The Mindrolling Monastery is a large complex which houses various structures and is filled with beautifully landscaped gardens.

Main Monastery (Ngedon Gatsal Ling): This has been built like a Japanese structure and consists of multiple floors. The first three floors of the monastery have lavish gold work and wall paintings. The fourth floor has an open stage which offers an eminent view of the Dehradun valley. The main shrine hall of this monastery is used for daily prayers as well as the Drubchens (Mahasadhanas). Here monks learn and practice the Buddhist rituals, learn various things such as mandala drawing, lama dances and the playing of ritual instruments. Monks also learn the art of making thangka painting and sculpting.

The Great Stupa: This is known as the Great Stupa of Descent from Devaloka, which is one of the world’s largest stupa and is a magnificent example of Buddhist art and architecture. It was inaugurated on 28th of October, 2002, the date of Buddha’s descent from the heaven of the thirty-three Gods or the ... More

The Mindrolling Monastery is a large complex which houses various structures and is filled with beautifully landscaped gardens.

Main Monastery (Ngedon Gatsal Ling): This has been built like a Japanese structure and consists of multiple floors. The first three floors of the monastery have lavish gold work and wall paintings. The fourth floor has an open stage which offers an eminent view of the Dehradun valley. The main shrine hall of this monastery is used for daily prayers as well as the Drubchens (Mahasadhanas). Here monks learn and practice the Buddhist rituals, learn various things such as mandala drawing, lama dances and the playing of ritual instruments. Monks also learn the art of making thangka painting and sculpting.

The Great Stupa: This is known as the Great Stupa of Descent from Devaloka, which is one of the world’s largest stupa and is a magnificent example of Buddhist art and architecture. It was inaugurated on 28th of October, 2002, the date of Buddha’s descent from the heaven of the thirty-three Gods or the Trayastrimsa where he had gone to teach the dharma to his mother. It is 185 feet tall and 100 square feet in width. On the facade of the stupa, there is a beautiful painting of Maitreya, the future Buddha. Maitreya is believed to be a bodhisattva, who refuses to attain nirvana, as he wishes to help others. At present, he is believed to reside in the Tushita Heaven, where he awaits his rebirth. The statue of the present Buddha, the Buddha Shakyamuni, is depicted descending the steps, symbolising his descent from the heavens. The beautiful statue of White Tara is situated in front of the stupa. On both sides of the stupa there are eight kinds of stupas which commemorate Buddha’s life. The stupa is surrounded by gardens and there is a statue of Goddess Saraswati in the waterfall which has been made near the entrance.

There are several floors inside the stupa which have shrine rooms. These rooms are decorated with elaborate murals executed in the finest tradition of Tibetan Buddhist art. There are some sacred relics in the stupa. These include the relics of Buddha Kashyapa, relics from Guru Padmasambhava’s tooth offered by Nyenchen Thanglha and some others. Descending the steps is the present Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni. The stupa is surrounded by a two-acre landscaped garden.

The ground floor shrine-room is dedicated to Padmasambhava. It is full of exquisite murals which depict the life-story of Padmasambhava, and other themes such as the assembly of Le u DÄnma (the Seven Chapter Supplication), Barchad Lamsal (Supplication for Clearing the Obstacles to the Path), the outer, inner and secret assembly of Rigzin Thugthig (Heart-Essence of the Vidyadharas), the short depiction of the past lives of Terchen Jurme Dorje (Terdag Lingpa), the One Hundred and Eight Mahasiddhas of India, the Twenty-Five Disciples of Padmasambhava, the Hundred and Eight Great Tertöns, the Eight Great Chariots of the Practice Lineage and various dharmapalas with their retinues.

The shrine-room on the first floor is dedicated to Buddha Shakyamuni. On the walls are painted the principal figures of the Buddhas of the three times. Beginning from the right side of the principal figures, all around on the walls are painted the Jataka Stories based on the text Wish-fulfilling Tree written by the Dharma King Kshemendra. These beautiful murals are painted with great attention to detail. On the pillars are the sixteen great arhats, the seven entrusted with the teachings and the seventeen panditas of glorious Nalanda.

The Four Immeasurables or Lineage Shrine Room on the second floor, is dedicated to the great lineage holders who have occurred throughout the history of Mindrolling. Within it are murals and statues depicting the descendants of the dharma king Terdag Lingpa (Rigzin Jurme Dorje), the Trichens and Khenchens of Mindrolling, and other lineage masters of the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattvayana and Vajrayana Buddhism.

The vase of the stupa holds the life force tree and is filled with precious artefacts and dharanis (long mantras written printed on thick paper strips). It contains the various kinds of artefacts, numerous extraordinary dharanis and many old and sacred statues related to wisdom deities. A rich green garden is spread around the stupa.

A three dimensional mandala based on Minling Vajrasattva has also been constructed in the monastery. This mandala has wonderful minute details.

A statue of Padmasambhava in the form known as the Tamer of all Haughty Spirits (Guru Dregpa Kündül), was formally consecrated by Kyabje Sakya Trizin on the 3rd of March 2017. This has been installed in the monastery on the advice of Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen who had said that such a statue would be extremely beneficial in dispellling obstacles to peace such as war and disharmony.

The Ngagyur Nyingma is a college inside the monastery, which caters to the need for providing a centre for advanced Buddhist studies. The foundation stone of the college was laid on 26th April 1988 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the construction was completed in 1991. On 28th March 1991 the college was inaugurated as a part of Mindrolling monastery. It trains Buddhist monks in logic, philosophy and debate. The senior monks also impart knowledge of subjects such as reading, grammar, calligraphy, liturgies, ritual music and melody.

The Three Year Retreat Center (Drubde Osel Ling): This is retreat centre consists of 25 furnished rooms, 2 shrines, a kitchen and staff quarters. It caters to the short-term and long term stays of monks who come to this monastery.

The Samten Tse Retreat Center: This is a retreat for nuns and western retreatants which is located in Musoorie. It has been constructed to preserve the tradition of female masters or the Jetsunma line at Mindrolling. This tradition can be traced back to Yeshe Sogyal and Machig Labdron and is one of the most remarkable features of Mindrolling.