Most Spectacular Monasteries

Five Most Spectacular Monasteries In India

Travelling is almost like talking with men of other centuries. Travel is more than seeing of the sights. It’s a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Somewhere something incredible waiting to be known. In the Monastery of your heart, you have a temple where all the Buddha’s unite. God rests within gentle hearts. The gentle and Merciful shall sit fearless in his regions, and will inherit heavenly glory. To keep a faith pure, man had better retire to a Monastery. The idea of walls of Monastery was to keep everybody else out because you wanted to develop a certain type of life. Here are the five spectacular Monasteries in India. Do visit these Monasteries in India by booking a cab with WiWigo.

“Religion does not mean just precepts, a temple, monastery, or other external signs, for these as well as hearing and thinking are subsidiary factors in taming the mind. When the mind becomes practices, one is a practitioner of religion, and when the mind does not become the practices one is not.” ~ Dalai Lama

1. Tawang Monastery

It is one of the best monasteries in India. Tawang Monastery is located in the Tawang-Chu river valley, in Arunachal Pradesh, India, at an elevation of 3300 meters, the wonderful Tawang monastery is one of the most important and largest Buddhist shrines in the world. This holy shrine, located in the midst of majestic mountain ranges, is home to more than 700 monks and 450 Lamas, making it the biggest Buddhist Monastery in India, and the second biggest in Asia, outside of Lhasa, Tibet. Tawang Monastery is also known by the Tibetan name Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, which means “celestial paradise in a clear night.” This glorious shrine belongs to the Gelugpa sect of the Mahayana stream of Buddhism. This monastery has witnessed many important historical events, such as the invasion of Lhazang Khan, with the support of Kangxi Emperor to depose the 6th Dalai Lama. Tawang has also protected the 14th Dalai Lama when he fled from Tibet owing to the failure of his rebellion against the Chinese government.

2. Kye Monastery

The spectacular monastery is located at an height of 4116 m and 7 km from Kaza. It is the largest monastery in Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.  Established in the 11th century has ancient Buddhist scrolls and paintings. It also houses large number of Buddhist monks and nuns and a cafeteria. It is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training center for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855. In the architectural definitions given to various monasteries, Kye falls in the “Pasada” style which is characterized by more stories than one and often plays the role of a fort-monastery. Kye Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromton, a pupil of the famous teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may however, refer to a now destroyed Kadampa monastery at the nearby village of Rangrik, which was probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance.

3. Rumtek Monastery

The largest monastery in Sikkim, Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism.  It is also one of the spectacular Monasteries in India to visit.It also serves as one of the most important seats of the Kagyu (Black Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet and is also known as Dharmachakra Center. Located about 23 km from Gangtok, the monastery was built by the fourth King of Sikkim under the supervision of the ninth Karmapa (head of the Karma Kagyu sect). At an elevation of almost 5000 ft and surrounded by lush green landscape, the monastery is a visual treat besides offering spiritual solace. The architectural design is almost identical to the original Kagyu headquarters in Tibet. The Kagyu (also called Kagyupa or Kagyud) school is one of six main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is believed that the first Karmapa meditated for many years in a cave and ten thousand fairies offered him a strand of hair each after they congratulated him for his feat. The strands of hair were woven into a black hat and it has been passed down over the generations and it still remains in the Rumtek Monastery. Worn by following Karmapas during ceremonies, the hat is said to fly away unless it is held by hand or kept in a box.

4. Mindrolling Monastery

The region around Dehra Dun is home to a thriving Tibetan Buddhist community, mainly focused on this monastery, about 10 km south of the center in Clement Town. Everything here is on a grand scale: at over 60 m tall its Great Stupa is believed to be the world’s tallest stupa and contains a series of shrine rooms displaying relics, murals and Tibetan art. Presiding over the monastery is the impressive 35 m-high gold Sakyamuni Buddha Statue , dedicated to the Dalai Lama. The streets around the monastery are lined with Tibetan cafes. Unfortunately, due to new government regulations, foreigners are no longer allowed to stay overnight in Clement Town.

5. Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery is the largest monastery in central Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated 18 km from Leh in the Indus valley. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism is located at the top of hill. The monastery is famous for its architecture and its location. The 12 storey monastery has 10 temples, an assembly hall, and is home to 120 monks and nunnery. The monastery buildings are structured in hierarchical order. The monastery is referred as “Mini Potala” of India as it resembles Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. There is one big statue of Maitreya (future Buddha) which covers almost two floor of the monastery that is 40 feet in height. Tara temple of Goddess Tara is another major attraction for the visitors. Apart from visiting monastery one can also find some rare and precious stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords in the monastery. Due to its proximity to Leh the morning prayer at the monastery attracts huge crowds. The monastery offers clear view of the Indus Valley and some monastery like Shey, Stok and Matho can also be seen from here. Festivals celebration is another major attraction for the tourists, locals and Buddhists in Thiksey Monastery.