Mindrolling Monastery

Mindrolling Monastery (also revered as the Clement Town Buddha Temple or the Great Stupa of Mindrolling), located in Clement Town in the southern foothills of Dehradun in Uttarakhand, is one of India's largest, most architecturally grand, and spiritually revered Tibetan Buddhist monastic complexes.

Established in 1965 by Khochhen Rinpoche and His Holiness the 11th Minling Trichen to preserve the ancient Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism following the destruction of their 1676 ancestral monastery in Central Tibet, this peaceful 10 acre sanctuary is celebrated worldwide as a premier center of Buddhist higher learning and meditation.

It's the home of the colossal 60 meter-tall (185 foot) Great Stupa standing as one of the world's tallest Buddhist stupas, an imposing 35 meter gilded statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, multi tier temple shrine rooms covered in sacred mineral pigment thangka frescoes, the prestigious Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist College, and landscaped Japanese Zen gardens lined with hundreds of brass prayer wheels.

It represents a rich spiritual sanctuary where ancient Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy, sacred monastic chanting, exquisite Himalayan art traditions, and tranquil meditation gardens unite in the Doon Valley.

Located in Clement Town just 9 km south of Dehradun Railway Station (DDN) and 10 km from Clock Tower, it sits 30 km from Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport (DED) and 240 km north of New Delhi, easily reached by local city bus, auto rickshaw, or private taxi along the Delhi Dehradun highway (NH 307).

The 1965 Nyingma Sanctuary & Architectural Heritage

Mindrolling is one of the Six Mother Monasteries of the Nyingma school, the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century.

The monastery complex was constructed according to precise traditional mandalic geometries, featuring hand carved teakwood pillars, ornate gold leaf roof finials, and large brass prayer wheels spun by pilgrims seeking spiritual merit and inner peace.

Truth is, over 500 monks and lamas reside in the monastery, studying advanced Buddhist philosophy, sacred music, Sanskrit, and ancient ritual arts at the renowned Ngagyur Nyingma College.

The 60 Meter Great Stupa & Shrine Murals

The Great Stupa of World Peace: Inaugurated on October 28, 2002, this stone structure rises 185 feet high with a base area of 100 square feet, designed to protect the world from negative energies and natural calamities.

Sacred Multilevel Shrines: Inside the stupa, four levels of prayer halls are decorated with grand hand painted frescoes illustrating the life of Gautama Buddha, painted using pure mineral colors and 24 karat gold dust by master Bhutanese and Tibetan artists.

The 35 Meter Buddha Statue & Zen Gardens

Colossal Buddha Statue: In the temple garden stands a 35 meter-high statue of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni dedicated to the Dalai Lama, surrounded by lush green lawns, flowering lotus ponds, and manicured ornamental shrubs.

Clement Town Bazaars: Outside the monastery gates, explore the lively Tibetan settlement of Clement Town, renowned for authentic Tibetan momo cafes, thangka art studios, handicraft stores selling singing bowls, and aromatic herbal incense.

After experiencing the spiritual peace of Mindrolling Monastery, visit the famous Robber's Cave (Guchhupani) in Dehradun, tour the Forest Research Institute (FRI), or take a scenic drive uphill to the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie.