Rest of Odisha · Largest Buddhist monastery in eastern India
Padmasambhava Mahavihara, Jirang
A Tibetan monastery of the Nyingma order set among the hills of Chandragiri (Jirang), with a 23-ft Buddha, 200 resident monks and a Tibetan refugee settlement famous for its hand-woven carpets.
History & legend
After the 1959 Tibetan exodus, the Government of India resettled around 3,000 refugees at Chandragiri in 1963 — Odisha's only Tibetan settlement, known as Phuntsokling. The Thupten Mindolling (Padmasambhava Mahavihara) monastery was built between 2008 and 2010 and inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 11 January 2010; it follows the Nyingma tradition founded by Guru Padmasambhava, who is believed to have been born in the ancient Uddiyana kingdom, which many scholars place in Odisha.
Timings
6:00 AM – 6:00 PM · prayer 6 AM & 5 PM
Best time to visit
October–March · Losar (Tibetan New Year, Feb)
Entry fee
Free · donations welcome
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹6,875 · 275 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- Golden Buddha & murals
- Morning chanting
- Tibetan carpet weaving
- Momos & butter tea at the settlement
Local tip: Dress modestly and stay silent inside the prayer hall. Combine with Khasada waterfall 10 km away.
On the map
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