The short answer
Tashi Jong and Khampagar Monastery: what visitors should know first
Go if you want a living Tibetan community rather than a tourist sight. Visit in the morning, dress modestly, be quiet inside the temple and ask before photographing. Check ahead if you hope to see cham dances, as they follow the monastery's calendar.
History and context
The story behind Tashi Jong and Khampagar Monastery
The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche left Tibet in 1958 or 1959 with a group of monks and tulkus and first settled at Kalimpong in West Bengal. The community moved to Himachal Pradesh in 1969, taking up 37 acres they named Tashi Jong, and re-established the Khampagar monastery there; the original had been founded in Kham by the 3rd Khamtrul Rinpoche.
The 8th Khamtrul died in 1980. The 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Shedrub Nyima, is the current head. The monastery belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Useful facts
Tashi Jong and Khampagar Monastery facts at a glance
- Location
- Jekhli Beth village, about 10 km east of Palampur
- Faith
- Tibetan Buddhism, Drukpa Kagyu lineage
- Deity/dedication
- Khampagar monastery of the Khamtrul lineage
- Visitor note
- Dress modestly; ask before photographing
- Built
- Community settled 1969; monastery re-established there
- Known for
- Cham ritual dances and monastic art
Why it matters
Why Tashi Jong and Khampagar Monastery is worth your time
Tashi Jong was built by exiles. The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche left Tibet in the late 1950s, settled first at Kalimpong, and moved the community to this site in 1969. It was granted 37 acres, which the community named Tashi Jong, meaning auspicious valley, and it re-established the Khampagar monastery whose original was founded in Kham.
Today it is home to a few hundred people, with monks, a lay community and a retreat centre, and a Buddhist philosophy institute is attached. The Khamtrul lineage belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school. Visiting gives a quieter, more domestic view of Tibetan exile life than the larger Dharamshala complex, and the cham dances are among the best-regarded in the region.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The prayer hall
Painted walls and statues, many linked to the artistry of the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche.
- 02
Cham dances
The monks' masked ritual dances are the community's best-known public tradition; check the calendar in advance.
- 03
A working exile village
Homes, a school and workshops surround the monastery, giving a sense of everyday Tibetan community life.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Plan the visit for the morning, when the community is most active and the light is good. Park near the main temple complex and walk in slowly; this is a settled village with homes, a school and workshops around the monastery, not just a single building. If a ritual is taking place, stand at the back and let monks and local families have the front.
Inside the prayer hall, look at the painted walls and statues. The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche was a skilled artist and is credited with creating many of the monastery's statues and paintings. Remove shoes at the door, keep your voice low and walk clockwise around the shrine as locals do.
Cham, the masked ritual dances the monks perform, are the community's best-known public event and draw both Buddhist and non-Buddhist visitors. They follow a ritual calendar rather than a tourist timetable, so ask your hotel to check dates before you set out. Combine the stop with Baijnath's temple, which is only a few kilometres away.
Plan with confidence
Visit as a guest, not a spectator.
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees
- Remove shoes before the prayer hall and walk clockwise around shrines
- Ask permission before photographing monks or inside the temple
- Check with your hotel for dates of any ritual dances before you go
- Allow time to combine this stop with the Baijnath temple nearby
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Jekhli Beth village, about 10 km east of Palampur and 4 km west of Baijnath
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Morning on a clear day; ask locally about dates of any ritual dances
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The grounds are fairly level and the drive from Palampur is short. The prayer hall involves some steps, shoes are removed, and floor seating is common, so a short visit is easiest for older travellers.
- Tickets and access
- There is generally no entry fee, but this is a working religious community. Dress modestly, remove shoes before the prayer hall, keep quiet and ask before taking photographs of monks or inside shrines.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Tashi Jong and Khampagar Monastery
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The grounds are fairly level and the drive from Palampur is short. The prayer hall involves some steps, shoes are removed, and floor seating is common, so a short visit is easiest for older travellers.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How far is Tashi Jong from Palampur?
About 10 km east of Palampur by Wikipedia's reckoning, and about 4 km west of Baijnath. Some tourism sites quote a slightly longer road distance, so allow around half an hour.
Can visitors see the cham dances?
The monks perform cham as part of ritual events. Dates follow the monastery's calendar, so confirm locally before planning a trip.
Is photography allowed?
Often limited inside shrines. Ask first, and avoid photographing monks or worshippers without permission.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
