Beyond its Shaivite and Vaishnavite tirthas, Uttarakhand possesses a profound and serene Buddhist heritage spanning over two millennia. From the ancient 3rd-century BCE Ashokan Rock Edict at Kalsi (in Dehradun district) proclaiming the Dharma of non-violence to the spectacular Tibetan Buddhist monasteries established in the Doon Valley, the foothills provide a serene sanctuary for Buddhist study, philosophy, and meditation.
Mindrolling Monastery: Crown of Clement Town
Re-established in 1965 by His Holiness the 11th Minling Trichen Rinpoche, Mindrolling is one of the six major monasteries of the ancient Nyingma school. It houses the Ngagyur Nyingma College, one of the world's foremost institutes of advanced Buddhist dialectics.
The Great Stupa of Peace
Inaugurated in 2002, the Great Stupa at Mindrolling stands at an astonishing 185 feet tall, making it one of the largest stupas in the world. Its multi-level interior is covered in museum-grade hand-painted frescoes illustrating the life of Gautama Buddha.
Kalsi Ashokan Edict: Ancient Mauryan Roots
Located near the confluence of the Yamuna and Tons rivers, the Kalsi Rock Inscription is the only Ashokan edict in northern India. Carved in Prakrit using Brahmi script, it immortalizes Emperor Ashoka's commitment to peace, vegetarianism, and medical care for all living beings.
Mussoorie and Tibetan Settlements
Happy Valley in Mussoorie was the very first refuge of the 14th Dalai Lama upon entering India in 1959. Today, vibrant prayer flag-draped stupas and monasteries offer travelers peaceful walking paths, rotating prayer wheels, and serene herbal tea cafes.