ISKCON Temple Bangalore

Namdroling Monastery, popularly celebrated as the Golden Temple of Bylakuppe, sits amidst peaceful sandalwood and coffee country near Kushalnagar in Coorg (Kodagu), Karnataka, standing as the largest Nyingma teaching center of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.

Established in 1963 by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche (the 11th throneholder of the Palyul lineage), this sprawling monastic university shelters over 5,000 monks and nuns, preserving classical Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy, sacred art, and meditation practices.

It's the home of three colossal 40 foot-high gold plated statues of Lord Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, and Buddha Amitayus inside the grand Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara, exquisite multi colored Thangka wall murals, hundreds of embossed copper prayer wheels, and deeply resonant monastic horns and bell chants.

It represents a rich cultural and spiritual haven where Tibetan refugee resilience, Himalayan monastic scholarship, peaceful garden architecture, and authentic Tibetan culinary culture unite on the Kaveri river basin.

Located in the Bylakuppe settlement just 6 km from Kushalnagar, it sits 35 km east of Madikeri, 85 km west of Mysore, and 215 km from Bengaluru, accessed directly off National Highway 275.

History & Penor Rinpoche's Sacred Legacy

Following the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959, Penor Rinpoche arrived in South India with a small band of monks. In 1963, granted land by the Mysore state government, he constructed a modest bamboo chapel on this hillside.

Through decades of tireless dedication and international Buddhist patronage, the hermitage blossomed into the glorious Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargye Ling complex, complete with primary schools, a prestigious advanced higher monastic college (Shedra), and a traditional hospital.

Truth is, the monastery is revered across the Himalayan Buddhist world as the supreme seat of the Nyingmapa Palyul lineage outside Tibet, drawing students from Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and across the globe.

The Grand Golden Statues & Sacred Vihara

Stepping into the main Padmasambhava Vihara (The Golden Temple), you are greeted by three impressive 40 foot-tall gilded copper statues seated on carved lotus pedestals:

Lord Buddha Shakyamuni: Seated in the center in the earth touching gesture (Bhumisparsha Mudra), symbolizing enlightenment.

Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche): Positioned on the left, the master who established Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century.

Buddha Amitayus: Positioned on the right, the celestial Buddha of Boundless Life and Longevity.

The walls are completely covered in colorful hand painted frescoes illustrating Buddhist deities, cosmic mandalas, and the life story of Gautama Buddha, rendered with natural mineral pigments.

Monastic Chanting & Tibetan Cultural Bazaars

Daily Prayer Chants: Visiting around 1:00 PM allows you to witness hundreds of young monks gather in rows to recite sacred sutras accompanied by the deep resonant rumble of long Tibetan brass horns (Dungchen), bronze cymbals, and ceremonial drums.

Tibetan Settlement Market: Outside the temple gates, the bustling shopping arcade is packed with souvenir boutiques selling singing bowls, prayer flags, hand woven carpets, incense, and local eateries serving piping hot steamed momos and spicy thukpa noodle soup.

Combine your Bylakuppe journey with visits to Dubare Elephant Camp (15 km), Nisargadhama Bamboo Island (8 km), and Abbey Falls in Madikeri for the ultimate Coorg vacation.