Monasteries · Lava
Evening prayers at Lava's Kagyu monastery
Sit at the back of the prayer hall of Kagyu Thekchen Ling, the Karma Kagyu monastery on Lava's ridge, as the monks chant in the late afternoon, then walk the courtyard as mist comes up from the forest.
The Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery dominates Lava's ridge. It was founded by the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, a leading teacher of the Karma Kagyu school, and opened on 6 June 1990, the festival of Chökhor Düchen, which marks the Buddha's first teaching. The building uses Tibetan forms in brick and concrete, with prayer halls, lawns and a large Buddha image, and sits beside the Neora reservoir.
Well over 100 monks live and study here, many of them young. In the late afternoon you can often hear the chanting, drums and long horns of evening prayers. Visitors may sit quietly at the back if allowed; ask a monk first. Walk clockwise around the building, do not point your feet at the altar, and switch off your phone.
Beside the monastery is the Mane Lhakhang, a community temple with large prayer wheels, inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 2001. Spin them clockwise as the local people do. On clear afternoons the courtyard looks over the forest towards Neora Valley; on most monsoon afternoons it looks into cloud, which is beautiful in its own way.
Cost: Free · donation welcome
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is Lava monastery open to tourists?
Yes. Visitors are welcome in the courtyard and usually in the main prayer hall outside ritual times, roughly from morning to late afternoon. Ask before sitting in during prayers. There is no entry fee. Dress modestly and walk clockwise. Hours can change on festival days, so check current status before you travel.
Which sect is Lava monastery?
Kagyu Thekchen Ling belongs to the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded by the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and opened in 1990. The neighbouring Mane Lhakhang, with large prayer wheels, was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 2001.
Can I photograph inside Lava monastery?
Photography is usually allowed in the courtyard and outside, but often not inside the prayer hall, especially during prayers. Look for signs and ask a monk. Never photograph monks without asking, and never use flash during rituals.
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