Photo Essay: World view 6 Photos . Updated: 15 May 2015, 07:43 PM IST Livemint At the Ranka Ani Gompa in Sikkim, which became part of India exactly 40 years ago, the nuns live a life far removed from the distractions of cities. In images. 1/6Photographs: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint. Thirty Buddhist nuns between the ages of 13 and 44 have made Ranka Ani Gompa their home for life. 2/6The prayer hall in the nunnery is a colourful space—with large and small brass idols, ‘thangkas’, bells, flags, candles and offerings, as well as a variety of musical instruments and gongs used in prayer. 3/6The nuns offer prayers every day at prescribed hours; their chants are usually accompanied by the musical sound of the hand-held drums, bells and cymbals that they play as they sing. 4/6The low-ceilinged dormitories, clean and spartan, are built above the kitchen area. 5/6Khamtrul Jigme Thinley Lhundup Rinpoche, 97, is a Buddhist seer who lives in a room on the terrace. 6/6Prema Lhasu, 13, is the youngest nun at Ranka Ani Gompa.