Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
Shiva Panchayatana (Shiva with Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Surya), in a multi-deity complex temple · Gangtok, Sikkim, India
Thakurbari is a Hindu temple complex in the centre of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Wikipedia describes it as one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sikkim, built on land donated by the then Chogyal (king) of Sikkim in 1935, and as a gathering place for the town's Hindu residents.
Rather than a single shrine, the temple houses many deities. A rebuilding project begun in 2004 planned a Shiva Panchayatana, with Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Surya, on its top floor, alongside shrines to Rama and Hanuman, according to a 2011 report in iSikkim.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
A 1995 paper in the Bulletin of Tibetology, published by the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok, gives 1935 as the year the Thakurbari was established in a short note that counted about fifty other temples across Sikkim.
The temple is the setting for some of Gangtok's main Hindu festivals. On Maha Ashtami during Durga Puja in 2025, the Governor of Sikkim performed aarti at the Thakurbari Temple at a puja organised by the Gangtok Thakurbari Durga Puja Committee, according to Lok Bhavan, Sikkim.
Heritage
History of Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
According to Wikipedia, the temple was built in 1935 on land given by the Chogyal and was expanded into a larger complex between 1945 and 1947.
The present building is the result of a long reconstruction. iSikkim reported in February 2011 that construction began in December 2004, stopped in November 2005 because of funding problems, and resumed in 2007; about 70 per cent was complete by then, with a steel dome being made in Kolkata. The report said the project was funded largely by public donations and was short of money, and that the first Saraswati Puja at the new building was being held that month. Wikipedia records that the work was still incomplete in February 2015 for lack of funds. Whether and when the whole plan was finished could not be confirmed from a reliable source.
Architecture and sacred features
As planned in 2011, the new building has three levels: the Shiva Panchayatana shrine on the top floor, a multipurpose hall for religious gatherings on the first floor, and a ground floor for religious relics and a library of Hindu texts such as the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads. The complex was also to include separate Rama and Hanuman shrines and space for a local Sathya Sai organisation's children's classes, according to iSikkim. The building was to be roofed with a steel dome, then being made in Kolkata.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Thakurbari is a working temple in the middle of the town, and it is busiest during Durga Puja and other major festivals. Dress modestly and follow the instructions of the temple staff. Confirm current timings and visiting arrangements with the temple management before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
Durga Puja
The Gangtok Thakurbari Durga Puja Committee holds the puja at the temple; the Governor of Sikkim attended the Maha Ashtami worship in 2025.
Location
How to Reach Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
The temple is in central Gangtok, near the Children's Park, according to iSikkim.
Location: Gangtok, Sikkim, India
More in Hindu temples in Sikkim · Shiva Panchayatana (Shiva with Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Surya), in a multi-deity complex temples · Temples in Gangtok Subdivision · Temples in Gangtok District
Questions
Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok: Frequently Asked Questions
When was Thakurbari Temple in Gangtok founded?
In 1935, according to a 1995 paper in the Bulletin of Tibetology and to Wikipedia, which says it was built on land donated by the Chogyal of Sikkim.
Which deities are worshipped at Thakurbari?
The complex houses many deities. The 2011 building plan reported by iSikkim placed a Shiva Panchayatana, with Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Surya, on the top floor, with separate Rama and Hanuman shrines.
Where is Thakurbari Temple?
In the centre of Gangtok, near the Children's Park, according to iSikkim.
Why was the temple rebuilt?
A reconstruction began in December 2004; work stopped in 2005 for lack of funds and resumed in 2007. In 2011 it was about 70 per cent complete, and Wikipedia says it was still incomplete in 2015.
Is Durga Puja celebrated at Thakurbari?
Yes. The Gangtok Thakurbari Durga Puja Committee organises it, and the Governor of Sikkim attended the Maha Ashtami puja there in 2025.
Sources and attribution
- Bulletin of Tibetology (Namgyal Institute of Tibetology), via University of Cambridge Digital Himalaya (Wayback Machine copy) — Some aspects of Bhutia culture in Sikkim (a case study), Bandana Mukherjee, 1995 Seminar Volume, pp. 82–87
- iSikkim (Wayback Machine copy) — Thakurbari to be completed within a year (8 February 2011)
- Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan), Sikkim — 30.09.2025: The Governor of Sikkim participated in the Maha Ashtami Puja at the Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
- Wikipedia — Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok
Further reading: Thakurbari Temple, Gangtok on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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