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The three-tiered white and red front of Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery with gold roof edges under a blue sky with clouds
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
temple11 min from Kalimpong

Zang Dhok Palri Phodang — the Durpin monastery above Kalimpong

Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, the Nyingma monastery on Durpin Hill above Kalimpong: its 1957 founding, the 108 volumes of the Kangyur, the view and the drive.

What it is

Zang Dhok Palri Phodang is the best-known monastery of Kalimpong, a Nyingma house of Tibetan Buddhism on Durpin Hill, popularly called the Durpin Monastery. Dudjom Rinpoche founded it in 1957, on the hill where he had settled in exile from Tibet. Its hall stands for Guru Rinpoche's palace on the Glorious Copper-Coloured Mountain, and the Dalai Lama consecrated it in 1976.

Photos: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Amitabha Gupta (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

What it holds

Wikipedia says the monastery houses many rare Tibetan Buddhist texts of the Nyingma lineage that Dudjom Rinpoche brought out of Tibet, and the 108 volumes of the Kangyur, the Buddha's teachings in Tibetan. Kalimpong took in many monks after 1959, and they brought scriptures with them.

The hill

Durpin Hill rises to about 1,372 m south-west of the town centre. Wikipedia says it has wide views over Kalimpong, the Teesta valley and the snow range of West Sikkim, and that a golf course lies near the top. The Indian Army keeps a base on the hill, so stay on the road and ask before you photograph near it.

Combine it with

The one day in Kalimpong puts the monastery first, with Deolo Hill and Dr. Graham's Homes. Read how to reach Kalimpong.

Plans that include this

All 2 plans that stop here →
The three-tiered white and red front of Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery with gold roof edges under a blue sky with clouds
One day in Kalimpong — the Durpin monastery, Dr. Graham's Homes and Deolo Hill
Day plan · First visit · monasteries and views
A relaxed one-day plan for Kalimpong: the Durpin monastery on its hill, Dr. Graham's Homes below Deolo, and the 1,704 m hilltop park with its wide view.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
The grey-green Teesta river running through a steep forested gorge, seen from a viewpoint above the confluence with the Rangeet
Two days in Kalimpong — monasteries and Deolo, then the Teesta and Pedong
1 night · 2 days · couples and friends · monasteries and river
A two-day plan for Kalimpong: the Gaden Tharpa Choling and Durpin monasteries and Deolo Hill, then Teesta Bazaar and the ridge town of Pedong, with drive times.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Kalimpong →
Teesta Bazaar — the Teesta and Rangeet confluence below Kalimpong
Teesta Bazaar — the Teesta and Rangeet confluence below Kalimpong
town · 3.9 km away
Dr. Graham's Homes — the Scottish school below Deolo Hill
Dr. Graham's Homes — the Scottish school below Deolo Hill
monument · 5.7 km away
Deolo Hill — the 1,704 m viewpoint above Kalimpong
Deolo Hill — the 1,704 m viewpoint above Kalimpong
viewpoint · 7.3 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The huge copper-coloured seated statue of Guru Padmasambhava on its painted base on Samdruptse hill under a grey sky
Namchi
17 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
Roofs and hotels of Darjeeling spreading down a steep ridge under distant blue mountain ranges and soft cloud
Darjeeling
20 km away · 9 itineraries · 13 places
The seated golden and dark-blue Buddha statue on a stepped, richly painted base against a forested hillside and a cloudy sky
Ravangla
31 km away · 1 itineraries · 3 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
36 km away · 5 itineraries · 11 places
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Questions people ask

What is Zang Dhok Palri Phodang?

A Nyingma monastery on Durpin Hill above Kalimpong, also called the Durpin Monastery. Dudjom Rinpoche founded it in 1957 where he had settled in exile, and its hall stands for Guru Rinpoche's palace on the Glorious Copper-Coloured Mountain. The Dalai Lama consecrated it in 1976, and it holds rare Nyingma texts.

What does the monastery hold?

Wikipedia says it houses many rare Tibetan Buddhist texts of the Nyingma lineage that Dudjom Rinpoche brought out of Tibet, and the 108 volumes of the Buddhist Kangyur in Tibetan. Many monks fled to Kalimpong after 1959 and brought scriptures with them. We have no verified opening hours, so ask locally.

How far is it from Kalimpong?

About 5 km and 11 minutes from the town on our routing. Durpin Hill, at about 1,372 m, lies south-west of the centre, and Wikipedia says it has panoramic views and a golf course near the top. The Indian Army has a large base on the hill, so keep to the road and ask before photographing near it.