Best Buddhist Monasteries to Visit in India

If you are a spiritual person, you will love visiting these Buddhist monasteries in India. But even if you are not a spiritual person, these Buddhist monasteries will leave you amazed with their glorious charm and spiritual aura. In this list of the best Buddhist monasteries to visit in India, you will see why these are the best monasteries. The Tibetan monks, the Buddhist shrines, paintings, and a library of sacred Tibetan manuscripts will make a lasting impression on your mind. You can learn a lot about the Tibetan ways of life in these monasteries. But more importantly, you will relish these spiritual encounters with Tibetan Buddhism.

Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh

One of the best monasteries to visit in India is none other than the Tawang Monastery. This monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in India and the second-largest monastery in the world. Tawang Monastery is located in the high mountains of Arunachal Pradesh at 3000 meters above sea level. This is a 400-year-old monastery and has beautifully decorated prayer halls. There are statues and paintings, and monks chanting prayers in their morning rituals.

Phuktal Monastery, Ladakh

You will love trekking up to this monastery. Phuktal Monastery is situated on a cliff and is carved out of rock. Buddhist monks and spiritual teachers used this location thousands of years ago to meditate in peace. Historical records suggest that this is a 2,250-year-old monastery. There is a cluster of small monasteries and the view of the Zanskar river and the Ladakhi landscape will leave you amazed.

Must Read: Leh and Ladakh – Remote Trekking Destination in India

Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun

One of the best Buddhist monasteries to visit in India is the one that is called Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun. There are many murals, idols, paintings, and ancient relics in this monastery. The landscaped garden around this monastery and the brilliant architecture will amaze you with its beauty.

Tsuglagkhang Complex, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

This monastery known as Tsuglagkhang Complex is in Dharamshala. It is popular as Dalai Lama Temple and this is the official residence of the Dalai Lama. This is a huge monastery and complex with many Buddhist shrines, idols, prayer halls, and Thangka paintings. The prayer flags and prayer wheels in this monastery make the environment very calm and peaceful.

Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim

You must visit this monastery when you visit Sikkim. Rumtek Monastery is a very colourful monastery and is considered to be one of the finest monasteries in India. As this monastery is on top of a hill, it will give you fabulous views of Gangtok town from the top. You must visit this monastery at the time of the Tibetan New Year and you will enjoy the masked dances by Tibetan monks.

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh

In Ladakh, the Thiksey Monastery is one of the best monasteries. The architecture of this monastery is a grand sight. But what stands out in this monastery is the statue of Maitreya Buddha, which is 49 feet tall. You will see Buddhist manuscripts, paintings, stupas, and monks in their prayers here. The views of Ladakh from this monastery will amaze you.

Hemis Monastery, Ladakh

The Hemis Monastery is the largest in the Ladakh region and is also one of the finest. This monastery is located on the banks of the Indus River and is a World Heritage Site. Hemis Monastery is one of the significant monasteries of Ladakh and a tourist attraction. This monastery is surrounded by the mountain landscape of Ladakh.

Diskit Monastery, Leh

One of the best monasteries to visit in India is in Ladakh, and it is called Diskit Monastery. This is a huge monastery located in Nubra Valley. There are many paintings and a tall statue of Maitreya Buddha. You can view panoramic valleys and landscapes of Diskit village from this monastery.

Must Read: Treks in Ladakh That Will Take Your Breath Away

Namdroling Monastery, Mysore

This list of the best Buddhist monasteries to visit in India is the one that is located in Mysore. The Namdroling Monastery is a huge Tibetan learning center and ranks as one of the best Tibetan monasteries in India. The monastery is also known as the Golden Temple. You can view magnificent Tibetan artworks, architecture, wall décor, statues, murals, paintings and domes. Over 5000 monks live here, making it the second-largest Tibetan settlement in India.

Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat, Himachal Pradesh

One of the best Buddhist monasteries to visit in India is called Palpung Sherabling Monastery. This monastery is in Kangra Valley and is a great historic monastery. Over 750 monks live here and learn Tibetan ways of life. The monastery has a library, museum, dispensary, prayer hall, and other sections. You can enjoy the Thangka art, murals, sculptures, woodwork, and magnificent metalwork.

Key Monastery, Lahaul-Spiti

Himachal Pradesh has many famous monasteries and one of the very famous is Key Monastery. This monastery is located in the remote Lahaul and Spiti Valley and another name of this monastery is Kye Monastery. The Key Monastery is on a hilltop location, from where you can view the flowing Spiti River. This is also one of the oldest remaining Buddhist monasteries in India and records indicate that it was built almost 1000 years ago.

Tabo, Spiti Valley

Another famous monastery located in Spiti Valley six called Tabo Monastery. This monastery ranks as one of the oldest monasteries in India and is still functioning. You will see murals and paintings in this monastery. There are small shrines known as chortens. But the main attractions are the caves here which were used by monks centuries ago as their abode of meditation.

Conclusion

These were some of the best Buddhist monasteries to visit in India. There are others too, but if you want to experience Tibetan culture and Buddhist religion, then there can be no other monastery that is better than the above ones. You can visit these monasteries by making a trip plan and including them in your tour itinerary. You can embark on a spiritual journey into the world of Tibetan spiritualism and also enjoy the view of magnificent mountains on this journey to these monasteries.