Chokling Monastery

Chokling Monastery or Pema Ewan Chogar Gyurme Ling Monastery is one of the main attractions of Bir. It houses a grand and colossal stupa as well as an enthralling statue of Padmasambhava. This monastery is located in the Bir Tibetan colony.

It was established in the 1960s, after the annexation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China. It was constructed under the direction of Neten Chokling Pema Gyurme and is currently headed by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, the third son of Neten Chokling Rinpoche III. The monastery is divided into a passageway, a temple and a prayer hall. A picturesque statue of Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who was a Buddhist master of the 8th Century, from the Indian subcontinent, is placed in the centre of the temple and the passageway is heavily decorated with sculptures. A monks’ quarter, as well as a 3-year retreat centre, are also present in the compound. Visitors can even sit through the prayers along with the lamas. On rare occasions, the lamas perform ritual dances which are worth watching, if one wishes to learn more of the Tibetan culture.