Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 18: The Indian state government of Odisha has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tibetan Buddhist monastery Rigon Thupten Mindrolling, popularly known as Jeerang Monastery, to develop the state into a global destination for Buddhist pilgrimage, scholarship, and cultural exchange.
The agreement was formalized on Wednesday at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, President of Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery.
Under the MoU, the Odisha government and Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery will jointly develop a range of tourism programmes designed to offer meaningful cultural and spiritual engagement. These include meditation retreats, Buddhist pilgrimage circuits, and monastic immersion experiences that will allow visitors to experience the daily rhythm of monastic life while gaining a deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan culture.
The agreement also places strong emphasis on scholarship and research. Both parties will work together to facilitate academic collaborations, organize national and international Buddhist conferences, and promote cultural knowledge exchange among scholars, practitioners, and educational institutions. The initiative aims to strengthen Odisha’s profile as a centre for Buddhist studies while encouraging dialogue between monastic institutions and the global academic community.
Officials stated that the collaboration will significantly enhance the state’s Buddhist tourism ecosystem by integrating Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery with Odisha’s renowned Buddhist heritage circuit, which includes the ancient sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri. The initiative is expected to generate broader socio-economic benefits for the region through increased tourism, enhanced infrastructure, and expanded opportunities for local communities.
Situated in Chandragiri of Odisha’s Gajapati district, Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in eastern India and serves as the spiritual heart of the Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement, which is home to nearly 2,000 Tibetan refugees. For decades, the monastery has remained a vibrant centre of Buddhist learning, monastic education, and the preservation of Tibetan religious and cultural traditions, attracting devotees, scholars, and visitors from across the world.
For the Tibetan community of Chandragiri, the agreement carries profound significance. Established in the early 1960s following the arrival of Tibetans seeking refuge in India, the settlement has evolved into a thriving centre of Tibetan culture where generations have preserved their language, faith, customs, and collective identity.
