Where ancient chants echo through pine valleys, and wisdom wears a crimson robe
Tucked in the serene village of Dolanji, near Ochghat in the Solan district, the Menri Monastery is the spiritual headquarters of the Bon tradition, Tibet’s oldest indigenous faith. Re-established in 1967 after the original monastery in Tibet was lost, this sanctuary is a living archive of pre-Buddhist Himalayan spirituality, where monks in maroon robes preserve rituals, texts, and teachings that date back over a thousand years.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Dolanji, Ganyar, near Ochghat, Solan District, Himachal Pradesh – 173223
- Altitude: ~1,800 meters
- By Road: 24 km from Solan, 7 km from Ochghat; accessible via Narag–Sarahan Road
- By Rail: Salogra (~20 km) or Solan Railway Station (~24 km)
- By Air: Chandigarh Airport (~85 km)
- On Foot: A short walk from the parking area through pine forests and prayer flag-lined paths
🕉️ Tradition & Worship
Menri Monastery is the foremost center of the Bon religion, founded by Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, who is believed to have lived thousands of years before the Buddha. The monastery is home to:
- The Abbot of Menri, considered the spiritual head of Bon worldwide
- A self-contained monastic community with over 200 monks
- Daily rituals including chanting of Bon scriptures, butter lamp offerings, and meditation practices rooted in Dzogchen (Great Perfection) philosophy
The monastery also houses the Menri Dialectic School, a vital center for Bon philosophy, logic, and tantric studies, ensuring the tradition’s survival for future generations.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The monastery is a vibrant complex of red, gold, and white buildings, featuring:
- A main temple (Yungdrung Ling) with a towering golden stupa and intricate murals
- Prayer halls adorned with thangkas, mandalas, and statues of Bon deities
- A Bodhi tree courtyard, where monks gather for debate and reflection
- A library and printing press, preserving ancient Bon texts
Set against the backdrop of pine-covered hills and Himalayan ridges, the monastery exudes a deep sense of peace and timelessness.
📜 Historical Significance
Originally founded in 1405 in Tsang, Tibet, the Menri Monastery was the premier Bon institution until it was destroyed during political upheaval. In 1967, it was re-established in Dolanji by Lopön Tenzin Namdak and Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, with the support of the Indian government and international Bon communities.
Today, it stands as the only Bon monastery outside Tibet with full monastic training, and its abbot is recognized as the 33rd Menri Trizin, the spiritual successor of the original lineage.
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Losar (Bon New Year): Celebrated with masked dances, fire rituals, and community feasts
- Tonpa Shenrab’s Birth Anniversary: Marked by scripture recitations and offerings
- Daily Worship: Morning and evening chants, incense offerings, and meditative rituals
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Shoolini Mata Temple: A revered Shakti shrine in Solan
- Jatoli Shiv Temple: Asia’s tallest Shiva temple
- Mohan Shakti Heritage Park: A cultural and spiritual complex nearby
- Chail & Kasauli: Hill stations with colonial charm and spiritual sites
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Menri Monastery of Dolanji is not just a monastery—it is a living flame of an ancient faith, a place where the Himalayas cradle a wisdom older than time. As you walk its painted corridors, with the chant of Bon monks rising like incense, you feel the pulse of a tradition that has weathered centuries with grace and silence. It is a sanctuary where history breathes, and the **soul finds its still point in the turning of a prayer wheel.
