One of my most tranquil moments of my Darjeeling trip (India) was the early morning visit to Ghum Monastery. As part of the Tiger Hill sunrise Package that is offered to tourists, a stopover at this monastery proved to be a delightful surprise, as I did not expect much out of it.
Samten Choling Buddhist Ghum Monastery (popularly called as Ghum Monastery) is located at Ghum, around 8000 feet above sea level, around 8 kms from Darjeeling. We arrived here at 6 am and were greeting by sounds of morning prayer chanting of Buddhist monks. There is a 15 foot high statue of ‘Maitreya Buddha’ inside the main hall which every tourist scrambled to click. However, I was in no such mood; instead I sat down at a corner and took in the sights & sounds. There were adult monks going about their morning business, a bell rang and out came a group of child monks is a neat little line from their dorms and to the study room. I could just imagine the hard life of discipline these monks had ti live right from childhood, yet they were more at peace with life that any of us could ever be.
Soon, it was time for us to leave and I so wished I could have spent more time here. It was a morning of tranquility for me on my Darjeeling sojourn.
WOW..sounds interesting.
Aditi
So-Saree
http://www.sosaree.blogspot.in
The best of Monastery visit is the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. I had visited the monasteries of Dharamshala and Coorg but Darjeeling is yet be at place.
Someday I would love to visit this place.
Serenity is what all are in search of.
http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/
These little unexpected pleasures are the best oui! I would love to visit India, I have such a phobia about flying..its such a problem :))
A lovely place indeed:)
Wow! Sounds so good. Darjeeling is a place to be. Love to visit!!
Love
http://www.thesunshinegirll.blogspot.co.uk
I am so regret never going to a monastery. I should, I know.
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I did visit Darjleeng but missed out this place. Great shots.
good place
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http://eyeswantstosee.blogspot.com/
How lovely!
Tranquility is something to welcome and cherish – wherever we find it. I too am a people watcher, and may have joined you.
Lovely post – thank you.
Aah! Darjeeling is one of my forever fav places…and the road leading up the hills to it is a destination in itself! 🙂
You have taken a grand picture of the monastery, I love it.
i forgot to mention how much i love the name of your blog!!
unexpected surprises are always the best surprises!! sounds like a wonderful place to visit!!
a pleasant surprise for you. very nice.
This is a beautiful monastery. Your photo has a very tranquil look about it.
India is a very interesting place to visit and explore.
cool place…