Tushita Meditation Centre

Mountains

Tushita Meditation Centre

The place of joy, in the pines above McLeod Ganj.

setting

Mountains

where

Dharamkot, above McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, India

best season

February to November

ideal for

Meditation Programme

( the feeling of it )

A hall in the pines, a bell, and the mind as the only subject. Tushita has been teaching people from everywhere how to sit with themselves since 1972.

( the story )

A centre for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism since 1972 — daily drop-in meditation, ten-day introductions to Buddhism, and retreats in the forest above the Dalai Lama's home.

Tushita was founded in 1972 by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in an old colonial house on a ridge of pine, oak and rhododendron beneath the Dhauladhar. It is one of the first centres of the FPMT, and still one of the kindest doors into Buddhist philosophy: guided meditation every weekday morning, open to anyone who walks in; ten-day residential Introduction to Buddhism courses; weekend courses; and intermediate teachings and retreats for those who return. It runs entirely on donation.

The main gompa, strung with prayer flags
The main gompa, strung with prayer flagsJaypee · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

( field notes, dawn to night )

A day here

9am

Guided meditation in the hall — open to anyone who walks in, and streamed live for those who can't.

Morning

On a course: a teaching on the mind, karma, compassion — clear, patient, never asking you to believe.

Afternoon

Discussion groups under the trees, or a slow walk around the stupas.

Evening

A last sit as the valley goes dark, then the deep silence of the mountain night.

( what stays with you )

The experience

The morning sit

The morning sit

Guided meditation every weekday at nine — no booking, by donation, just a cushion and the hall.

Jaypee · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Introduction to Buddhism

Introduction to Buddhism

Ten residential days on the mind and how to work with it — the way most people begin.

Lisa Tully · Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)

The living tradition

The living tradition

The Dalai Lama's own temple, the Tsuglagkhang, a short walk down the hill.

Adam Jones · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The forest

The forest

Pine, oak and rhododendron on every side — the walk up is part of the practice.

bholekibhasam · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

( an introduction )

Why Tushita

Tushita is a centre for the study and practice of Buddhism in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. In 1972 Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, with a few of their Western students, bought an old colonial house on the ridge above McLeod Ganj — and made it one of the first centres of what became the FPMT, a worldwide network of Buddhist centres.

The name means “the place of joy”: the pure land of Maitreya, the coming Buddha. Half a century on it is still the gentlest way into Buddhist philosophy for people from anywhere — no background needed, no belief asked of you. Just a quiet hall in the pines, clear teachers, and the mind as the subject of study.

And it sits a short walk from the Dalai Lama’s own temple, in a town where Tibetan Buddhism is not a museum piece but daily life.

    what you can learn here

  1. 01

    Introduction to Buddhism

    Ten residential days — the place most people begin. Teachings on the mind, karma, impermanence, compassion and emptiness, with guided meditation, discussion groups and long stretches of silence.

  2. 02

    Short courses

    Weekend courses on a single theme — how to meditate, the art of satisfaction, the four immeasurables. A good first step if ten days feels like a lot.

  3. 03

    Intermediate courses & retreats

    For returning students: the stages of the path (lamrim), Buddhist psychology, and group retreats with resident and visiting geshes.

  4. 04

    Initiations & ceremonies

    Through the season, high lamas visit to give empowerments and lead pujas — open moments to witness the living tradition.

( every morning )

Sit with us daily

You don’t need to sign up for a course to start. Every weekday morning Tushita opens its hall to anyone who walks in — and for those far away, HAWA keeps a daily online sit going.

Mon – Sat · 9:00 – 10:00am IST

Drop-in guided meditation

A guided session in the meditation hall, open to everyone and offered on donation (dana). No registration — simply arrive. Paused on Sundays and during short courses.

Same time · online

Join live on Zoom

The morning session is hybrid: Tushita streams it live, so you can sit with the hall from wherever you are.

