Pal Zurmang Kagyud monastery is one of the legendary monasteries nestled in the state of Sikkim. Just 20kms out of Gangtok is the Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery at Lingdum. This ancient monastery is a part of Dupgyu Karma Tsang. With magnificent architecture, this is one of the prominent monasteries of Sikkim. The monastery is also a training centre for young and novice monks. The present Gharwang Rinpoche is the 12th successive incarnation of the glorious emanation of Zurmang Gharwang.

History of Zurmang Pal Kagyud Monastery
Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery was built under the guidance of the well known saint Dupchen who gathered a lot of Khenpos and asked his followers to spread herbal grass. His followers immediately informed him about an auspicious place where such herbal grass have grown. On this, he suggested that a monastery should be constructed in that particular place called "Zurmang". As such this monastery came to be known as "Zurmang Monastery". With this historical background, the monastery was constructed on the particular site.

Founder of Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery
Trung Mase Lodroe Rinchen, a saint and reincarnation of Tilopa – a great Indian Maha Siddha was the founder of this monastery. He was an eminent spiritual master who possessed all the quintessential instructions and teachings of Nyenyud which is a kind of teaching passed from one spiritual guru to his disciple secretly. Trung Mase Lodroe Rinchen imparted his knowledge selflessly to his spiritual sons and a number of followers who continued to spread the study of secret learning in different parts of the world. Trung Mase Lodroe Rinchen had a number of disciples which included those who lived in caves pursuing spiritual realizations and also those who lived in the religious community at the monasteries. In this monastery some yogic practices were followed along with other spiritual teachings which were aimed at spreading the teachings of Buddhism.

Architecture of Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery
Pal Zurmang Monastery is established in the Tibetan Architectural style and holds great importance as a place of worship. The monastery is adorned with the colourful symbolic frescoes or painting which brightens up the monastery.

Efforts to Save Zurmang Pal Kagyud Monastery
Pal Zurmang monastery flourished during the 17th century after which it suffered indiscriminate destructions in the midst of various unfavourable circumstances. In spite of its damages, the protector shrine was left intact. Later in 1980 when the situation was peaceful, two dedicated and prominent spiritual gurus, Tenzin Galig Rinpoche (Tenga Rinpoche) and Kunsang Rinpoche undertook determination to rehabilitate the Protector Shrine, Tasarma (temple) and Tsamten Tse. In 1991, the present Venerable Gharwang Rinpoche visited Tashi Zurmang Shedeup Lhungkyi Dup Pee monastery surveying the site in detail and decided to set up Namgyal-tse and Sherda. He made all efforts to spread Buddhism extensively. Fundamentally, this is one of the major monasteries which was established by a number of saints and lamas who mainly intended to spread the teachings of Buddhism.