The largest Tibetan settlement is at Bylakuppe in Coorg District, near Kushalnagar. As you enter Bylakuppe you can see many Buddhist monks in their bright robes and Tibetan women and children going about their daily chores.
The Namdroling Monastery also known as Golden Temple is situated here. It is a beautiful temple with Tibetan mythology paintings and the idols of the Buddha covered in gold. The Bell, the golden deer on the rooftop and the work on the pagoda of the Namdroling monastery are breathtaking. The monks, the shopping mall nearby selling Tibetan knick knacks, the weather, the golden temple itself, Buddhists chanting and clanging of the bell will make you feel that you are in Tibet.
His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche established the Golden Temple in 1963 after he came from Tibet. The original name of this monastery was Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling and His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred the place with a shorter name Namdroling Monastery. It takes the credit of being the largest teaching center of Nyingmapa – a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. There are approximately 5000 monks and nuns in the teaching center perpetuating the teaching of Buddha.
The Padmasmabhava Buddhist Vihara is a huge temple known as Golden temple with very large idols of Buddha covered in gold was completed in 1999. The idols are 18 meters in height. The prayer hall can accommodate thousands of monks at a time. Few minutes of meditation in the hall can rejuvenate and calm the restless minds.
Many festivities and ceremonies are held every year in Namdroling Monastery attracting a lot of visitors to the place during this time. Tibetan New Year called as Losar is one of the celebrations with Lama Dances, oversize Thankga hanging from the sides of the buildings and processions
There is a Tibetan restaurant in the shopping complex selling Momos and Thukpa.
Places of interest near Namdroling Monastery are – Cauvery Nisargadhama 8 Km, Harangi Dam/Reservoir – 15 Km, Dubbare Elephant Camp – 20 Km and Abbey Falls.
Place Statistics:
Type of Place – Buddhist Monastery
Situated – Coorg District
Distance – 218 Km from Bangalore; 110 Km from Mysore; 30 Km from Madikeri; 5 Km form Kushalnagar
Transport – Well-connected road leads up to the Namdroling Monastery.
Facilities – Restaurants, Home stays, Hotels, Resorts etc.,
Timings – 7:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m
Address:
Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery
Arlikumari, P.O. Bylakuppe pin 571104
Mysore District, Karnataka State
India
Tel: (91) 8223-254-318
Tel: (91) 8223-254-383
Email: namdroling@palyul.org
