Enjoy The Serenity Of Monasteries: India’s Spiritual Havens!

Buddhism is one of the religions found in India which is not obviously a majority in the territory of India. But the worship center of the same religion marks the most beauteous and grand destinations worth exploring in the country.

Especially towards the northeastern side of the Indian territory, we would be able to find a lot of monasteries that are prominent both in the looks as well as in the religious significance. Most of the monasteries in the territory of the nation are also centers of pilgrim tourism where greater footfalls are witnessed every year.

There are also people who plan visits just to the monastery destinations in the country. Visiting these destinations is not just a thing of casual tourism. If you are planning to visit these pilgrim destinations, make sure you are abiding by the protocols and decorum maintained in each of these places, even if you are not visiting with the aim of pilgrimage.

It would also help you understand the spiritual and religious practices of the Buddhist communities living in India. Apart from all these monasteries in India are also destinations of peace and joy so you can also visit these places just to meditate or to indulge in yourselves. 

Best Monasteries In India

Tabo Monastery, Himachal Pradesh

Since Spiti Valley is one of the most important tourist destinations in the entire territory of India, Tabo Monastery which is quite near to the same is also visited by a lot of tourists around the year.

The proximity to the Spiti Valley also increases the visual appeal of the monastery which attracts a lot of nature lovers to visit this monastery in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The village of Tabo in which this particular monastery is situated would give you a clear picture of the culture and lifestyle of Buddhist people in India. 

How To Reach Tabo Monastery?

Nearest airport: Kullu Airport 

Nearest railway station: Kalka Railway Station (KLK)

Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim 

This particular monastery is one of the prominent ones situated in the northeastern part of the Indian territory. Dharma Chakra Centre is the other name of this particular Buddhist monastery located in the state of Sikkim.

You need to travel to the state capital of Gangtok in order to travel to the monastery. 1966 is marked as the year in which this particular monastery got inaugurated in the city of Gangtok. Karma Kagyu Lineage and its specific cultural practices can be experienced in this particular monastery location. 

How To Reach Rumtek Monastery?

Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport

Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri Junction Railway Station (NJP)

Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh 

Another monastery of pilgrim and casual tourism is important in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. You need to travel to the Tawang district in the same state in order to reach this particular destination.

The Tawang Chu Valley again accentuates the beauty of this particular monastery. Since it is also close to the Indo-China border and Indo-Bhutan border, a greater number of international pilgrims are also seen every year in this particular pilgrim destination.

Amazing Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery famously known as Tawang Monastery pic.twitter.com/ZVwmv0XG2o

— Go Northeast (@GoNorthEastIN) August 19, 2022

Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso is the one who took efforts in the establishment of this particular monastery. 

How To Reach Tawang Monastery?

Nearest airport: Salonibari Airport 

Nearest railway station: Tezpur Railway Station (TZTB)

Mindrolling Monastery, Uttarakhand 

This is a Buddhist monastery located in the northern landscape of the territory of India. 1965 is marked as the year of the establishment of this particular Buddhist monastery. Tibetan Buddhism can be seen in its most expressive form in the region of this monastery.

The activities and practices found in this territory would be quite interesting to those who are excited to explore the religious diversities and their differences existing in the territory of India.

You need to travel to the city of Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand in order to travel to this particular Buddhist monastery. 

How To Reach Mindrolling Monastery?

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport

Nearest railway station: Dehradun Railway Station (DDN)

Hemis Monastery, Ladakh

In the most beautiful landscape of the Himalayas, Hemis Monastery stands high with all pride and prestige. Drukpa is the particular lineage of Buddhism with which this particular monastery is associated with.

From the center of Leh, you need to travel a distance of around 45 km in order to travel to the region of Hemis Monastery. Even though the actual date of establishment of this monastery is not known, the year of re-establishment can be found as 1672.

Hemis Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated in the region during which a lot of footfalls are experienced in the monastery. 

How To Reach Hemis Monastery? 

Nearest airport: Leh Rimpochee Airport 

Nearest railway station: Srinagar Railway Station (SINA)

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh 

Another monastery in the territory of India belongs to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Thikse Monastery is the spelling variant of this particular monastery. Tibetan-style culture of Buddhism adorns this particular monastery attracting pilgrim tourists to it.

Since this monastery is situated on a hilltop, the visual appeal of the same is enhanced in all senses. Considering the Buddhist monasteries in the central part of Ladakh, this is the largest one among them all. The statues and paintings found in the monastery are also loved by the tourists visiting. 

How To Reach Thiksey Monastery? 

Nearest airport: Leh Airport 

Nearest railway station: Kalka Railway Station (KLK)

Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery, Karnataka 

If you would like to explore the Buddhist culture and its specialties in the central side of the Indian territory, Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery would be an ideal choice.

You need to travel to the Bylakuppe region in order to travel to the destination of this particular monastery. Plan your visits before 6 in the evening since it is the closing time of the monastery.

Most of the Mysore tourists are also seen visiting this particular monastery as a part of their vacation. 1963 is the year in which this south Indian Buddhist monastery got established in the state. 

How To Reach Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery?

Nearest airport: Mysore Airport 

Nearest railway station: Krishnarajanagar Railway Station (KRNR)

Key Monastery, Himachal Pradesh 

Considering the other monasteries located in the Spiti Valley region, this is the largest on the list. Tibetan Buddhism is the main attractive feature of this particular monastery that belongs to the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The proximity to the river of Spiti is also something that accentuates the aesthetics of the monastery. Buddhist educational centers are also functioning in the same monastery so a lot of monk students can also be spotted in the location.

From the city center of Manali, you need to travel a distance of around 210 km in order to reach the destination of the monastery. 

How To Reach Key Monastery?

Nearest airport: Shimla Airport 

Nearest railway station: Shimla Railway Station (SML)

Ghoom Monastery, West Bengal

This particular Buddhist monastery is one of the most popular ones belonging to the state of West Bengal in India. A statue of Buddha with a height of 15 feet is the major element of attraction found in the location.

This attracts a lot of pilgrim tourists and casual tourists as well to visit and explore the monastery even from far way places. 1850 is the year in which this monastery’s exterior structure got established in the region. 

How To Reach Ghoom Monastery?

Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport 

Nearest railway station: Ghum Railway Station (GHUM)

Phuktal Monastery, Ladakh 

Phuktal Monastery is also spelled as Phugtal Monastery among the people. The geographical location of the monastery in the Himalayan valleys again makes it a visually charming location to explore and experience.

You can also get to see a lot of donkeys and mules transporting supplies to the location of this particular monastery since other forms of transportation are not that possible in the location. 

How To Reach Phuktal Monastery?

Nearest airport: Leh Airport 

Nearest railway station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station (JAT)

Conclusion 

Enjoy spiritual diversity by exploring different monasteries in the territory of India

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