Places/Pilgrimage

This page is for research on sacred places and/or pilgrimage trips, such as the sacred sites in India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia.

INDONESIA 2026

VISITING THE ANCIENT ‘INDRA JEWEL’ JAVANESE MENDUT AND PAWON TEMPLES. The Śailēndra dynasty in Java, three original 9th Century Buddhist statues⁸ representing awakening, compassion and power, ,the stellar constellation straight line and new photos and visit to Pawon temple (Indonesia 2026: Part II)

BOROBUDUR AND GURU PADMASAMBHAVA WISDOM BLESSINGS: Report of Khenting 12th Tai Situpa’s opening ceremony of Palpung Graha Maha Padmasambhava centre, Borobudur pilgrimage visit and full transcript of Tai Situpa’s talk (Indonesia 2026: Part I)

BHUTAN (2025)

TAIWAN (2025)

SAGA DAWA PILGRIMAGE BLESSINGS: Visiting Fo Guang Zhan on Saga Dawa, the world’s tallest seated Buddha Statue and Buddha’s tooth relic (Taiwan 2025)

CHINA/TIBET (2024 and 2025)

On the Road to Shangri-la pilgrimage series in China/Tibet

ON THE ROAD TO SHANGRI-LA: Following in the footsteps of the 10th Karmapa and Karma Kagyu in Ljiang, Shangri-la, Dechen Tibetan region and seeing the great Kawa Karpo Tibetan mountain (Part 1: Highlights and research review))

THE NAXI MU KINGS OF JANG, TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND THE KARMAPAS: Lijiang, the Naxi Mu Kings and the Karmapas, Mu’s Mansion, a 500 year old tree, the original Lijiang Kangyur and Black Dragon Lake park (China/Tibet pilgrimage, Part 2)

VISITING TASHI CHOPHEL LING MONASTERY (Yufeng Si 玉峰寺) AS A LONE FEMALE PILGRIM: One of the five main Karma Kagyu monasteries in Lijiang. Original artworks by 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje and a 500 year-old tree said to have been planted by 8th Karmapa (On the Road to Shangri-la (Part 3))

THE STATE OF “SHANGRI-LA” AND “LITTLE POTALA” (GANDEN SUMTSEN LING): A Visit to Shangri-La, Dechen, Tibet, the 5th Dalai Lama’s ‘Little Potala”, Big Buddha monastery, Cultural Museum and Huge Prayer Wheel (Shangri-La pilgrimage, Part 4)

‘SEEING’ THE WHITE PEAK OF KHAWA KARPO (ཁ་བ་དཀར་པོ་) MOUNTAIN: Visiting Khawa Karpo the highest mountain range in Dechen, Tibetan region, overview of the ‘opening’ of the Tibetan pilgrimage site by the Karmapas, the 3rd Karmapa’s Praises to it as a Chakrasamvara mandala and observations on my trip there (China/Tibet pilgrimage, Part 5)

THE NATURALLY-ARISEN VAJRAVARAHI AND CAVE AT ‘JOYFUL LAND OF SECRET-MANTRA’ (WENFENG SI 文峰寺): Visiting another of the five main Karma Kagyu temples, Sang-ngag Gatsal Ling (Wenfeng Si), the three-year retreat centre, Vajravarahi cave, naturally-arisen Varahi and stunning Kagyu statues and artworks (China/Tibet pilgrimage, Part 6)

SACRED ‘NATURALLY-ARISEN’ LETTERS CAVE, ROCK HANDPRINT OF 2ND KARMAPA, AND INCREDIBLE ARTWORKS AND STATUES AT KARMA TASHI NAMGYEL LING (Zhiyun Si 指云寺): Visiting Karma Kagyu monastery, Karma Tashi Namgyel Ling (Zhiyun Si), the role of the Mu Kings and 10th Karmapa in the founding of Tibetan Buddhist temples in the Lijiang/Yunnan area, and personal observations and photos of the monastery (China/Tibet Pilgrimage Part 7)

VISITING NO-HIGHER LAND (OG-MIN LING/FUGUO SI 福國寺) MONASTERY : 17th Century founded, ‘mother’ Karma Kagyu monastery in Lijiang, Og-Min Ling, its historical background and contemporary state (China/Tibet pilgrimage, part 8)

