ABOUT MUNDGOD
Gaden Monastery (known also as Lama camp no. 1) and Drepung Monastery (known also as Lama camp no. 2) are located in the Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod, in the Northern district (also known as Uttar Kannada) of Karnataka State, South India, approximately 400km north of Bangalore (Bengaluru) and 600km south of Mumbai (Bombay). The nearest large city is Hubballi, which is approximately 45km north.
The Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod is one of the largest Tibetan refugee settlements in India, with a current population over 15,000. The settlement consists of eleven camps and includes eight monasteries, three schools (from nursery to secondary), two homes for the elderly, three modern allopathic hospitals, two Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, and a co-operative society engaged in various activities such as farming and handicrafts.
TEMPLE VISITING HOURS:
Weekdays: 8.30 am to 11 am and 2.30 pm to 5 pm.
(PLEASE FOLLOW PROPER COVID RULES AS PER GOVT. S.O.P)
MONDAYS ARE WEEKLY HOLIDAYS FOR THE MONASTERIES.
So do not visit Temples/monasteries on Mondays.
(above-mentioned timing is for Drepung Gomang monastery's temple/prayer hall only)
Important notice: monasteries don't have specified tour guides as such or car or bike rental systems, guest houses are managed by different monastery management. Rooms are issued on a first-come and first-served basis, most of the rooms are simple single rooms with two beds. We don't provide online booking of rooms/accommodation or phone booking of rooms, so there will be no response to any call or email related to room/accommodation booking.
There is plenty of local taxi and autos available around the settlement/camps/monasteries.
When a prayer session is going on at the prayer hall, we request visitors to keep proper silence to respect the sanctity of the temple/prayer Hall.
Indian tourists or pilgrims don't need any special permit to enter this settlement.
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FOREIGN VISITORS/TOURISTS FROM COUNTRIES OTHER THAN INDIA
All foreign visitors/tourists/foreign monk students are mandatorily required to get Protected Area Permit (PAP) in advance to enter/stay in a Tibetan settlement in India. Entry/stay without PAP is not permitted and punishable by the Foreigner registration office of Govt. of India as per Foreigner Acts.
Procedure for applying Protected Area Permit (PAP)
In order to streamline and facilitate the processing of PAP, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has launched online facilities of seeking applications for PAP from foreigners intending to visit Tibetan Settlements/Camps in India and also issuing of permits online to such foreigners if otherwise not rejected. This process takes at least three months, so apply in advance and visit only if you are issued PAP, you need a copy of your PAP when you enter or register at Foreign Registration Office.
All foreigners intending to visit Tibetan Settlements/Camps in India may, therefore, apply online for PAP by logging in the Ministry’s website https://papvt.mha.gov.in/
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TRANSPORTATION
BY AIR TO INDIA
The nearest major international airports to Mundgod are:
- Hubli (Hubbali)- approx 48 km
Bangalore (Bengaluru) – approx. 400km - Mumbai (Bombay) – approx. 600km
- Goa – approx. 300km
There are direct flights from major European cities to each of these three cities.
TO HUBBALLI AND MUNDGOD
Hubli (Hubballi) is the nearest city to Mundgod, 45km away. Hubballi is well connected to other parts of the country: it has a domestic airport, a major railway junction, and deluxe bus services to many major cities of South India
The 45km drive from Hubballi to Mundgod takes approximately one hour. Private taxis and/or shared jeeps are available from Hubballi city, airport, railway station and bus station.
BY AIR TO HUBBALLI
There are direct flights to Hubli /Hubballi are available only from Bangalore (Bengaluru) and Mumbai (Bombay), www.spicejet.com For more information, see: http://www.hubli-dharwad-city-guide.com/Hubli-Flights.html
BY TRAIN TO HUBBALLI
Hubli or Hubballi is an important railway junction with daily express trains to:
- Bangaluru – approx. 9-11 hours
- Mumbai – approx. 15-16 hours
- Goa (Vasco Da Gama) – approx. 5-7 hours
- Delhi – approx. 38 hours
- as well as Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai (Madras), Ahmedabad, and many other cities.
For more information about train routes, fares, and seat availability, see: http://www.indianrail.gov.in
BY BUS TO HUBBALLI
Hubli/hubballi has a prominent place on the road network of South India and therefore there are numerous services (including deluxe/AC/sleeper buses) to/from many major cities in South India, including:
- Bangaluru – approx. 7 hours
- Mumbai – approx. 14 hours
- Goa – approx. 6 hours
- Mangalore -- approx.10 hours
- Mysore – approx. 12 hours
ACCOMMODATION/ROOMS
Visitors can hold a night at one of the monasteries Guest house/dharamshala that is managed by respective monasteries. Room is available at a nominal charge as compared to cities.
- Gomang Guesthouse, lama camp no. 2 (parking available)
- Gaden Jangtse Guesthouse, lama camp no. 1,( parking available) near gaden jangtse hospital
- Drepung Loseling monastery's guest house at Lama camp no. 2,
- Gaden Shartse monastery's guest house a Lama camp no. 1,(parking available)
Advance booking of the room is not available at Gomang Guesthouse, you can check with other monasteries by their websites.