Now Reading: Dzogchen Monastery: a slice of Tibet in Karnataka’s Kollegal
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Dzogchen Monastery: a slice of Tibet in Karnataka’s Kollegal
The Dzogchen Monastery, one of the six major Nyingma monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, stands in the Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement in Kollegal taluk, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. Built on about 3,100 acres, the monastery was re-established after the original in Sichuan, China, was destroyed by fire in the 1950s. The 14th Dalai Lama chose the site, and construction began in 1984 with support from the Governments of India and Karnataka, with the monastery inaugurated in January 1992.
The Dhondenling Settlement, established in 1974 at the foothills of the Biligiriranga Hills at 3,345 feet, houses 22 villages or refugee camps with 25 to 35 families each. The monastery is the largest in the settlement, featuring Tibetan-style architecture with colourful murals and a prayer hall at its centre. It comes alive during festivals like Losar, the Tibetan New Year, and visits by important Lamas.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Dzogchen Monastery is more than a religious site: it is the official seat of the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, a lineage head recognised by the Dalai Lama. The Dhondenling settlement is one of several Tibetan refugee communities in India, established after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. The monastery's location in the Western Ghats, near BR Hills and a wildlife reserve, also makes it a potential eco-tourism stop. Visitors should check for festival dates to see the monastery at its most active.
Source: deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
