We cross the Ranipul valley to the Gompa at Rumtek. We are heading to the headquarters of the Kagyupa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a copy of the monastery in Tibet. It was built in the 1960’s.
Their were wonderful murals being painted inside. There is the small bazar town of Kallmpong near by. It was the center of Tibetan wool trading in the past. It is still the place for people to meet and do business.
High up in the mountains, looking down on us, there sit many monasteries, including the Tharpa Chollng Monastery which belongs to the yellow hat sect.
I cannot express to you in words how high and rugged the mountains are and how beautiful it is here.