Monasteries in Bir: A Local’s Guide to Every Monastery, Losar and the Best Time to Visit
Updated: Oct 19
Bir has more than half a dozen Tibetan Buddhist monasteries within a few kilometres of each other. The biggest is Palpung Sherabling, in the pine forest west of town.
Most of the rest sit in and around the Tibetan Colony, and the monastic college of Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute is a short drive away at Chauntra.
All four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism are represented here, and that’s rare for a town this size.
Most people come to Bir for paragliding. Stay a few extra mornings and you’ll find a quieter side: chanting at dawn, prayer flags over the tea gardens, and monks walking to class.
At a glance
Monastery | Tradition | Where |
Palpung Sherabling | Karma Kagyu | Bhattu, west of Bir |
Chokling (Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling) | Nyingma | Tibetan Colony |
Nyingyang (Nyingma) Monastery & Temple | Nyingma | Near the landing site, Chowgan |
Sakya Dirru | Sakya | Tibetan Colony |
Tsering Jong | [Moonshine: confirm] | Near the Tibetan Colony / Chowgan tea gardens |
Drikung Dozin Theckcho Ling | Drikung Kagyu | Tibetan Colony |
Palyul Chökhorling | Nyingma | Tibetan Colony |
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute | Monastic college | Chauntra |
Deer Park Institute | Study centre (not a monastery) | Bir |
How Bir became a monastery town
The Tibetan Colony in Bir was set up in the early 1960s by Chokling Rinpoche for Tibetan families who had followed the Dalai Lama into exile. Monasteries from different lineages settled around it over the next few decades.
Today the colony, the Chowgan area near the landing site and the villages to the west hold one of the densest clusters of Tibetan Buddhist institutions in India.
The monasteries of Bir Billing, one by one
Deer Park Institute
Deer Park Institute represents Bir’s contemplative heart rather than a conventional monastery. Deer Park isn’t a monastery, but is very significant as it's the biggest Buddhist Studies Center in Himachal Pradesh.
It’s a centre for classical Indian wisdom traditions, opened in March 2006 by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche and modelled on ancient Nalanda.
Most courses in meditation, philosophy and the arts are free. Check the schedule on their site before you plan around one.
During Losar, Deer Park remains prayerful yet understated—offering teachings, silent reflection, and community meals rather than ceremonies.
It is ideal for visitors seeking intellectual and meditative depth, especially during winter months when Bir slows down and reflection feels natural.
Sherabling is the Indian seat of the Tai Situpa. The 12th Kenting Tai Situpa founded it in 1975, and it sits in pine forest near Bhattu, west of Bir.
It is a working monastic campus: a monastic university, retreat houses, a mandala temple and a stupa temple with eight stupas, plus a café and a guest house.
It’s best on a morning when the forest is still cool.
Situated near the Bir Landing Site near Chowgan, Nyingyang Monastery offers a more intimate Nyingma-tradition experience.
Smaller in scale, this temple-and-monastery complex is deeply atmospheric—marked by chanting monks, colourful murals, and open lawns for quiet sitting.
It’s smaller and calmer than Sherabling, so it’s an easy stop before or after a flight.
Chokling Monastery, also known as Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling, stands out for its monumental Padmasambhava statue and richly detailed interiors.
Chokling sits at the heart of the Tibetan Colony and is the easiest monastery to walk to from the main road. It was founded by the 3rd Neten Chokling Rinpoche in the 1960s, and today the 4th Neten Chokling leads it. Look for the large stupa and the statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
Losar here is observed through prayers and offerings rather than public display, making it ideal for visitors interested in Tibetan iconography, architecture, and devotional atmosphere throughout the year—particularly in spring and early autumn.
Located near the Tibetan Colony and Chowgan Tea Gardens, Tsering Jong Monastery, it is quieter than the colony’s bigger monasteries, with prayer wheels and prayer flags strung across the grounds. Weekday mornings are calmest.
With its residential monastic community, prayer wheels, and open grounds filled with prayer flags, it offers one of Bir’s most accessible windows into everyday Tibetan Buddhist life.
