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Yuksam (1630 mts) (also spelt Yoksum ), 32 Kms, by road from Pemayangtse, is the farthest north you can get by road in western Sikkim, and the trailhead for those intending to the trek to Dzongu. Yuksam was the first capital of Sikkim and houses the oldest monastery. Yuksam literally means ‘three lamas’ in lepcha, nomenclated after the meeting of the three lamas here. | |||||||||
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In the 8th century AD, Guru Padmasambhava went to Tibet via Sikkim .During that time he is believed to have hidden many treasures or Ters. Therefore the whole region surrounding the Khanchendzonga is regarded as a guardian deity of Sikkim by the local people. Yuksam is considered to be a ‘Lhakhang’ or altar for offerings to the Khanchendzonga deities. Every landscape of highland, middle and lowland and every stream, cave, big trees are believed to have presiding deities (yullha, Zibda) of their own and therefore no one is to pollute or litter as this is believed to bring natural disaster in this area. The Dubdi Monastery, an hour’s walk uphill from Yuksam is the place where the first Chogyal of Sikkim was consecrated in 1641 AD by three learned lamas viz... Lhabtsum Namkha Jigme Kunxang Namgyal, Nadak Sampah Chempo and Kathok Ringzin Chenpo. The evidence of consecration ceremony is still alive at Norbugang Chorten in the form of stone seats and foot-prints of the Head Lama on a stone. Since the history of the state began here, this 62 area is still considered sacred by the people of Sikkim. What is so special about this coronation is that he did not become a king by conquest or force but he was selected for this task. Norbugang: Fifteen min walk from Yuksam. True to the prophecy of Tibet's founder of Buddhism, Guru Rimpoche, some nine centuries prior, three learned Lamas,Gyalwa Lhabtsun Chempo, Karthok Rikzin Chenpo, Gnadak Sempa Chenpo, gathered at Yuksam in 1642 from various directions and enthroned Chogyal Phuntsok Namgyal as the first religious king of Sikkim. A stone throne shaded by a 300 year old fir still stands here today. A foot print in stone in front of the throne is said to belong to Lhabtsun Namkha Jigme, and a nearby chorten (stupa) contains soil and water from all over Sikkim. Thus Yuksam occupies an important place in Sikkimese history as the first capital, and Norbugang as an important cultural site maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Norbugang is easily reached on a 15 minute walk from Yuksam. A visit to Yuksam gives a picture of a once old capital and leaves wondering of how busy the place would have been then Perhaps horses frequented on this silenT land, perhaps it was the administrative centre of all the official activities. Dubdi monastery, the oldest of Sikkimese monasteries which is marked with the establishment of Nyingmapa order of Buddhism is the pilgrimage centre for many. However the most important aspect of Yuksam is that it is the starting point of one of the major trekking destination of Sikkim ,a division of a civilization with the wild. The region also boasts of Khanchendzonga National Park lying 63 between the lowland of Yuksam and the Mt. Khanchendzonga which today has been identified as a biosphere reserve. |
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