Namgyal Monastery

4.6

Location: McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 hour (approximately)

Situated in the town of Dharamshala, under the state of Himachal Pradesh, India the spiritual dwelling of a huge number of Tibetan monks have come and carved out the heavenly Namgyal Monastery. This was originally a monastery from the palace of Lhasa, which found its new incarnation in Dharamshala. It is known all around the world to perform all important Tibetan ceremonies and host Tibetan monks. any place in the world.

It accommodates around 200 monks and they are involved in preserving the rare skills, rituals, tantric practices, Buddhist scriptures, and culture which they brought from Tibet. Now it acts as a personal monastery for Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. This majestic monastery is built on a calm and beautiful hilltop in McLeod Ganj. Now it is a center of attraction to tourists. This famous monastery has spread its wings across the Atlantic. The Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies was built in New York, Ithaca, which was founded in 1992 and is directly under the influence of the Namgyal Monastery of Dharamshala.

Attraction

The Namgyal monastery is a peaceful place. Situated at a hilltop the surroundings of this place are stunning. The atmosphere of this place is very calming. The rhythmic chants of the monks who live here and pray here will transform you to another person and give you lots of positive energy. The huge figurines of Lord Buddha all over the monastery makes this place more beautiful and interesting.

History

Initially known as the Phende Lekshe Ling in Tibet, the Namgyal monastery was founded in 1564. It was baptized under the new name Namgyal after the Vijaya ritual prayer was held here in honor of the Mongol king Altai Khan to the goddess Namgyal Ma in 1576. Namgyal Ma is the Tibetan Goddess of long life.

In 1574, the monastery was inaugurated by the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso. It was the brainchild of the second Dalai Lama. In 1959, the fourteenth Dalai Lama fled Tibet with a handful of Monks after the Chinese invasion of Tibet and set up the Namgyal Monastery in its current form in McLeod Ganj. To help restore this new place of worship to its present revered form, 55 monks from the original Monastery of Lhasa were present.

Inside/Outside Views

The majestic non-sectarian monastery has architecture that oozes tranquillity. The look of the monastery from the foot of the cliff upon which it is situated gives an outlook of a snow-clad peak of a mountain.

The magnificence of this place is more pleasing as you enter the vast courtyard. The zig-zag staircase can help you seek your way into the peaceful place of worship, where you can find abundant wooden floored rooms and Buddha statues.

This monastery has a spacious worship hall. The hall can easily house a significant number of pilgrims at a time. The shiny prayer wheels are scattered around the monastery, and their pleasant sound can soothe a troubled soul.

Opening Hours

Every day 5 am to 5 pm.

Entry & Others Fees

No entry fee.

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: Dharamsala-Kangra Airport is the nearest airport to this monastery. 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 Namgyal monastery 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 your desired place from Dharamshala.