Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is the Tibetan Museum, situated at an altitude of 5500 feet above sea level. It was founded in 1958 by Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal, ruler of Sikkim.

Since its inception, Tibet promotes research related to civilization, religion, language, art and culture and history, and sponsorship. There are many rare objects exist in the museum of this institute. Snakes and wood drums, clarinet, handicrafts depicting various incarnations of the Lord Buddha and the paintings on Lord and other stories and stories telling on clothes are prominent among them.

Other attractive collections of the institute include leather bags used for holding liquor while traveling, hand tooth bangles, Tibetan bangles, Royal and religious pieces, coins, old paper currency, a traditional headwear, rituals.

Apart from this, some 11th-century manuscripts of palm leaf in Sanskrit and Bangla, Tantric subjects, Chinese Buddhist scripture, and sculptures in Lepcha exist in the institute.

The religious leader Dalai Lama visited the institution, on 10 February and the calyx, and hammer used by them also kept here.

This institution is also known as the Tibet Research Institute of Studies, Sikkim. There are only three institutes of this type in the whole world. The Peoples of Asia Institute in Moscow and Toyo Bunko in Tokyo are two other such institutions.

The museum also contains about 200 Buddhist icons. The institute is planning a project, under which all rare and old photographs will be documented and digitized.

The architecture of this institution, built in a traditional Tibetan Buddhist style, is very panoramic and has beautiful pictures on the walls inside it.

Apart from this, there is a park established by the institute, which was built in memory of the last king of Sikkim, it will be beneficial to go here.

A beautiful bronze statue of the king made in the park. The institute in Deorali, located in the central Gangtok south side, is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm from Monday to Saturday.

The entrance fee for the library and museum is 10 rupees.