World’s tallest Cherenzig Statue in Sikkim

The opening of the 98ft 'Cherenzig Shingkham Riwo Potala' near Pelling, West Sikkim marks the completion of the statutes of three principal Buddhist deities in Sikkim. The other two being the Buudha Statue at Ravangla and Guru Padmashambha Statue at Namchi, both in South Sikkim. The Cherenzig complex spread over 8.5 acre of land have a sky-walk - a stair case, water body with the magnificent eight- serpents (Klu- Chen- Gyet) and religious artifacts.

A plaque of Cherenzig Shingkham Riwo Potala was officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister Shri. Pawan Chamling in presence of His Eminence Gonja Rinpoche and His Eminence Lachung Rinpoche on November 2, 2018. The total height of the statue from the base of the pedestal on which it is mounted is 135ft while the statue is 98 ft. There is a fleet of 100 stairs leading to the foot of the statue. This is the world’s tallest Cherenzig Statue.

According to the THE TELEGRAPH, Gary Chopel, the lead architect of the building and housing department and chief executive officer of the project, said it took nine years to complete build complex. “The cost of the project is about Rs 70 crore. In the first phase, we have completed 80 per cent of the work. The remaining 20 per cent will be taken up in the second phase,” he said.