Palpung Sherabling Monastery is near Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh. This place is a perfect blend of spirituality and culture, and let me tell you, it’s HUGE! It’s so big, you might even get lost trying to navigate your way around. Just a heads up, there are two structures, the old one and the new one, and they are quite a distance apart, so don’t get confused like some of us tourists did.
Once you get to the monastery, you’ll be greeted by the colorful prayer flags that welcome you all the way to the entrance. The path leading to the main hall is surrounded by pine trees on either side, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a fairy tale forest.
Inside the monastery, the sound of the Buddhist monks reciting their prayers creates a spiritual aura that’ll give you goosebumps. If you’re a spiritually inclined person, make sure you visit this monastery on your priority list amongst other places to visit in Bir Billing.
The complex includes beautiful Buddhist temples, gompas, stupas, and more. You’ll find more than 1200 monks in the institute, and they’re not just studying Buddhism, they’re also learning about music, dance, crafts, and even research on Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicines. It’s like a one-stop-shop for everything spiritual and cultural.
The structures have a modern look to them, but they still retain the Tibetan art and influence in every square inch. The monastery even has an enormous stupa of Maitri Budh, the one who is yet to come. And if you’re lucky enough to be there on certain days, you’ll get to see the Lamas perform the Mahakal Lama dance. It’s a sight to cheer!
The complex is massive and has everything you need from a museum, dispensary, cafe, canteen that serves traditional dishes, parking space, and even small shops selling assorted items, including miniatures and flags. You’ll never run out of things to do here.
And if you’re up for some exercise, take a nature walk from the Bir Tibetan Colony to Baijnath via Palpung Sherabling Monastery. You’ll get to experience the beautiful forests, tea gardens, and even other monasteries like Tsering Jong Monastery and Drukpa Kagyu Monastery.
Overall, this place is a must-visit if you’re in the area. It’s like a whole new world in the middle of the forest, at the foot of the Himalayas. Plus, the concept of the monastery structure follows the ancient science of Geomancy.