Chokling Monastery, Bir Billing: History and respectful visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Chokling Monastery

Chokling Monastery, formally Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling, was founded after the third Neten Chokling Rinpoche (1928 to 1973) reached Bir in 1966. With the help of foreign aid he acquired land for a Tibetan settlement, and the monastery became its religious centre.

Its current Rinpoche is regarded as the reincarnation of the founder. The complex has since grown to include temples, stupas, monks' quarters and a three-year retreat centre.

Useful facts

Chokling Monastery facts at a glance

Location

Bir Tibetan Colony, Chowgan

Faith

Tibetan Buddhism, Nyingma tradition

Dedication

Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling; large Padmasambhava statue

Visitor note

Shoes off in the hall; ask before photographing

Founded

After the 3rd Neten Chokling arrived in 1966

Why it matters

Why Chokling Monastery is worth your time

Chokling is the monastery that anchors the Tibetan Colony. According to the Wikipedia account, the third Neten Chokling Rinpoche arrived in Bir in 1966 with his family and a small entourage, and the settlement grew around that arrival. The complex belongs to the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and it keeps a living monastic community rather than a museum.

For visitors the importance is practical as well as historical. The monastery shows how a refugee settlement rebuilt its religious life in India: temples, a stupa, a Padmasambhava statue and a retreat centre now stand where there was farmland. Seeing it before the other monasteries helps you read the rest of the village.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   The stupa

   A large stupa stands at the heart of the complex and is walked clockwise by devotees.

2. 02

   Padmasambhava statue

   An impressive statue of Padmasambhava, the teacher associated with the Nyingma tradition, is a focal point.

3. 03

   Morning and evening chanting

   Visitors report chanting in the main hall at the start and end of the day.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Begin outside, at the stupa, and walk around it clockwise as local devotees do. From there the main prayer hall and the large Padmasambhava statue are the focus. Enter quietly, leave shoes at the door, and sit along the side if services are underway. Visitors have reported that the monks hold chanting in the morning and evening, so arriving at either end of the day gives you a chance to hear it, but check locally because routines change with the Tibetan calendar and teaching schedule.

The complex is larger than most visitors expect, with temples, stupas, monks' quarters and a retreat centre around it. Not every part is open to the public, and signs or monks will guide you. Take your time on the murals and statues, ask before using a camera inside, and keep voices low. Prayer wheels line parts of the circuit and are meant to be turned clockwise.

After your visit, walk back through the colony lanes, where small cafés and shops sit along the road. A cup of tea after the monastery is a good way to pace the day, particularly for older travellers who prefer a short, restful stop.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Bir Tibetan Colony, Chowgan

Time needed

45 to 90 minutes

Best time

Morning or around sunset, when visitors report chanting in the main hall; clear days for light on the stupa

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

Paths within the complex are mostly level and the walk from the colony lanes is short. The prayer hall requires shoes off and floor seating is typical, so ask about a chair if sitting on the floor is difficult.

Tickets and access

No entry fee is publicly listed for visitors. Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering the hall, and ask before photographing inside. Please follow any signs about when the hall is closed to visitors.

Plan it with

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