Dalai Lama Temple

4.6

Location: 68JF+JGF, Temple Rd, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 to 2 hours.

Situated in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India the Dalai Lama temple is a Buddhist temple. Replete with Tibetan culture, this temple is also known as Tsuglakhang Temple. This place is ideal for peaceful meditation and religious rumination. It has a huge Idol of Lord Buddha. It is full of lamas at all points of the day chanting on prayer wheels. The magnificent temple is in close vicinity to the abode of the Dalai Lama. And it is frequently visited by him to preach and conduct prayer meets. The temple looks majestic. It is very popular for its wonderful and well-maintained complex, beautiful setting, and famous pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. It is visited by a huge number of travelers from all over the world every year.

Attraction

This place is famous for its spiritual experience. It is a perfect place for meditation. You can absorb awesome energy by visiting this place. Moreover, a major point of attraction for this temple is the Dalai Lama Museum. It shows elaborate pictures and photographs of The Dalai Lama and Tibetan culture. There is also a large library in the temple which gives one access to a lot of Buddhist religious books and books about Tibetan culture. By visiting the center sanctum you can pay homage to Buddha and rotate the prayer wheel as is customary. It is believed that by rotating the wheel, the merit is multiplied and the devotees are blessed enormously. You can also speak with the monks to know and learn something about the culture, meditation, and Dalai Lama’s sermons.

History

Tibetan woman spinning a prayer wheel at the Tsuglagkhang Complex.

The peaceful and majestic temple is a frequent preaching spot for the Dalai Lama. When the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet, the Prime Minister of India allowed him to enter the country and from his residence in this region. In the past, Mcleodganj was an important retreat area for the British in the past and now it has become a very important pilgrim spot in India. Here is a museum, which was inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama himself in 2000.

Inside/Outside Views

The image shows the inside of the famous Lama temple in Beijing with a huge golden buddha.

The gigantic temple complex houses a huge statue of Avalokiteshvara, Padmasambhava, and several other Buddhist monks. One of the main attractions of this temple is the enormous idol of Buddha sitting on an elevated pedestal. The chief prayer wheel is located at the center of the temple and it is plated in gold and has chants of “Om Mani Padme Hum”. There is a large hall adjacent to this which accommodates thousands of people to meditate. There is a museum that showcases photographs of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan culture. There is also a large library. You will be able to find some tiny shops on the temple premises that sell religious, peace, and meditation books

Opening Hours

Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Monday closed
Tuesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Museum Timings- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Entry & Others Fees

No Entry Fee

Museum Entry Fee – INR 5

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

Hotel Woodville Inn – Hotel in Mcleodganj
Hotel WOODz VILLA
Dhauladhar Hills Resort&spa
THE ROYAL CASTLE
Surbhi Guest House

How to Reach

By air: Kangra Airport or Dharamsala-Kangra Airport is the nearest airport to this temple. It is a domestic airport that is approximately 14 Kilometres South-West of Dharamshala and well connected with the main cities of the country.

By train: The nearest railway station to this temple is the Pathankot railway station. It is also well connected with the other major cities of the country. From the station, you can hire any local transport to reach the temple.

By road: Dharamshala is well connected with state-run buses, rickshaws, and cabs. You can travel on a bus or hire a private cab or auto to reach the temple from Dharamshala. The temple is situated within walking distance of the Mcleodganj bus stop.