India’s Little Tibet | Yatralogue

Destination: Clement Town, Dehradun, India
How to get there: The Raipur-Clement Town bus goes from either Survey Chok near Ashley Hall or Sahranpur Chok. It takes you all the way into Clement Town, but you should probably get off at Clement Town Thana (the police station).

How much money to take: A few hundred IC should be enough unless visitors want to shop for souvenirs.
What to take: During summers as well as winters, chilly winds blow in this part of Dehradun. So a downjacket and a cap is a must. A handy notebook to jot down one's feelings, some snacks and flip flops are also advisable.

Since the exile of Dalai Lama from Tibet, many Tibetan settlements have emerged in Nepal as well as in India. One such is in Clement Town, home to the world's largest stupa. The best time to visit Clement Town is on Sundays, the reason being that the Mindrolling Stupa is open to visitors only on that day. Built in the image of the Mindrolling Monastery in Tibet, the stupa stands at a staggering 185 ft. While Maitreya, the future Buddha, is painted on the façade of the stupa, in the descending steps is the present Buddha, the Shakyamuni.

In the afternoon the stupa opens to visitors. Young monks chant prayers in the upper tier while older monks chant in the lower tier of the stupa. At a certain point during the prayers all the monks stop chanting and play instruments. The air is filled with cymbals, drums and horns sounding in perfect orchestration around the stupa.

The inside of the stupa is beautifully decorated with elaborate murals executed in the finest tradition of Tibetan Buddhist art. The stupa, inaugurated in 2002 was constructed to benefit all beings and was dedicated to world peace.

Around the stupa, there are many restaurants offering visitors warm noodles and momos. The owners are friendly and offer their hospitable services. Souvenir shops have also opened up near the stupa offering Tibetan goods. Smaller stupas representing Buddha's travels are spread throughout the garden, which is clean and pleasant to walk. Fellow visitors are friendly and spontaneously talk and swap stories of their travels.

Another must visit place in Clement Town is the 103 ft high statue of Buddha. Dedicated to the Dalai Lama, this monument is only a few minutes' walk from where the stupa is located. It was inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1997, and even today the local monks continue to light oil lamps. Upon looking down from the statue, one can view the entire Tibetian settlement.

Clement Town is a beautiful place to visit, especially during winters. Its quiet and peaceful ambience allows for self-reflection and relaxation. It is a very short distance from central Dehradun and a must-go for all Buddhist pilgrims.