VISITING PHUNTSOG DARGYE LING (PUJI SI 普濟寺) AND RE-VISITING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 8TH KENTING TAI SITUPA: A historical and pilgrim’s account of the 18th Century Phuntsog Dargye Ling (Puji Si) monastery, the ongoing persecution of Karma Kagyu monasteries in Lijiang by violent Mongol-Gelug forces, personal pilgrimage observations (China/Tibet pilgrimage part 9)

INDONESIA (2024)

VISITING THE ANCIENT ‘INDRA JEWEL’ JAVANESE MENDUT TEMPLE. Vesak/Saga Dawa Day procession, the Śailēndra dynasty in Java, three original 9th Century Buddhist statues representing awakening, compassion and power, the stellar constellation straight line and stunning gardens and buildings of Mendut Buddhist monastery(Indonesia pilgrimage VII)

DISCOVERING THE PADMASAMBHAVA STUPA WHERE THE “TWO RIVERS MEET”: Visiting Chatral Rinpoche’s Guru Padmasambhava stupa ground, Borobudur, Java (Oddiyana) (Indonesian Pilgrimage VI)

REVEALING AND VISITING GURU PADMASAMBHAVA’S OḌḌIYĀNĀ IN JAVA: The actual location of the renowned Oḍḍiyāna ‘land of dakinis’, Ogyenpa, Fa-Xian and other evidential sources, the Guru Padmasambhava birthplace at Lake Rawa Pening, and new Padmasambhava Oḍḍiyāna Lake statue project launched (Indonesia Pilgrimage V)

THE “GUIDING STAR OF THE WORLD” TĀRĀ IN JAVA: Visiting the famed Tārā Temple at Kalasan worshipped by Indian adept, Ātiśa (Indonesia pilgrimage IV)

VISITING A “WONDER OF THE WORLD”: BOROBUDUR BLESSINGS. The Ancient Borobodur temple, Kagyu Monlam, the 16 Arhats empowerment by 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche and the ‘brilliant white’ temple for the Marme Monlam (Indonesian Pilgrimage III)

A RESOUNDING HRI: ENTERING AND ABIDING IN THE VAJRA BLISS EXPANSE (DEWACHEN): Buddha Amitabha empowerment by 12th Goshri Gyaltsab Rinpoche at Batam Island (Indonesia pilgrimage II)

THE ‘DELICATE’ METHOD OF GOSHRI GYALTSAB, ‘BODY, SPEECH AND MIND’ OF THE KARMAPA: New Dharma centre opening, Chosgar Ling, Batam Island (Indonesia pilgrimage I)

MALAYSIA (2024)

THE TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS PAGODA AND HUGE GUANYIN STATUE OF PURE LAND TEMPLE (KEK LOK SI 極樂寺) TEMPLE: Visiting the renowned Buddhist temple in the UNESCO site of Georgetown, Penang (Malaysia pilgrimage II)

KUALA LUMPUR MULTI-CULTI TOWERS AND TEMPLES:The sights and sounds of vintage and modern, in multi-culti, multi-faith Hindu, Taoist, Muslim and Buddhist Malaysia (Buddhist Pilgrimage Malaysia I)

SRI LANKA (2024)

The Buddha’s Footprint Mountain (Sri Pada) and Elephant Rock (Athugala) (Sri Lanka Pilgrimage V)

BUDDHA’S HAIR RELIC STUPA AND FIRST ‘PEACE MISSION’ TRIP TO MAHIYANGANAYA, SRI LANKA: Mahiyangayana (flat-land) ‘hair relic’ stupa, the eighteen hair-pin bend road from Kandy, ancient Bodhi tree, and tallest standing Buddha on the island (Sri Lanka Pilgrimage IV)

THE OLDEST BUDDHIST CAVES COMPLEX IN SRI LANKA: Great King Caves of Dambulla (Sri Lanka pilgrimage III)

THE SWEET SACRED TOOTH OF KANDY: Buddha’s tooth relic temple in Kandy, Nàtha Devàla the oldest building and Bodhi Buddha statue (Sri Lanka Pilgrimage II)

THE PLACES BUDDHA VISITED IN SRI LANKA: KELANIYA (Sri Lanka pilgrimage I)

VIETNAM (2023-2025)

HANOI DAYS AND NIGHTS: Three ancient temples, architecture, street art, Train Street, and the Indian Bodhi tree gift in the ‘non-stop’ traffic capital city of Vietnam *(Vietnam Pilgrimage II, 2024)

2023

LADY BUDDHA OF COMPASSION AND THE MARBLE MOUNTAINS: The Tallest Lady Avalokiteshvara statue in Indo-China and the nearby Marble Mountains, pagodas and caves (Vietnam Pilgrimage I)

THAILAND

Chiang Mai

NEW YEAR BLISS-BLESSINGS AT 2ND KAGYU MONLAM THAILAND: Mountainous beauty of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu chanting and aspirations for New Year at Wat Ram Poeng; new translation of Praises to 17th Karmapa by Drupon Dechen Rinpoche and the magical beauty of L’Amour Cafe!

