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A Guide to Bylakuppe Travel

Bylakupee is the largest Tibetan settlement in the world outside of Tibet and is located in Mysore district of Karnataka. It is a group of twenty villages clustered together. Numerous monasteries and a Tibetan studies institute are part of Bylakuppe and make it worth visiting. If you want a serene and tranquil weekend getaway from Bangalore, head to Bylakuppe and unwind. Here is the guide to Bylakuppe.

Distance: 214 km by road

Time: 4 hours by road

How to reach

How to reach

Bylakuppe is a 4 hour drive from Bangalore and en route to Coorg. buses are available to Kushalnagar from Mangalore (5 hours) and from Mangalore( 2.5 hours). 

What to See

What to See

Besides the Tibetan settlements, the settlement is famous for the Namdroling Monastery, which is the largest Nyingma monastery outside of Tibet. The main attraction here is the Golden Temple. The monastery is also famous for housing three copper and gold plated statues of Buddha located in the Golden temple. The complex also has other temples, a nunnery, lodging for monks and souvenir shops.

Photo Courtesy:  Ashok666

Sera Monastery
 

Sera Monastery

This monastic community consists of two monasteries, Sera jey and Sera mey. These monasteries are located some 3kms away from the Namdroling monastery. Hardly frequented by visitors, you can watch monks engage in debates about a chosen topic every evening.

Photo Courtesy: Bilal M Jafri

What to Do

What to Do

Those with enough stamina and devotion are welcome to rotate the prayer wheels in the monastery. The wheels have prayers written on them and it is believed that those who turn them clockwise with the intention of helping others will be in a position to alleviate the suffering of others soon. You can also learn more about Tibetan Buddhism as practiced in these monastries.

Shopping

Shopping

Two markets are there for shopping. One is Camp 1 and the other is the one diagonally opposite to the Namdroling Monastery's main gate. After shopping, you can have a meal for a reasonable price. There are some restaurants right outside the monastery complex. Smoking or consuming alcohol is not permitted within the monastery premises.

Photo Courtesy: Bilal M Jafri

Stay

Stay

Overseas visitors planning to stay in Bylakuppe are required to get a 'Protected Area Permit'. Most Indian visitors do not prefer to stay here and move on to Coorg but if you stay you can look at all other nearby monasteries too. There are guesthouses where you can stay in simple rooms with /without television.

 

Photo Courtesy: Bilal M Jafri

Food

Food

All Tibetan restaurants close by 6.30/7 in the evening so be aware of this if you want to try Tibetan cuisine. There are two Indian restaurants near the Namdroling Monastery which are open till around 9 PM.

Photo Courtesy: Bilal M Jafri

Head to Coorg

Head to Coorg

After you had your fill in Bylakuppe, head towards Coorg. Here is how to reach Coorg from Bangalore and what to do there. 

Photo Courtesy: Bilal M Jafri

 

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