West Bengal Salugara Monastery
Salugara Monastery is situated in the town of Siliguri, belonging to the Buddhist sect of Dalai Lama. It is said to follow the Tibetan Order of Buddhism. Located at a height of about 416 feet above sea, it is at a distance of only 8 kms from the city of Siliguri and included in the itinerary of most of the tourists coming into the hill town of Siliguri. The speciality of this Salugara Monastery is that it is a great place for meditation, mostly because of the tranquil surroundings. Lush greenery all around and hilly regions allow for such a peaceful atmosphere. Lot of people visit this monastery for a few days of meditation, to remain away from the hustle and bustle of the town. Presently, the monastery is under the administrative control of the Droden Kunchab Chodey Buddhist Association.
History
It is believed that the Salugara monastery was built by the Tibetan Buddhist followers of Dalai Lama and is under the control of Droden Kunchab Chodey Buddhist Association presently.
Festival
Tourists arrive here at the Salugara Monastery, almost all times of the year. But, to enjoy the festivals, one can come to the monastery at dawn or dusk especially, when the monks are busy in their meditations and congregational prayers in the Prayer Hall of the monastery. Along with visiting the Salugara Monastery, tourists can also visit the Kalchakra Monastery for a wholesome visit. Another important festival is in the form of a candle march every year, on the birthday of His Highness Dalai Lama, by the monks of the monastery.
Architecture
Although the Salugara monastery is built in the Tibetan style of architecture, the primary attraction of the entire building is a 100 feet stupa, which is said to have been built by the Great Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche. Inside the monastery are preserved the sacred remains of the five great Buddhist leaders, which are termed as relics and respected and prayed by Buddhists from all around the world.
Reaching There
Siliguri is one of the busiest townships of West Bengal, towards the north east. It is a point which has ways to most of the northeastern states and the Salugara monastery is about 6 kms away from this city. Such closeness to Siliguri makes it a commonly visited site by many tourists, along with other locations in the city of West Bengal.
Photo Gallery
 |
 |
 |