The Rumtek Monastery, located about 24 km from Gangtok, is one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim, and belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists. The Monastery was originally built during the mid 18th Century, but has since been renovated during the 1960s, to be transformed into a marvellous fusion of ancient and modern Tibetan Buddhist architecture.

The monastery holds historical importance too, as it holds some of the most unique pieces of Buddhist art, in the form of wall murals, silk paintings, statues, and thankas (which are scrolls with intricate hand-paintings), a pure-gold statue of the 16th Karmapa, and a bejeweled crown, dating back to the 15th Century. There is also an aviary nearby, housing some of the most beautiful birds of the region. For the Buddhist enthusiasts who wish to stay, there are some very fine guest houses and hotels for travellers to stay in.