West Bengal Mag Dhog Yolmowa Monastery
Named also as Aloobaari Monastery, the Mag Dhog Yolmowa monastery in Darjeeling is as sacred for the people of the region as it has a remarkable history. Something enigmatic about the entire structure has brought lots of visitors to the Mag Dhog Yolmowa Monastery, which is situated about 3 kms from the town of Darjeeling in the area known as Aloobari, along the Tenzing Norgay Road. Although it is a well known Monastery in Darjeeling, it is relatively newer to other monasteries in the area. Still, the number of tourists visiting the shrine is quite large, mostly because of the special architecture designs and paintings that adorn the walls. The history and architecture and the scenic landscapes of this monastery have made it one of the famous tourist places in Darjeeling.
History
Mag Dhog Yolmowa Monastery was built by Sangay Lama, who was the head of the Yolmowas, which was a small sect from the North Eastern part of Nepal and had established themselves in the town of Darjeeling in the early part of 20th century. The construction of Aloobari Monastery coincided with the start of the World War I, in the year 1914, and was constructed with the intention of bringing in peace to the world. Mag Dhog is the name of this monastery, based on this belief, which translates into warding off the war, which referred to the World War and aimed at praying for world peace. There is a queer sense of enigma associated with this monastery, where most of the structures depict some kind of eeriness. Different forms of Buddha are sculptured inside the campus of the monastery, which is a treat to watch.
Architecture
Upon entering through the simply carved gates, there is the main building of the monastery, built in colors of yellow and bright red. Lion structures of concrete are present in different places on top of the gates and in front of this main building and these are quite large in size. Towards the left side, there is a relatively new building. Inside the monastery, the statues of Buddha in different forms are adorning the various parts. Sculptured model of Padmasambhava is also seen in the monastery. Inner walls of the monastery have special paintings, which are made with herbs and plant products and grasses. These have been turned into pastes and embossed on the walls, creating magnificent images related to life of Buddha. One of the most significant features inside the monastery is the collection of Buddhist manuscripts, which are quite old, probably centuries old. Towards the left of the main building is the path of stairs leading into a small village like areas, where a few cottages can be found. Beyond that the rest is scenic landscapes, the visuals of which are breathtaking.
Getting There
From the town of Darjeeling, the Aloobari Monastery is about 3 kms, which will be on the road which is named as Tenzing Norgay Road. From Ghumm, the monastery can be reached by a 15 minutes drive in car, through the Aloobari road. Darjeeling is reached from different parts of the country with good road and flight communications.
Photo Gallery
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