As we are all aware of the most unfortunate event of this year when the great vidyadhara Kybaje Dodrupchen Rinpoche went into mahaparinirvana on 24th Feb, 2022 and therefore, Simdha Getul Namdak Choying Rinpoche went to Sikkim to pay respect to the holy Kudung of the Kybaje Dodrupchen Rinpoche on 1st April, 2022 and for a week time, he went on pilgrimage around sikkim. 

On 22.03.2022, he went to the palace of sikkim where  Maha Guru Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro spent the last period of his life & Khandro Tsering Chodron room spent most of her life praying and in retreat in the very same room. There was private residence of Maha Guru Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro & Khandro Tsering Chodron, The statue of Lhatsün Namkha Jigme, The bed where Khyentse Chokyi Lodro was said to have slept and meditated & his precious Pandita hat, the Meditation seat and private residence of Khandro Tsering Chodron with still intact with her ritual items & her Embroidered pecha and mala.

On 25.03.2022, he went to seek the blessing of the  Golden Stupa (Lhabab Chodten), a magnificent reliquary that contains the precious relics and holy remains of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. The Sixteenth Karmapa past into parinirvana in 1981 in Zion, Illinois, north of Chicago. After his parinirvana, his body remained upright in meditation posture for three days, and the area over his heart was warm. During his cremation, his heart fell from the blazing body. The heart is now a venerated relic, stored in a stupa at Rumtek monastery. Bones that remained after the cremation of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje formed Buddhas and many relics. Usually Photography is restricted but Rinpoche could take photography and videography on special request - kindly click it here to watch it.  

On 27.03.2022, he went to the Shar-cho-bey-phuh cave; Hidden cave of Guru Padmasambhava in the East. The cave of the Eastern direction. It is located in the east of Tashiding, the heart of the holy places. It is a vast cave reputed to extend by bifurcation to both Mt. Tendong and Mt. Maenam. Its height varies from 5ft. to 100ft. as described in the Denjong Neyig text. The clues of the secret treasures of this holy land were hidden in this cave. The mystic pattern seen on the sides and roof of the cave bear religious significances ascribed to the various deities and ritual objects blessed by Guru Padmasambhava during his sojourn in this cave.

On 28.03.2022, he went to the LHO KHANDRO SANGPHUK, THE SECRET CAVE OF THE DAKINI IN THE SOUTH

This cave is associated with the dakini Vajravarahi, as well as being where Guru Padmasambhava meditated and spent time in retreat. Lho Khandro Sangphuk is said to be associated with the “God of Increasing Knowledge.”  It is believed to be the cave of longevity and increased knowledge. Here, all wishes for longevity, virtues and abundance will be fulfilled. Upon entering the cave one can see, on the ceiling, the lungs and heart of a demoness emitting the nectar of longevity. Immediately below is the vase of longevity surrounded by seven ritual offerings.

Underneath the vase lie the remains of the demoness, including her head, arms and other parts. On the right of these are the figures of animals. Moving forward, one must negotiate twelve narrow obstacles. Passing over the first, one reaches the shrine hall of Guru Padmasambava, containing his whole body imprint. It is believed that making a pilgrimage to this sacred place will cleanse all sins and misdeeds committed during the present lifetime. Khando Sangphu cave is the one amongst the four most holy caves in Sikkim. The appellation of the word Kahandu Sangphu is “Secret cave of the dakinis”. With its varying heights from two to twenty five feet, one has to literally crawl to reach the cave. Legend has to say that people who get stuck inside the cave are considered to be sinners. According to an ancient mythology, the Great Buddhist Guru, Padmasambhava had dwelled in the cave in search of enlightenment. During his stay in the cave, he has exorcised a demoness that had been an obstruction in the way of his spiritual pursuit. It is a belief that the rock above the door is the body of a nun that was transformed into the rock by Guru Rimpoche. It is said that Padmasambhava liberated her in this way to inspire future generations who would see the rock.

In the following days, he went on pilgrimage around at Pelling; the childhood residence of Kyabje Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche where he received teachings and study under Khen Rinpoche Kunga Wangchuk and where Vidhydhara Kybaje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche also used to visit and spent days, weeks and month, which is now taken care by Pekod Gyalse Rinpoche, and at Sangnga Choeling Monastery, Pemayangtse, Khecheopalri Lake, Yuksom & Tashiding

1: The Sanga Choeling Monastery was established in the 17th century by Lama Lhatsün Chempo, ( Lhatsun Namkha Jigme ) is one of the oldest monasteries in the Northeast Indian state of Sikkim. The literal meaning of Sanga Choeling is "Island of the Guhyamantra teachings", where gling means a vihara and "secret Mantra teachings" is a synonym for "Vajrayana Buddhism".

3: Khecheopalri: The lake is an integral part of the much revered valley of "Demazong" meaning valley of rice. This landscape is also known as a land of hidden treasures blessed by Guru Padmasambhava. It is also belived that Guru Padmasambahava preached to sixty-four yoginis here and also that it is the residing place of the Goddess Tara Jetsun Dolma and the Khecheopalri Lake is her footprint. The lake is sacred for both Buddhists and Hindus, and is believed to be a wish fulfilling lake.

4: Pemayangtse was blessed by Guru Rinpoche who, according to the account, when searching for a place to practise, shot an arrow in the air. The place where the arrow landed is where Pemayangtse now stands. The site of Pemayangtse Monstery was later chosen by Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé and Phuntsok Namgyal, the first Dharma king (Chögyal) of Sikkim. The monastery itself was built in 1705, during the reign of the third Chögyal, Chakdor Namgyal, and the third incarnation of Lhatsün, Jikmé Pawo. It was modelled on Mindroling in Tibet, where Jikmé Pawo had spent his early years, and it retained an important connection with Mindroling thereafter. Jetsün Mingyur Paldrön, the daughter of Terdak Lingpa, fled to Sikkim when Mongol invaders ransacked Mindroling Monastery and she spent time in Pemayangtse giving teachings and empowerments. The throne she used to teach from is located below the monastery.

5: Tashiding Monastery; Drakkar Tashiding is the most sacred place in Sikkim, visited by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, and in the 14th century by the tertön Rigdzin Gödem (1337-1408), who established a monastery there.The Golden Chorten, Drakkar Tashiding; In the 14th century, Rigdzin Gödem]] (1337-1408) established a monastery in Tashiding. In the 17th century, during the 1640’s, Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé (1597-1650) revealed the Rigdzin Sokdrup cycle in one of the four sacred caves that surround Tashiding. A legend relates to the three monks who consecrated the first Chogyal of Sikkim at Yuksom. Apparently, they saw an unusual phenomenon of bright light shining on top of the Kanchendzonga that reflected to a site near the place where the present Tashiding Monastery has been built. Also, a scented smell of incense and divine music was also noted. Recent Years It was in Tashiding that the cremation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was performed and that a stupa was built by his own disciples, including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, to house his relics. It was later gold-leafed by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche in the 1990s.

6: At Yuksom The Norbugang Chorten is a stupa situated in the Geyzing subdivision of West Sikkim district in the Indian State of Sikkim. It was erected following the crowning of the first Chogyal of Sikkim in 1642 at Narbugong Coronation Throne near Yuksom. A holy lake known as Kuthok Lake, a serene lake, is also linked to the historicity of the place. The Chorten was the place where Lama Lhatsun Chempo created the time capsule by burying all the gifts to mark the occasion.