A kilometre further from Phodong, the Labrang monastery was built about 100 years later. This monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the same as that of Pemayangtse monastery in West Sikkim. Its name translates simply as the dwelling place of the Lamas (monks). Labrang Monastery is unique in the sense that it is one monastery which still retains the its original structure and is not reconstructed after it was damaged. Most of the monasteries have been damaged by fire at some time in their past. It is today one of the most important monasteries in Sikkim. Since the structure is the same as that in the beginning, you will find the architecture to be slightly different from other monasteries. Labrang Monastery was build by Gyalshe Rigzing Chempa in the year 1814.
