Most of Darjeeling formed a part of dominions of the Chogyal of Sikkim, who had been engaged in an unsuccessful warfare against the Gorkhas of Nepal.
Meaning "Dharma king", this name can also be written Chökyi Gyalpo, Choekyi Gyalpo, or, in Wylie transliteration, Chos-kyi Rgyal-po.
It was erected following the crowning of the first Chogyal of Sikkim in 1642 at Narbugong Coronation Throne near Yuksom.
Five years later Kublai Khan asked Godan to give him Chögyal Phagpa, who was then 23, and converted him to Buddhism.
The chogyal, who responded to the increased pressure by drinking, was viewed by India as politically dangerous, especially after his wife, the American socialite Hope Cooke, published a journal article advocating a return of certain former Sikkimese properties.
Namgyal was the 11th ruler of the Namgyal dynasty of Sikkim, succeeding his half brother Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal, who had ruled from February to December in 1914, till his death from heart failure.
Chogyal Wangchuk Tenzing Namgyal (b. April 1, 1953) is the second son of Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last sovereign king of Sikkim.