The Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery is located nearly 9 kilometers away from Leh, Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir, India. It was established in the year 1973 and it is place of the Chime Rinpoches. This world famous Buddhist Monastery is run by the Tibetan Buddhists of Karmapa sect. The meaning of the word Karmapa is the incarnation of all the actions of Buddha or the one who performs the Buddha-activities. At present there are seventeen Karmapas. The Karma Monastery provides the typically akin Tibetans dwelling in the terrain. Buddhist disciples and many other visitors pass their time in this Monastery to understand and to pursue the teachings of Karmapa.

The monastery plays an important role in promulgating the morals of Tibetan Buddhism and is also working for the protection of Buddhist traditional culture. It is a quiet and religious place where one can find utmost peace of mind. Those monks who reside here also obtain a necessary modern education. On the whole, a disciple need to systematically study the complete customs & Rituals which are based mainly on lineage of Karma Kagyud, in which the 12 Tantrik Mandalas are included.

The Monastery very well comprehends the requisites and the significance of monastic traditional education blended well with the modern education, which is why; the Monastery started a school in 1997. The school at that time had only one class room & a single teacher and who conducted the classes all together no matter what the ages and standards of students were.

It grew steadily and today this Monastery is providing two lastingly employed teachers as well as 3 fully built class rooms. Not only the monks are instructed to practice the tradition of infamous Karma Kagyu, but they also receive essential modern education. Presently, there are about more than 40 monk students who are getting education as well as getting training in a variety of subjects. Along with learning prayers and texts of rituals, they also learn how to play different instruments and also the process to craft the tormas. Alongside philosophy of Buddhism they also have Hindi, Tibetan and English languages and Mathematics classes.

There are also many festivals and pujas in the Monastery. The Puja of Mani Thung Chur (in which the recitation of mantras is done a million times) is being annually arranged as well as carried out in the very first sacred month of the Tibetan Calendar. Every year the puja starts with fasting from 14th and 15th day of starting month.

History

During the arrival of ‘H. H., Rangjung Rigpe Dorje’ to Ladakh, in the year 1967, the place of the Monastery was at that time hallowed & consecrated by him. He was the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Afterwards, ‘H. H., the Karmapa’, gave the instructions to Ven.Choeje Cheme Rinpoche to set up a centre of ‘Karma Kagyu’ in the terrain. He further demonstrated that the teachings of Buddha are the only basis of profit and pleasure of conscious beings. This step may also build up & restore the undeveloped religion & traditions by all means.

By following the advice of ‘H. H. the Karmapa’, Rinpoche took the charge, sparing no hard work in fulfilling the desires of ‘H.H. the Karmapa’. Despite of the lack of accessibility of funds he continued to productively build this Monastery devoid of thinking about the costs as well as adversities involved. In the year 1976, the Monastery was finished with its spiritual receptacles. Simultaneously, the sanctified Sangha society was also formulated. Though, there were nearly twenty five trainee monks who got signed up in the start. Presently, there are nearly sixty monks living in this Monastery.

Architecture

The Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery is an amazing piece of architecture in the district of Leh of Jammu & Kashmir. The architecture of this Karma Monastery is of Tibetan pattern which shows the Buddhist culture and tradition in a very beautiful manner. This Karma monastery has the original compound built by mud and bricks including the Dukhang and the quarters for living and working, and a new compound housing a Dukhang, library, classrooms, refectory, office and kitchen.

Reaching There

Jammu railway station is the closest railway station to reach Leh by train. It is nearly 734 km away.

From Manali, buses are available that are nearly 453 km away from Leh. This route would be a good choice. But, the Manali - Leh road is not always open throughout the year. Though, buses are available in the months from June to October, when roads are open.

There are also air services available from Delhi to Leh and also from Srinagar, different airline companies offer regular flight services.