Himalayan Buddhism is quite different from the Buddhism of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, etc. It focuses on the bodhisattvas, people who have reached nirvana, but decided not to go the final step, but to stay and help others to reach nirvana. They are worshiped as gods. The primary one is Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhaya in Sikkim), who brought Buddhism to the Himalayan countries from India. He has a particularly awful form, Dorje Bhurpa Vakrakila, one of 8 incarnations that is frequently depicted.
Buddha seems to be forgotten, although he frequently appears in representation as a lotus between 2 deer, referring to Sarnath where he first preached.
The gompas have lots of brightly colored pictures of deities and designs on the walls, prayer wheels and prayer flags.
The Pemayangtse Gompa was founded in the 17th century and was the place where Sikkimese kings were crowned. It contains a handmade replica of the heavenly abode of Padmasambhaya. It looks like a doll house with the levels of enlightenment shown.
This is a picture of another gomba,
Sanga Choling.
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