THE LANTERNS OF LIGHT FESTIVAL SENDING AWAY THE DARK PAST: Festival of Lights (Loy Kratong) and the Two Day Full Moon festival (Yi-Peng): A Magical Celebration of Light, Water and Sending Goodbye to Darkness (Scenes from Chiang Mai, IV)

TWIN PEAK PRECIOUS RELICS: Buddha’s relics at the twin pagodas, and Karen Hill tribe on top of Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon (Scenes from Chiang Mai, III)

‘BLEEDING’ WOMEN AND ‘WHAT MERIT REALLY MEANS’: On the issue of ‘Man-only’ public temples, fully ordained (Bikkhuni) Thai nuns, the thriving nunnery, Wat Nirodharam and an exclusive interview with a Thai Bikkhuni nun (Scenes from Chiang Mai Part II)

BUDDHA BEAUTIES OF THE ‘NEW CITY’ (CHIANG MAI): The ‘Lion Buddha’ (Phra Singh) and magnificent, flower-filled, golden Temples (Wats) of North Thailand (Scenes from Chiang Mai Pilgrimage I)

Ayutthaya

BEAUTIFUL BUDDHA FACE THRIVING IN THE ROOTS OF RUINS AND THE COSMOLOGICAL SIGHTS AT MOUNT MERU MANDALA OF THAILAND: The historic ruined city of the “Venice of the East” Ayutthaya, towers, statues and Buddha’s head in the root trunk of an ancient Bodhi tree (Thailand Pilgrimage V)

Bangkok

THE ILLUSION OF STABILITY: A new, challenging and provocative Thai art exhibition by the Bangkok river

Indo-Thai collaboration on Buddha’s skullbone relics trip to Thailand re-affirms and strengthens spiritual and political shared interests and friendship (February-March 2024)

THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLID GOLD BUDDHA IN VINTAGE BANGKOK: Chinese-influenced Talat Noi and the biggest solid gold Buddha in Bangkok

THE EMERALD BUDDHA AND BUDDHA’S RELICS IN BANGKOK: The Reclining Buddha, Wat Arun and the Emerald Buddha and Wat Saket

Losar Tashi Delek! New Year greetings from Chinatown, message and advice from 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and footprint he left in rock as the boy, Apo Gaga

INDIA

HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Tilopa’s Cave, nr Tilogpa Nunnery

GRINDING SESAME SEEDS TO EXTRACT THE ESSENCE: THE SACRED SPACE OF CHAKRASAMVARA, MAHASIDDHA TILOPA. New translation of Tilopa and Dharima’s ‘Vajra Song on Sesame Oil’, his cave in India and wooden sesame-seed grinder.

Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery and Tilogpa Nunnery

WHERE ARE THE GELONGMAS? DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURES: THE RARE GEMS OF LIVING TIBETAN BUDDHIST FULLY ORDAINED NUNS. A Pilgrimage and Field Study of Two Nunneries in Himachal Pradesh and fully ordained nuns within the Tibetan tradition.

Tashi Jong Monastery

SLASHING THE TORMAS OPEN WITH THUNDEROUS CLOUDS AND WAVES OF BLISS AND GREEN AND PINK PARROTS AT THE TASHI JONG ‘KAGYE’ DRUBCHEN 2023: ‘Eight Great Transmissions’ (Kagye), Drukpa Kagyu, the Khamtrul Rinpoches, the Togden Yogis, relic stupas and magnificent pink and green Himalayan parrots

Sherab Ling Monastery, Bir

The 8th Tai Situpa, Tāranātha, Shentong and the Golden Stupa at Sherab Ling

BODH GAYA, INDIA

SAVED BY A WOMAN’S KIND COMPASSION, SEEING THROUGH ‘DIRTY’ APPEARANCES: Bodh Gaya pilgrimag 2023 (I). Sujātā’s food offering to Gautama Buddha after he came down from the Dungeshwari Hill (Mahakala) Caves nearby

