Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery

4.7

Location: Bapai Road, Tirpai, Kalimpong, West Bengal 734316, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 30 to 45 minutes approximately.

A beautiful and tiny monastery, Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery, has been built at Bapai Road, Tripai, Kalimpong. Though it is a small and straightforward in-style monastery, it is one of the most recommended places for meditation in Kalimpong. The tiny hall beautifully portrays different images of flayed animals and humans. It is one of the three old monasteries of Kalimpong. The presence of the sacred Buddhist scriptures and old literary works of various saints is a tremendous view of the monastery. Suggestively, people remark that it is one of the must-visit places among the Kalimpong tourist places.

Attraction

The monastery’s main attraction is its museum, which has ancient artifacts and relics. Another attraction is the Buddha statue with a panoramic view of the city in the background. If you want to visit the museum, remember the time because it was about to close around 1 pm—a must-visit place of the monastery. The architects beautifully designed and painted the building, and the staff stores many manuscripts. The Lama took us to the next building, which houses a museum with ancient artifacts and relics.

History

In 1912 AD, Domo Geshe Rinpoche founded the Tharpa Choling Monastery. As we know from history, Demo Geshe Rinpoche came to India to collect medicinal plants from India, Nepal, and Bhutan. In 1906, He came to India for a pilgrimage and started to live in Kalimpong. At the request of some Bhutanese leaders and Tibetan merchants living in Kalimpong, Demo Geshe Rinpoche established this monastery. The region’s people had donated many acres of land with paddy fields and orange plantations to build the monastery. Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery is a non-profit organization.

Inside/Outside Views

Tharpa Choling Monastery has several artifacts and shrines, including a Chinese temple and the temple of Naga, along with a prayer wheel that Lama Ngawang Kalsang makes. Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism or ‘Yellow Hat.’ Several other scriptures are inside the Temple of Naga or Lu Khwang and Lha Ten, the Chinese temple or Ge-sar Lhagang, Mani Lhagang, and the Shrine for Shangmo Dorje Bhuti.The monastery contains many idols, including the Bhaisajya, Sakyamuni, and Maitreya Buddhas.

Opening Hours

Monday Open 24 hours

Tuesday Open 24 hours

Wednesday Open 24 hours

Thursday Open 24 hours

Friday Open 24 hours

Saturday Open 24 hours

Sunday Open 24 hours

Entry & Others Fees

There is no entrance fee for the monastery. It is free for all visitors.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By Road: The distance between Kalimpong Bus Station and Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery is about 2km. One can easily reach this monastery from this bus station by taking a Cab or any local transport.

By Train: Bagrakot Railway Station is the nearest station to Geden Tharpa Choling Monastery. It is almost 12.68km away from the station. You will get any local transport from here very quickly.

By air: Bagdogra International Airport is the nearest airport to Kalimpong. You can easily reach Geden Tharpa Choling monastery by taking any local transport from the airport.