Dharmodaya Vihar

Dharmodaya Vihar is a Buddhist monastery on the green slopes of Kalimpong, in the Himalayan foothills of northern West Bengal. It was built as a centre for meditation and Buddhist teaching and remains a quiet stop for visitors interested in practice or study, or simply looking for a calm place in the hills.

The complex is known for its distinctive architecture, strings of prayer flags and a well-tended garden. Carvings, bright murals and sacred symbols decorate the buildings, and the meditation halls and courtyards are planted with a variety of flowers and shrubs. A sizeable library holds Buddhist scriptures, commentaries and philosophical works, along with manuscripts and other objects that visitors can consult to learn about Buddhist history and thought.