Dali Monastery

4.6

Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 hour

Built in 1971 by Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche, Dali Monastery is one of the most notable monasteries of the Kagyupa sect and a masterpiece of architecture. This sacred place, Druk Thupten Sangag Choling Monastery, is around 4 kilometers from Darjeeling’s main center. About 200 monks, immigrants from the Himalayan region, dwell at this monastery. More significantly, it serves as the residence of Drukchen Rinpoche XII, the supreme of the Kargyupa clan. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, visited the Gompa in 1993 to disseminate Buddha’s teachings throughout the area. The monastery has a small library where visitors can view a selection of Buddhist texts and other works. The best time to visit Dali Monastery is in the morning and evening when the prayers and chanting start.

Attraction

The Dali monastery is located in a peaceful place surrounded by the Himalayan mountains. This setting gives a tranquil space that is suitable for meditation and reflection. Beautiful Tibetan Buddhist architecture and religious and traditional artworks with colorful prayer flags also exist. The architects designed the monastery’s structure using Tibetan and Sikkimese architectural styles. It’s a great place for acquiring mental peaches, and one can learn religious things here by attending prayer sessions. All these attract tourists from all over the world to visit here.

History

Druk Thupten Sangag Choling Monastery is another name for the Dali Monastery. It is a well-known Tibetan Buddhist temple. A Tibetan Buddhist monk, Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche, established the Dali Monastery in 1971. Rinpoche was a highly regarded spiritual figure in the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, a subset of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He also presided over the Drukpa Kagyu tradition in the Himalayan region and had a significant following. The monastery was founded to practice, research, and preserve Buddhist culture. It hosts many tourists and pilgrims worldwide and serves as a spiritual center for the local Tibetan and Himalayan populations.

Inside/Outside Views

Inside the monastery, the architecture is so beautiful. There are also Thangka paintings, sacred texts, and religious artworks that are so impressive. The artworks reflect Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual and cultural heritage. The atmosphere inside the monastery is so calm and tranquil. The outside view of the monastery is also attractive, as one can enjoy the panoramic views of the hilly land. The peaks of the Himalayas are also seen from the outside of the monastery.

Opening Hours

Saturday 7 AM-5 PM
Sunday 7 AM-5 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 7 AM-5 PM
Wednesday 7 AM-5 PM
Thursday 7 AM-5 PM
Friday 7 AM-5 PM

Morning prayers: 5am – 6:30am

Evening prayer: 5pm – 6:30pm

Entry & Others Fees

Entry & Others fee: There is no entry fee.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the only airport to access Dali in Darjeeling. The distance to the center of Darjeeling is nearly 90 kilometers. Most of India’s major cities, including Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, etc., are connected via air travel.

By Rail: Dali in Darjeeling is also accessible by rail. The New Jalpaiguri station is the one that is closest to Darjeeling. Returning to Siliguri station would allow you to visit other important Indian cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati.

By Road: Car travel is the fastest and easiest way to Dali in Darjeeling. To travel to the main town, you can use the taxis and shuttle services that are accessible outside of railway stations and airports. You can drive to Darjeeling or hire a taxi and use the Kurseong, Mirik, or Rohini routes. There are other bus services from Siliguri.