Spiritual · Lava, Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Morning prayers at Lava's Kagyu monastery
Walk up from Lava bazaar at dawn to Kagyu Thekchen Ling, the monastery on the hill, for morning chanting, butter lamps and views across forested ridges, then breakfast on thukpa in the bazaar.
Photo: Joydeep · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsThe monastery above Lava bazaar, Kagyu Thekchen Ling, belongs to the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its painted prayer hall, prayer wheels and fluttering flags dominate the village skyline. In the early morning, monks chant in the hall, and the sound carries down to the bazaar through the mist.
Visitors are usually welcome to sit quietly at the back during prayers. Remove shoes, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and do not walk in front of monks during rituals. Turn prayer wheels clockwise. Ask before taking photographs, and never use flash in the hall.
After prayers, walk the courtyard for views over the ridges towards Bhutan and the Neora forests. Then come down to the bazaar for a breakfast of thukpa or momos with butter tea or sweet milk tea, and watch the morning jeeps load for Kalimpong.
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Questions
Before you book
What time are prayers at Lava monastery?
Morning prayers usually begin around dawn, roughly 6–7 am depending on the season and the monastic calendar. Ask at your stay the evening before. Visitors who come quietly are generally welcome.
Can I photograph inside the monastery?
Ask first. Some halls allow photographs without flash outside prayer times; others do not. Never photograph monks during prayers without permission. The exterior and courtyard are fine to photograph.
Is the walk up to the monastery steep?
It is a short climb of 10–15 minutes from the bazaar on a road and steps. Seniors can take a taxi to the gate. In winter the path can be icy early in the morning; walk carefully.