THE MOTHER OF ALL TATHĀGATAS: THE SOUND OF ĀH. Vulture’s Peak, its surrounding caves, the place where the Buddha taught the Heart Sūtra and Prajñāpāramitā (Bodh Gaya 2023 pilgrimage: Part II)

GREEN TĀRĀ TEMPLE AND DRUGPA KAGYU IN BODH GAYA: Green Tārā statue and 21 Tārā temple, Drugpa Kagyu Ngawang Thubten Choling Zhabdrung Monastery and 2nd Drugpa Kagyu Monlam Chenmo 2025 (Bodh Gaya pilgrimage III)

VIBRANT HEART OF GLOBAL BUDDHISM, SCENES FROM BODH GAYA 2025: Relics of Buddha and his two main students, meeting Bokar Rinpoche yangsi, Chinese Buddhist tradition gathering under the Bodhi tree, hunger strike protest by local Buddhists, personal artwork offering of new portrait of 17th Karmapa(Bodh Gaya pilgrimage IV)

SIKKIM, INDIA (2020)

KNOWING ONE LIBERATES ALL: Compilation of deities by 9th Karmapa and Kālacakra in Karma Kagyu: Transmissions and empowerments by 12th Gyeltsab Rinpoche

Part I: Images on the Sikkimese trail of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro

Part II: On the Sikkimese trail of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, the Golden Stupa of Tashi Ding and the doorway to Shambhala

Part III: The private quarters and sacred ritual items of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and Khandro Tsering Chodron

LADAKH, INDIA

THE DRUGPA (DRAGON) KAGYU IN LADAKH: Tiger’s Nose (Stakna) Monastery, Tibetan History and masters: past and present, the Bhutanese connection, current activities/teachers and the Kung Fu cycling nuns

THE DALAI LAMAS IN LADAKH: Ladakhi King Senge Namgyal and the Gelug/Tibet-Mongolian takeover of Ladakh; Drugpa Kagyu and the subsequent banning of Gelug in Bhutan; and 14th Dalai Lama activities in Ladakh

THE KARMAPAS IN LADAKH: Previous visits and the Karma Drubgyu Monastery

AT THE “PEAK OF VICTORY” (TSEMO) MONASTERY WITH ONE-THOUSAND ARMED AVALOKITESHVARA: Photos and overview of Tsemo Monastery, highest monastery in Leh, Ladakh

LADAKH TRILOGY (PART III): THE DRUGPA (DRAGON) KAGYU IN LADAKH. Tiger’s Nose (Stakna) Monastery, a cathartic Lama Chopa puja, Tibetan History and masters: past and present, the Bhutanese connection, current activities/teachers and the Kung Fu cycling nuns

LADAKH TRILOGY (PART II): THE DALAI LAMAS IN LADAKH. Ladakhi King Senge Namgyal and the Gelug/Tibet-Mongolian takeover of Ladakh; Drugpa Kagyu and the subsequent banning of Gelug in Bhutan; and 14th Dalai Lama activities in Ladakh

THE NYINGMA IN LADAKH: Rock-roof (Drag-thog) Monastery, Ladakh, Guru Padmasambhava and the Guru Tsen-gye Cham Dance (July 2023)

BHUTAN (2022)

‘PURE’, ‘INDEPENDENT’ AND ‘HAPPY’ BHUTAN? A BRIEF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE “LAST SURVIVING VAJRAYANA COUNTRY”.

NOT A MOUNTED TIGRESS BUT A POWERFUL COUGAR? YESHE TSOGYEL AT TIGER’S NEST (PARO TAGTSANG) WITH HER YOUNG MALE CONSORTS. Yeshe Tsogyel’s connection to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, her young male consorts, contemporary research on her life-stories and a 21st Century interpretation of her experiences as a woman (Bhutan 2022))

NEPAL

Hermit-Yogi Caves and Fortresses (Part I): Jetsun Milarepa’s Twenty-Eight Sacred Places

Vanaratna, the Six Yogas of Kālacakra and the Śāntapurī Vihāra, Swayambhūnath

Visiting Vikramashila-Bihar, Nepal: the forgotten and neglected Kālacakra pilgrimage site of Kālacakra lineage holder and Indian master, Vibhūticandra