Kullu, May 23 – With the opening up of the new Dagpo Shedrupling Monastery in Kullu, tourism authorities are expecting a surge in the number of foreign tourists.
The monastery situated in picturesque Kullu Valley, with its serene surroundings, has been built to commemorate the 15th century Dagpo Monastery that was destroyed in Tibet during the Chinese invasion in 1959.
The inauguration of the Monastery was done by the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, on Wednesday. Since then, it has been drawing attention of the tourists from across the world.
The Dagpo Monastery with its remote location and beautiful surroundings, away from the hussle and bussle of city life, makes it the perfect retreat and it is felt that it will attract tourist from all over.
“I think it will certainly attract many tourists because I think it’s an incredibly beautiful place. So, I think there will be many people who would like to look at it and you know also from the Dharma point of view I think many westerners will also be attracted to this place to study and meditate and to retreat and I think that will be very good.” said Casinova, a tourist.
“I think it is very good to have a new monastery because the Buddha Dharma brings happiness to people in people’s minds and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition can be prolonged that is a very good thing and it is very nice environment to just meditate and so on,” said Sandra, another tourist.
With the completion of the monastery, the valley is being viewed as the next major centre for Buddhist studies and is expected to boost the tourism industry of the Valley.
“The area will get developed. It’s very isolated but with the setting up of the monastery, it would not only prove beneficial for the locals but it would also boost tourism,” said Rinchen Barongpa, a local tour operator.
At the Dagpo Monastery over 200 students from various countries study and learn the teachings of Lord Buddha. Tibetans in the country view the new monastery as a way of preserving their religion and culture.
