The short answer
Padmasambhava Mahavihara (Jirang Monastery): what visitors should know first
Yes, this is the one place to prioritise. Reach it for the morning prayers if you can, expect a quiet hour in the main hall, and confirm with the monastery office that visitors are being admitted that day before you travel far.
History and context
The story behind Padmasambhava Mahavihara (Jirang Monastery)
Tibetans fled to India after 1959, and Chandragiri was chosen as one of the main refugee settlements. The Dalai Lama granted approval for the monastery in 1998, the foundation stone was laid in 2003, construction was completed in 2008 and the Dalai Lama inaugurated it in January 2010.
It is described as built in a style derived from Nalanda, designed by architects from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan working with local masons, and is five storeys high. It is the main monastery of the Ripa lineage and is also called Thupten Mindrolling.
Useful facts
Padmasambhava Mahavihara (Jirang Monastery) facts at a glance
- Location
- Jirang (Jeerango), Chandragiri, Gajapati district
- Faith
- Tibetan Buddhism, Ripa lineage
- Dedication
- Padmasambhava; golden Buddha in the main hall
- Built
- Foundation 2003, completed 2008, inaugurated January 2010
- Visitor note
- Prayers about 5.30 am and 4 pm; closed around midday
- Dress
- Modest clothing; silence in halls; ask before photographing
Why it matters
Why Padmasambhava Mahavihara (Jirang Monastery) is worth your time
Jirang is the religious centre of the Tibetan settlement that has been in this part of the Eastern Ghats since the 1960s. The monastery follows the Ripa lineage and doubles as a school, with young monks studying Tibetan Buddhist texts and ritual. It is often described as the largest Buddhist monastery in eastern India, although that claim is hard to confirm.
For a visitor it is also unusual in India: a recently built monastery in a distant tribal district, in a style modelled on the old Nalanda tradition, reachable by an hour or two of hill driving. It rewards respectful visitors with a genuine religious atmosphere rather than a staged one. If you only have a day in Chandragiri, spend most of it here.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The prayer hall
A large golden Buddha and painted walls in red, green and gold fill the ground floor, and the hall is at its best during chanting.
- 02
The five-storey exterior
Whitewashed tiers and ornate roof detail rise above the hill road and look striking in the low light of early morning.
- 03
Young monks at study
The complex is also a school, so you may see classes, debating practice or festival preparations in the courtyard.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Plan the visit around the prayer sessions. Sources describe prayers twice a day, at about 5.30 am and 4 pm, with the building closed to visitors from about noon to 1 pm for the students' lunch. Timings can change with festivals and teaching schedules, so ask at the Chandragiri bazaar or settlement office when you arrive. Early or late visits give you the sound of horns and chanting as well as the architecture.
The ground-floor prayer hall is the heart of the building, with a large golden Buddha and walls painted in red, green and gold. Accounts also describe a statue of Padmasambhava, a visitors' gallery on the second floor and a courtyard used for festival dances. Take off your shoes where asked, keep your voice low, walk clockwise around shrines and do not point your feet at images.
Allow time outside as well. The white tiers of the building stand against the hills, the courtyard is a good place to sit, and young monks are often around between classes. Ask politely before photographing anyone. Afterwards, a snack from the monastery canteen or the stalls nearby, where momos are sometimes sold, makes a simple end to the visit.
Plan with confidence
Visit as a guest, not a spectator.
- Ask locally whether visitors are admitted that day
- Arrive before noon or after 1 pm to avoid the lunch closure
- Cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes where asked
- Ask before photographing monks or inside halls
- Carry water; the hills are warm even in winter afternoons
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Jirang (Jeerango), about 80 to 88 km from Berhampur, Gajapati district
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours, longer if you stay for prayers
- Best time
- November to February; arrive for the morning prayers and before the midday lunch closure
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- The approach and courtyard are open and mostly level, but the building is five storeys and moving between halls involves steps. Seating is limited, so take a cushion or ask staff about a bench for prayers.
- Tickets and access
- No entry fee is published. Prayers are reported at about 5.30 am and 4 pm, and the monastery shuts around midday for the students' lunch hour. Dress modestly, keep silence in the halls and ask before taking photographs inside.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Padmasambhava Mahavihara (Jirang Monastery)
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.
Travelling with parents?
The approach and courtyard are open and mostly level, but the building is five storeys and moving between halls involves steps. Seating is limited, so take a cushion or ask staff about a bench for prayers.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can tourists enter the monastery?
Visitors are generally welcome, but access to the halls can vary with the day and the teaching schedule, so confirm locally. Arriving for the prayer sessions is the best way to be admitted.
What time are prayers held?
Reports give about 5.30 am and 4 pm. Timings vary around festivals, so check on arrival.
Is photography allowed?
Ask before photographing inside the halls or of monks. Exterior shots are normally fine.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery
- Odisha Tourism: Inside the Jirang monastery
- Outlook Traveller: Chandragiri, Little Tibet
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.