Distance: 2 kms. from Pelling to the west is the second oldest monastery in Sikkim, built in the year 1695 by Lhatsun Namkha Zigme and situated on a hill amidst, a  thick pine forest opposite to Pemayangtse monastery. The admission in this monastery is limited to the families of Bhutia and Lepcha. They are of Buddhist faith and the ethnic communities of Sikkim. Record: in the early period there  used to be the monks who were admitted also from the Limboo  community along with Bhutia and Lepchas. Due to its historical importance, the advantage of location  and spiritual sanctity, Sanga choeling  always enjoyed a greater respect and faith, from the devotees. There used to be a tradition of sending the senior learned monks from Pemayangtse monastery to teach at its subordinate monasteries and hold the throne of Vazra master (Tib; Dorjee Lobon) Sangachoeling has been one of them. Though many monasteries discontinued  this tradition, Sangachoeling  still retains it. The present Vazra Master who was enthroned in the year 2007 is Yap Pon Lop Lama Kunga Tshering who is also at Gay Dol rank and one of the revered senior monks at Pemayangtse.The enrolment of the monks at Sangachoeling which crosses some hundreds are in three catogories that are Senior, Junior and the child monks. The senior monks who have attained learning through old and traditional methods are available here, where as most of the young monks who have got opportunity to study in the higher learning centers within or outside state cannot be seen at this monastery except when they come back during holidays. A good number of  child monks are seen  living at the monastery as they have a monastic school attached to the monastery, where they do primary level learning. The monks of this monastery are from the villages  Sindrang, Khorong, Lingchom. Tigjya , these places are at an average distance of about 5 to 10 kilometers from the monastery. From the time of Lhatsun chenpo  Sangachoeling Monastery  was a practice center of 108 budhist tantric yogis and 108 yoginis who did wrathfull budhist tantric practices and meditations(Tib;Ngagchen) ,within Ngingma’s Dzongchen Lineage. The tradition of yogis and yoginis sustained for long until when the monastery was restored to simply yogis(monks).On the first floor of the monastery there are the statues of dupchen gya thang gay 108 yogis which can be visited by the visitors. 

Never the less the prayers, ritruals and practices are identical or common to both Pemayangtse and Sangachoeling monasteries. Sangachoelig area has also got a three hundred years old Buddhist crematorium which is very sacred . The site was blessed with the cremation of Lhatsun Namkha Zigme, after he went in Parinirwana. It bears a name Dhuthoe Silwar Tshar and it has, ever since, been used as a public crematorium for the people of Buddhist faith. After Lhatsun’ s death his costumes and prayer articles are preserved as sacred relics and worshipped.  Following  the frequent attacks from  the Gorkha Warriors of Nepal lead by Prithivi Naryan Sha those relics of Lhatsun Namkha Zigme were secretly transferred to Tumlong Monastery. Quite recently the Monastery  was rebuilt after it was damaged by severe earthquake, the monastery still bears its originality and most holy atmosphere . The very old statues and paintings are its attractions and its location advantage where the views are wonderful . This area is very appropriate for meditation practice. Discover a big flat stone lying on the side of the monastery, overlooking the panoramic view of country side and mountains. This is the best view point for early morning  sunrise .  Nowadays there is a  motorable road and jeeps can go right up to the monastery. For more information meet Lopon Tenzing and Laptha Uchung.