Popular Buddhist Monasteries, Temples & Teaching Centers in India

Hemis Monastery Ladakh

A beautiful and culturally rich Buddhist monastery in Ladakh near Leh city, Hemis Gompa is one of the significant Buddhist centres in India. Known for its great history and hosting various Buddhist subjects like Thangkas (Tibetan cloth painting), Tibetan books, Chortens embedded with valuable stones, and Hemis festival. It is one of the biggest and wealthiest monasteries, thus visited by thousands.

Tawang Monastery Arunachal

The second largest, one of the most beautiful, and the holiest Buddhist monastery in Northeast India, the Galden Namgey Lhastse or the Tawang monastery, is set over a hilltop looking down to the town of Tawang making it a place of divine peace for spiritual lovers. In the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, this globally significant Buddhist monastery reserves various ancient scriptures, Thangka paintings, and beautiful architecture spread all over the complex.

Namgyal Monastery Himachal

A significant stop for Buddhist followers, Namgyal monastery is the home of the Tibetan leader, his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Namgyal Monastery was established in Tibet in the 16th century but relocated to McLeodganj, Dharamshala in 1959. This is home to around 200 Buddhist monks and has a guest house, a cafe, and a library in the complex. The spiritual ambience and the magnificent surrounding hills make this an absolutely essential spot to discover.

Mahaparinirvana Temple UP

In the resting place of Lord Buddha, Kushinagar, the Mahaparinirvana Temple or the Parinirvana Stupa is one of the most beautiful and equally significant Buddhist pilgrimage centers in India. The site was excavated in the year 1876-77 and unearthed with many important artefacts, copper coins, vessels, and the state of Reclining Buddha. The Reclining Buddha statue, placed in the sanctum of the temple, is a 6.1 metres display of Buddha in a resting state facing west with his right hand under his head as a pillow. Being the last place of the Buddha, people from all around the world visit this spiritual centre.

Mahabodhi Temple Bihar

The most popular destination in Buddhism, the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, is also known as the "Great Awakening Temple". This is because Gautam Buddha attained the awakening at this exact location around 2500 years ago. The temple has a tree, known as the Bodhi Tree, which is not the same but a direct successor of the original tree under which Lord Buddha sat. The temple is a Buddhist art testament with ambient halls for prayer, Buddhist paintings, and statues creating reverence.

Alchi Monastery Ladakh

Surrounded by the enormous beauty of Ladakh, Alchi Monastery is among the oldest monasteries known for some of the oldest surviving Tibetan paintings of Buddhist deities, mandalas, and scenes from the life of Buddha. Located in the Alchi village on the bank of the Indus River, it is a set of Buddhist structures spread over a larger area. The majority of the complex is built in mud-brick structure and dates back to between the 11th and 12th centuries.

Spituk Monastery Ladakh

Spituk Monastery is most popular for the annual Gustor festival, which is a combined celebration of both Hindu and Buddhist culture. In fact, the monastery has a giant statue of Kali, a Hindu deity, depicting the victory of good over evil powers. Moreover, the monastery houses many ancient murals, thangka paintings, and religious artefacts. Located at a short distance of 7 Km from Leh, Spituk Gompa should be on the list while visiting Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh.

Takthok Monastery Ladakh

Translating to the "rock roof" in Ladakhi, Takthok is a unique monastery built using the natural settings of caves and stones, creating a mystic blend with spirituality. It is the only Nyingma monastery of the Red Hat sect of Tibet tradition and stands out for its old 8th-century build. This Buddhist monastery of Ladakh comes alive during the Takthok festival of masked dance depicting eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava. Takthok Gompa, located 46 kilometres east of Leh, also shrines fifty-five lamas in the monastery.

Guru Ghantal Monastery Himachal

The Guru Ghantal Monastery of the Lahaul region has many significant and distinct features that makes visiting this religious sanctum a must-do for spirituality lovers. Believed to have been established by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, this monastery has wooden idols and a black stone idol of the goddess Kali. It is also believed to be standing upon potential treasure, an idea cemented after a 1st-century copper goblet was unearthed from nearby sites.

Kungri Monastery Himachal

A historic revered site for Buddhists, Kungri Monastery is the second oldest centre of Buddhism in the area including Lahaul and Spiti, and one of the popular Buddhist monasteries near Manali. This 14th-century Monastery belongs to the oldest order, the Nyingma sect, of the Buddhist lineage. The sanctum houses paintings dedicated to various deities like the Vajrayana pantheon. It has a collection of over 300 texts, artistic artefacts, and exquisite murals covering every wall of the complex.

Tibetan Monastery Bihar

Gyalwa Sherla Monastery, popularly known as Tibetan Monastery in Bihar is a Buddhist temple complex present in the most sacred town of Buddhist followers - Bodh Gaya. It is the largest revered place around and is regularly visited by Tibetan Buddhists. This Buddhist religious centre houses many Tibetan scriptures, Buddhist pious relics and symbols, and images of revered personnel. Nonetheless, it is most known for the giant Dharmachakra wheel, a pious object, believed to bless if rotated three times.

Japanese Monastery Bihar

The wooden Japanese-style Buddhist religious centre, Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple, is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries of Bodh Gaya. It was built to propagate Buddhist ideas in the year 1972 in cooperation with the International Buddhist community. This Indo-Japanese traditional symbol is carved beautifully with tales of Lord Buddha on wooden surfaces and has various Japanese-style paintings making it a must-visit place for anyone interested to learn Buddhist ways.

Tabo Monastery Himachal

One of the holiest sites for Tibetan monks, Tabo Monastery in Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the oldest Buddhist centres in the Trans-Himalayan region. Established in 996 AD, It has mudbrick buildings that house a collection of wall paintings, mud statues, mandalas, and Buddhist stories carved everywhere. The fusion of Indo-Tibetan architecture and the wonderful location makes it one of the most admired Buddhist monasteries in India.

Mulbekh Monastery Ladakh

Mulbekh Gompa is not just an 800 years old Tibetan Monastery under the Drukpa lineage, but is equally significant in history in relation to the Tibetan scholar, Lotsawa Rinchen Zangp. It houses two gompas and a 30-foot-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha, which is the real showstopper. The monastery has various inscriptions that offer glimpses into the past practices performed in the Buddhist culture. However, it is not as grand as other Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, still is a significant one for its history and heritage.