The Great Stupa at Ugyen Mindrolling Samten in Lava, Kalimpong, is one of the most sacred and spiritually significant Buddhist monuments in the eastern Himalayas. Born from decades of devotion, vision, and tireless effort, this great Stupa That Liberates Upon Seeing stands as a testament to the power of faith and the enduring legacy of the Mindrolling tradition in this remote and blessed corner of the hills.
History of Ugyen Mindrolling Samten, Lava
The origins of this sacred site trace back to 1968, when the Venerable Lama Ngawang Shedup built a small temple called Gompa Dara in Lava, Kalimpong, with a vision to establish the Dharma and benefit the local people. Over the years, great masters — including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and HH Mindrolling Trichen — visited and blessed this precious and sacred place.
In the early 1970s, after visiting the temple, HH Dudjom Rinpoche prophesied that the Dharma would flourish greatly at this location — a prophecy that has since been fulfilled beyond measure.
