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Following the completion of Thugdam, Rinpoche’s sacred remains (kudung) have been placed in the old temple in Bylakuppe for his disciples to offer their respects. Rinpoche’s first 7th-day observance falls on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 during which the monastery’s rinpoches, khenpos, lamas and monks will perform the 100 Deities Peaceful and Wrathful Offering Prayer.
Please visit Facebook for photos and links to practices at the monastery: https://www.facebook.com/AyangRinpoche
For those disciples wishing to visit H.E. Choeje Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery, Thupten Shedrub Jangchub Ling, in South India, the following information will be helpful. Download the PDF version Travel to Bylakuppe.
Monastery Contact Information:
Drikung Charitable Society
Kagyudpa Monastic Institute
T.D.L. Bylakuppe-571104
Karnataka, India
Phone: +91 99861 73718
Email: drikungcharitablesociety@yahoo.com, amitabhafoundation@yahoo.co.in
Visa for India can be obtained online here: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. The approval takes around 2 days. You will receive confirmation by email; print the confirmation and present it when checking in at the airport and upon arrival at Customs in India.
Protected Area Permit (PAP) is necessary to stay overnight at the monastery or in the Tibetan Settlement. This can take quite a while to get approved, so it is best to apply as soon as you know you intend to travel. Travel to BylakuppeApply online here: https://papvt.mha.gov.in/ or at the same time as applying online for your India visa. The Tibetan Settlement to enter is Dickyi Larsoe. Bring a copy of your application with you.
Flights to India: The closest international airport to the monastery is Bangalore (Bangaluru / BLR). Connections through Delhi can be difficult this time of the year due to frequent fog.
Ground Transportation: It is easy to take the FlyBus from Bangalore Airport to Mysore (Mysuru). It costs about USD$10 one way and takes about 3.5 hours. The bus terminal is located on the ground floor of the international terminal. You can book online here: https://www.ksrtc.in/.
If your flight lands before 11 pm, then there is a direct FlyBus at 1:00 am from the airport to Bylakuppe and Kushalnagar. If the flight lands after midnight then there is a FlyBus every hour from the airport to Mysore. From there, you will either have to hire a taxi (contact Truelha or the monastery in advance so that they can help book) or take the local bus from Mysore (see link above) to Bylakuppe (about 2-3 hours) or Kushalnagar.
Accommodations: Rooms at the monastery’s Guest House are very limited, and not available to Westerners without prior PAP approval.
Suggestions for hotels in Bylakuppe and Kushalnagar will be available soon.