While there is lots to see and do in Sikkim, the towering Buddha Park of Ravangla is without question one of the most impressive and important stops if you are anywhere in the state. It is massive, peaceful, dramatic and surprisingly modern. It also makes for a logical stop if you are heading from Gangtok to Pelling or even across to Darjeeling.
What though is the story of the place, how do you get there and what is there to do on the way. Here is the YPT guide.
What is the Buddha Park of Ravangla
The Buddha Park of Ravangla, officially called Tathagata Tsal, was built in 2013 to mark the 2550th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It is located just outside the small hill town of Ravangla in South Sikkim and features a massive 130 foot high seated Buddha statue overlooking the valley. While the site is new, it has quickly established itself as a major religious and tourist destination in the region.
The park was created by the Sikkim government as part of an effort to promote Buddhist pilgrimage routes and attract domestic tourism. The statue sits on a large platform and contains a meditation hall and museum inside, decorated with murals and traditional Buddhist art. Surrounding it are well-kept gardens, long rows of prayer flags, and large spinning wheels.
There is nothing ancient about it but it feels rooted in place. You can tell it was built with a lot of pride. On a clear day it gives a full view of the surrounding hills and distant snow-covered peaks. On a cloudy day it is even better. The statue disappears and reappears in the mist like something out of a dream. It is one of the few places that looks even more surreal in bad weather than good.
Getting to the Buddha Park of Ravangla
The journey from Gangtok to the Buddha Park takes between two and three hours depending on weather, road conditions and how many trucks are parked in all the wrong places. It is not a smooth ride but the views are solid. Along the way there are places worth stopping. Enchey Monastery sits right outside Gangtok and is good for a short visit with views over the valley. Rumtek Monastery comes further down the line and is a larger, active monastic complex worth a longer stop if you have time.
The road continues through hill villages, pine forest, prayer flags, waterfalls and constant switchbacks. One minute you’re in the fog, the next you’re looking out across valleys deep enough to make your stomach shift. You’re never moving fast but you’re never bored either.
After leaving we excitedly put on our shorts and headed to a hot springs. Alas before jumping in we noticed it was kinda on we and and might kill us. It was though quite pretty there at least and we got photos, if not wet.
What is it like to visit the Buddha Park of Ravangla
Arriving at the Buddha Park feels like entering a different world. Even from the parking area you can see the giant statue towering over everything else. From there you can either take the straight stairway to the top or walk the longer route through the garden which spirals its way up in slow switchbacks.
The climb is short enough that you do not need to be fit, but long enough to make you feel like you earned the view. And the view is worth it. On a clear day you can see for miles over the hills and valleys. On a cloudy day it becomes something else entirely. The clouds sweep across the park and wrap the statue in fog. One minute you can see the whole figure and the next it is gone. Then the wind changes and the head appears floating above the mist. It is strange, theatrical and dare I be so bold as say moving?
Inside the statue is a small museum and meditation hall. It is quiet, clean, and done with some care. You get murals showing scenes from the life of the Buddha, soft lighting, and rows of butter lamps. Nothing over the top. Just a calm space that fits the surroundings.
At the base of the park there is a flat area with trees and benches and a few food vendors, all acting very chilled. You can get tea, instant noodles, momos and a few odd snacks. There’s also a few actual restaurants if your needs are more varied.
If you have been to the Chenrezig Skywalk and statue in West Sikkim you might be tempted to compare the two. Ravangla feels less showy and more settled. There are fewer tour groups, less noise, and more time to just enjoy where you are. No one rushes you. No one tries to sell you keychains every two metres. It is one of the rare places that lets you enjoy it at your own pace.
Conclusion
The Buddha Park of Ravangla is not ancient and it does not try to be. It is a new build with a clear purpose. But it still feels real. The location is stunning. The design is impressive. And the overall experience is one of the better ones you will have travelling through Sikkim. It gives you space to breathe and something to remember.
Did it make me religious? No, but it kinda made me smile for a while, which in itself is a kind of miracle. One of the best attractions in Sikkim, its a lovely journey and it breaks up the drive to Pelling.
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