Impressions of the Yiga Choeling Monastery in Darjeeling

The Yiga Choeling Monastery (recently Ghoom Monastery) in Darjeeling is the seat of the Gelukpa or the yellow hat branch of Buddhism in Darjeeling. The monastery is known for its almost 5 meter high Buddha figure, which embodies the Maitreya Buddha. It was built in 1950 and gained additional importance when many high-ranking abbots took refuge in this monastery during the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959.