Dirru Samdup Dechen Choekhor Ling
Recognisable by its distinctive blue architecture, Sakya Dirru Monastery represents the Sakya tradition in Bir’s Tibetan Colony.
Dirru is the Sakya monastery of the Tibetan Colony, and you’ll recognise it by its blue walls. It is guided by the 15th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche and the 14th Dungyud Rinpoche. Pair it with Chokling, since both are an easy walk from the colony gate.
Drikung Dozin Theckcho Ling and Palyul Chökhorling
Two smaller monasteries complete the colony. Drikung Dozin Theckcho Ling belongs to the Drikung Kagyu school. Palyul Chökhorling is a Nyingma branch of the Palyul lineage of the late Penor Rinpoche. Neither is set up for tourists, but both are fine to visit quietly if you’re walking through.
Locals often call this “the Chauntra monastery,” but it is really a monastic college for advanced Buddhist study. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche founded it in Sikkim in 1982. It moved to Bir in 1985, and the large Chauntra campus opened in 2004.
The college carries forward the non-sectarian learning tradition of the original Dzongsar monastery in eastern Tibet. Allow a half-day, and go with respect, because this is a place of study first.
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is the biggest time of year at the monasteries. It follows the Tibetan lunar calendar, so it usually falls in February and sometimes runs into early March. Losar 2027 is expected around 7 February.
Check with the monastery for exact ceremony days, because lineages sometimes differ by a day. The days before Losar are spent cleaning, making offerings and holding long prayer sessions.
Losar itself is quiet and family-centred in Bir rather than a public show.
Best time to visit Bir’s monasteries
February (Losar): the most meaningful time, and the coldest. Mornings are near freezing, so pack layers.
March–May: clear skies, comfortable walking weather and a busy monastic calendar.
July to mid-September (monsoon): green and quiet, but expect rain, leeches on forest paths and no paragliding.
October–November: our favourite. The air is crisp, the Dhauladhar views are clear and the trails are dry.
December–January: very quiet and cold. It suits slow, reflective trips.
Beyond the monasteries
Bir’s spiritual landscape isn’t only Tibetan. If you’re still working out the layout of the town, our guide to Bir’s villages and colonies explain where the Tibetan Colony, Chowgan and Bhattu actually are.
Before Losar: what we’ll check for you
Monastery calendars aren’t posted online in one place. If you’re travelling for Losar or a specific puja, message us and we’ll:
confirm the year’s ceremony dates with the monasteries,
tell you which mornings are worth an early start, and
arrange a taxi to Chauntra or Sherabling if you’d rather not walk.
Our heritage property in Bir has a hot tub and pool, which are welcome after a cold February morning in a prayer hall.
Our cozy Bir Billing stay offers a calm, restorative stay between monastery visits.
There are also old and storied Hindu temples such as the nearby Baijnath temple, along with so may smaller shrines, where people live their religion as embodied practice.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the biggest monastery in Bir?
Palpung Sherabling. Its campus covers about 30 acres of pine forest across three ridges and is home to more than 500 monks.
Is there an entry fee for the monasteries?
No. The monasteries in Bir don’t charge entry. Donations are welcome in the offering boxes, and you can buy butter lamps at some temples.
Can you see all of Bir’s monasteries in one day?
You can see the Tibetan Colony monasteries (Chokling, Sakya Dirru, Tsering Jong, Drikung, Palyul and Nyingyang) on foot in a morning. Sherabling and Chauntra each need a separate drive, so two days is more relaxed.
Can foreigners attend courses at Deer Park?
Yes, many do. Deer Park publishes a separate permit page for foreign nationals, so check it before you book a course.
What is the “mandala sanctuary” in Bir?
This usually means the mandala temple inside the Sherabling campus. Ask at the main gate and the monks will point you there.
Is the Tibetan Colony the same as Bir?
No. The Tibetan Colony is one of several localities that make up the Bir area, along with Chowgan, Bir village, Kotli and others. Most monasteries cluster in and around it.
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