The hills echo with chants

Sample Tibetan culture at Namdroling Monastery in Coorg

The setting is surreal — cloud-kissed hills, a verdant landscape, the aroma of coffee beans wafting through the cold air and echoes of chants from monasteries and ancient shrines. Coorg takes you far away from the urban jungle.

The hill town is famous for Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe, the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet, which houses the Namdroling Monastery, the largest teaching centre of Nyingmapa, a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Famously referred to as the Golden Temple, one of the senior monks explains how the tranquil ambience and the fertile land prompted the setting up of the monastery.

The modest entrance is flanked by neatly maintained lawns on either side. Pema Norbu Rinpoche, founder of this monastery, smiles at you from a huge portrait. The bright blue and gleaming golden structure is a fine showcase of Tibetan craftsmanship. There’s is an arch with small statues hanging from it that are considered as messengers of Lord Buddha.

Attractive statues

As you go past the main structure, an ornate bell with letters engraved on it is seen on the left. The walls inside the sprawling monstery come alive with vibrant Tibetan paintings. The three gold-plated statues of saints Padmasambhava, Sukhayami and Amitayus, are seen in the prayer hall.

Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche), as prophesied by Lord Buddha, was born 12 years after the passing of the Buddha, on lake Sindhu, in the land of Oddiyana (the present day Afghan-Pakistan border). He excelled in the esoteric teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism. The Tibetans consider him very kind and revere him as the Second Buddha.

Buddha Shakyamuni, who was born to King Shudhodana and Queen Mayadevi, at Lumbini (present day Nepal) , is the fourth of the 1002 Buddhas.

Buddha Amitayus blesses people with long life . According to Buddhism, people die prematurely because of their non-virtuous activities.

The prayer hall is lined with small desks, the floor is covered with small matsand a cylindrical drum is placed periodically (maybe to indicate the start and finish of the prayer sessions). Visitors are expected to maintain silence (not observed) to help those who want to meditate. The golden statues have earned the monastery the name — Golden Temple.

The statue of Buddha is 60ft high while those of Guru Padmasambhava and Buddha Amitayus are 58 ft. The placards that are put up near the entrance say that inside the statues are sacred scriptures and small clay stupas , which symbolise the body, speech and mind of the Buddhas. The followers believe that venerating these statues, circumambulating them and making offerings will generate within oneself faith, peace, wisdom and compassion.

Location: It is 6 km from Kushal Nagar and 35 km from Madikeri.