About

Rumtek Monastery, also called the Dharma Chakra Centre, is a Buddhist gompa (place of higher learning, typically with its own shrine and living quarters). It is associated with the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the seat in exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa, and was inaugurated in 1966 by the 16th Karmapa.
The Rumtek Monastery boasts of two elegant buildings - the main shrine itself, and the Karma Shri Nalanda Institute, along with a number of ancillary structures.

The main shrine stands in a large enclosed courtyard - 63m x 54m, with the main entrance on the east. The shrine occupies the western end of the courtyard and has a base of about 30m x 28m. There are two residential structures on the north and south sides of the courtyard, two floors high on the south, and one floor on the north. An elegant gate on the east marks the entrance to the courtyard.

The main shrine is a four-level structure with successively diminishing footprint. The lowest level has a verandah in the front, with a large screen made of fabric and decorated with simple representations of the dharmachakra and the endless knot partially shielding it. The next two levels have lattice railings, windowed rooms, ashtamangal symbols in gilded medallions, and eaves. The roof of the third level features the deer-and-dharma chakra composition. The top-most level has a gilded finial on top of it.
The walls and ceiling of the verandah are richly decorated with thangka style murals depicting the Four Heavenly Kings, Virupaksha, Virudhaka, Vaisravana, and Dhritarashtra, in addition to depictions of Ganesha and the Buddha. The ceiling of the verandah has elaborate geometrical patterns in bright colours. There are a set of five guardian lions on the lintel of the doorway leading to the interior of the shrine. The inner walls of the shrine are also covered with rich and colourful murals depicting scenes from the life of The Buddha, and other mythological figures such as Bhadra and Bhairava.
An inscribed pillar standing in the courtyard of Rumtek Monastery details the monastery's history, including its original founding by the 12th Karmapa Lama Changchub Dorje in the mid-18th century and its subsequent rebuilding and inauguration by the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, in 1966.

The Karma Shri Nalanda Institute was inaugurated in 1987. It stands a little to the west of, and slightly higher on the hill side in relation to the main shrine itself. It is a five-story structure with a sweeping staircase leading to the main entrance on the first floor above the ground floor. It stands on a base that is about 20m x 28m. The first and second floors feature pillared verandahs with richly painted capitals, and lattice railings. There is a set of gilded medallions above the windows on the third floor. The two-deer and dharma chakra composite is seen above the third floor. The fifth storey has a wu-dian roof with garuda and chiewei ornamentation at the four corners and a gilded finial on the top.