Namgyal monastery, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s home, is located in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, India. If you are traveling to McLeodganj and want to understand the Buddha, you should visit this century-old place once.
History
The temple’s history dates back to the 16th century when it was first established in 1575 in Tibet by the 2nd Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyastso. It was later renamed “Female Diety Namgyalma” in 1571. When the Chinese invaded Tibet during the 1959 uprising, the Namgyal monastery was relocated to Dharamshala, India. During the 14th Dalai Lama’s reign, hundreds of monks fled to the neighboring countries of Bhutan, Nepal, and India.
At present, 200 Tibetan monks preserve and perform daily rituals and traditions. In 1992, on the advice of the current Dalai Lama, a Namgyal branch was established in New York within the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies. Similarly, in 1998, a Tibetan monastery was established in Bodhgaya, India. Namgyal monastery controls the temple in Kushinagar and the elder home in Shimla.
How to Reach Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery is located in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. Here are the ways to reach Namgyal Monastery:
By Road:
Dharamshala is well connected by road with major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. One can take a bus or hire a taxi from these cities to reach Dharamshala. The nearest bus stand is in McLeod Ganj, which is just a few kilometers away from Namgyal Monastery.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is Pathankot, which is about 90 km away from Dharamshala. One can take a train from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai to Pathankot and then take a taxi or bus to reach Dharamshala.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport, which is about 15 km away from Dharamshala. One can take a flight from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Gaggal Airport and then take a taxi or bus to reach Dharamshala.