If you are planning on travelling to Coorg then there’s a place you can visit along its way. This place is called Kushalnagar. This is a quaint and peaceful little town along with being a Tibetan settlement. Around 70,000 Tibetans have made this place their residence till date. The most beautiful and spiritual attraction of this place is the sacred Golden Temple which is also famous for being the largest teaching centre of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. This monastery serves as home to a Sangha community of over 5000 different lamas (Buddhist monks and nuns), a complete religious college as well as a hospital. It also happens to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places you will ever visit in Karnataka or south India.
Sit In Quiet Contemplation
Inside the main worship area, you can seat yourself on the ground and gaze at the three, giant, life-sized Buddha statues that will overwhelm you with their beauty and their grandeur. I have sat here for a whole hour. The interior has a very high roof and lots of space and this creates the perfect ambience for meditation - oceanic, silent, and soothing.
Listen To the Chanting Of the Monks
Once you do this, take a tour of the monastery. There are many smaller halls and rooms where Buddhist monks undergo their training. In some of these, you will find groups of 20-30 monks chanting Buddhist verses and praying. One is allowed to silently observe from a distance. It is a great feeling to hear this Om-like chanting of the monks. One feels as though one is privy to secrets of the universe.
Go Shopping In the Market
The monastery has some shops surrounding it which feature charming merchandise from Tibet. You get interesting things like scarves, sweaters, toys, hats and Tibetan jewellery. Each time I visit the monastery, I come away with an interesting scarf or a very unique piece of jewellery that I never find back home. The men and ladies manning these shops are very sweet. They engage you in conversation and are curious about where you come from and what is it you do. They are not entirely sales-oriented and this is a welcome relief from their hawkish counterparts in the city.
Snack at the Café
The monks have a café they go to for refreshments. This is a quaint little place with interesting fare like aloo tikki sandwiches and onion pakoras with a ginger flavoured tea that is an absolute must-have and especially useful if you have a sore throat. If you’ve got an appetite you can also try their famous Tibetan-styled fried noodles.
Flora and Fauna
Last but not the least; the monastery is home to a variety of flora. The whole place is filled with gardens and flowers and walking through these avenues is a delightful experiences. The locales are also picturesque and make for great pictures. Close to the tea stalls and the monks’ quarters you will also find many stray cats and dogs who have taken refuge there. These animals are friendly and will keep you company too. I once made friends with a cat that fell asleep in my lap and once I befriended a dog who took to me so much he followed me all the way out of the monastery until I had to shoo him back inside.
The Golden Temple is an interesting place to visit. Beautiful without being showy, tranquil without artificial landscaping and spiritually calming without being overtly religious, it is a rare and beautiful tourist attraction that gets very little press but nonetheless casts a deep impression on all those who visit it.
0 Comments