Tushita’s drop-in sessions ↗

Daily · online group

HAWA’s daily online Tushita circle

A small online group that meditates together each day in the Tushita tradition. Write to HAWA and we’ll add you to the group.

ask HAWA to add you ↗

Mon & Fri · 2:00pm

Dharma Movie Day

An hour of film — documentaries and features on Buddhist themes, screened at the centre.

( the calendar )

The 2026 season

Tushita is open February to November. Courses fill early — registration is online, on Tushita’s own site.

Coming up

  • 14 – 23 Oct 2026

    Courseon now

    Introduction to Buddhism

    with Glen Svensson

    Ten residential days — the classic way in.

  • 22 Oct 2026

    Initiation

    Vajrasattva Initiation

    with His Eminence Ling Rinpoche

  • 24 – 25 Oct 2026

    Short course

    How to Meditate

    with Venerable Thubten Drolkar

    A practical weekend for complete beginners.

  • 3 – 12 Nov 2026

    Course

    Introduction to Buddhism

    with Venerable Tenzin Thegchog

  • 17 – 26 Nov 2026

    Course

    Introduction to Buddhism

    with Venerable Tenzin Thegchog

    The last introduction course of the season.

Recently held

  • 10 – 11 Oct 2026

    Short course

    A Boundless Mind — The Four Immeasurable Thoughts

    with Venerable Thubten Wangdu

  • 1 – 9 Oct 2026

    Course

    A Roadmap to Enlightenment — the Stages of the Path (Lamrim)

    with Venerable Tenzin Thegchog

    An intermediate course on the lamrim, the graded path of practice.

  • 15 – 24 Sept 2026

    Course

    Buddhist Psychology for a Happy & Meaningful Life

    with Geshe Dorji Damdul

see the full calendar & register ↗

Dates as published by Tushita for 2026 — always confirm on their calendar before you travel.

( around the centre )

Beyond the hall

Tushita sits in Dharamkot, a pine-and-rhododendron village on the ridge. Between sessions, the whole of the Dharamshala hills is on your doorstep.

The walk up from McLeod Ganj

The walk up from McLeod Ganj

a steady climbor a short taxi ride

Most people arrive on foot — a steady climb through deodar and pine from McLeod Ganj to Dharamkot. It becomes part of the practice.

Dave Kleinschmidt · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Dalai Lama’s temple

The Dalai Lama’s temple

McLeod Ganjopen daily

The Tsuglagkhang — the main temple beside His Holiness’s residence — is a short descent away. Walk the kora around it at dawn, with the prayer wheels.

see the Dharamshala guide →

Jmacleantaylor · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Treks from the door

Treks from the door

half-day to multi-day

Galu Devi, Triund and the Dhauladhar ridge all begin within reach of Dharamkot — the mountains you see from the meditation hall.

walks & treks →

Rickard Törnblad · Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

( bookmarks )

Plan your time at Tushita

( worth underlining )

What sets it apart

Drop-in guided meditation on donation, Monday to Saturday at 9am — in the hall or live on Zoom

Ten-day residential Introduction to Buddhism courses

HAWA's daily online Tushita meditation circle — message us to join

Weekend short courses, intermediate teachings and group retreats

Visiting lamas giving initiations through the season

A short walk from the Dalai Lama's temple in McLeod Ganj

What you can do

Guided Meditation
Introduction to Buddhism
Buddhist Philosophy
Short Courses
Silent Retreats
Online Meditation

On the property

Meditation Hall
Forest Setting
Stupas
Course Accommodation
Vegetarian Meals

( plan your stay )

You came for meditation and leave with a way of looking. The mind becomes something you can study rather than something that happens to you — and that lasts long after the mountains are behind you.

Sit one morning. You may find you want to stay ten days.

best time to visit — February to November — the centre closes for winter; autumn's clear skies are the loveliest time.

book with Tushita Meditation Centre ↗

you book directly with the property · HAWA Club members can also ask the HAWA assistant, in the seal below

( keep wandering )

More high in the mountains

KaliyogaMountains

( Andalusia )

Kaliyoga

Vale de MosesMountains

( Castelo Branco )

Vale de Moses

Villa RossaMountains

( Rhodope Mountains )

Villa Rossa