Travel Guide Phodong

Phodong, located 42 kilometers north of Gangtok, is a small quiet village where time seems to have stopped. The monastery of Phodong, of the Kagyupa sect, is a magnificent religious building of the 18th century. In addition to its superb old wall frescos, it accommodates more than 250 monks. It is necessary to follow the road for 2,5 km to reach it on foot. It hosts the Chaam Dance festival, with masked dances accompanied by traditional music. A little further on, the Labrang monastery of the Nyingmapa sect houses an interesting statue of Rahula, the half-man, half-serpent creature who tried to steal the nectar of immortality.