and other religious items. In close proximity of this ‘chorten’, there are not less than 108 ‘Mani-Lhakor’ (Prayer Wheels). Actually, turning of these wheels implies that the person has to chant the mantras engraved on them. While turning the wheels, it is said “hail to the jewel in the lotus”. This is spoken to summon ‘Bodhisattva’.
The famous Do Drul Chorten has a gold plated spire. The Chorten is encircled by Chorten Lhakhang and Guru Lhakhang that boast of the two colossal statues of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). One can see young and old lamas studying and working in the complex of Do Drul Chorten. Pilgrims from all over the state come to pay their homage at this sanctified stupa near Gangtok in Sikkim.