The small town of Darjeeling is a quintessence of natural beauty making it popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Hills. This nature’s best destination gives you a chance to explore the most serene and peaceful locations of all times, including the Japanese Temple Darjeeling. A fabulous Japanese Temple is just 10-12 minutes away from the center of Darjeeling.
The temple is popularly known as the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple. The Japanese temple Darjeeling is a two-storied building constructed in a traditional Japanese style, in 1972. Just close to the temple, a Peace Pagoda is located which highlights the four avatars of the Lord Buddha.
What is Nippozan Myohoji?
Nippozan Myohoji Daisanga was a Japanese religious movement that gave birth to a sub-religion named as Nichren Buddhism. According to this form of Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra is the highest order of Buddhist expression. In 1917, Nichidatsu Fujii (Fujii Guruji) founded Nippozan Myohoji Daisanga. The Japanese Temple and the neighboring Peace Pagoda believe in the sect of Buddhism!
All about the Japanese Temple Darjeeling
The Japanese Temple belongs to the Japanese Buddhist Sangha of the Nipponzan Myohoji sect of Buddhism. When you visit the temple, you will hear the simple phrase ‘Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ which reflects the essence of Buddhism and awaken the dormant Buddha within. Known locally as the Japanese Temple, the structure of the temple is quite simple and lays more focus on the sect’s essence rather than embellishment.
You can witness a pin drop in silence in the prayer room of the temple. At the time of prayer, the misty surrounding hills reverberate with the chants of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The prayer glides into the mountains, seeps into every crevice, and fills the air with a powerful longing for eternal peace. The prayer ceremony at the temple is done in a simple way and the visitors are motivated to take part in prayer.
Peace Pagoda- near the Japanese Temple
After paying a visit to the Japanese Temple in Darjeeling, visit the nearby Peace Pagoda. Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa the sculptures of Lord Buddha. It also promotes peace and unity in the world. The Peace Pagoda has 4 statues of Buddha showcasing his different avatars (forms).
Darjeeling Peace Pagoda was constructed under the instructions of Fujii Guruji and it is among the tallest structures in Darjeeling. Just a few steps away from the Peace Pagoda, you can see the carvings showcasing the tales of Buddha’s life. The white structure of the Peace Pagoda means equality, world peace, and non-violence.
On entering the temple, you will see a picture of the founder Fuji Guruji and statues of Lord Buddha. The wooden stairs will take you to a large prayer room. The timings of prayer are from 4.30 am to 6.30 am in the morning and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm in the evening. The visitors can also take part in the prayers and can feel divine peace. People visiting the place are offered a small drum pad and a stick that can be used to drum in the same rhythm.
Japanese-Temple Key Highlights
· Both the Japanese Temple & Peace Pagoda are located just a 10-minute drive from the beautiful Darjeeling town.
· Japanese temple is a two-storied construction in 1972, this temple features traditional Japanese style architectural design.
· There is a peace pagoda just closer to the Japanese temple, displaying the four avatars of the founder of Buddhism, the Lord Buddha.
· Darjeeling helps unify people irrespective of their caste, faith, traditions, and race to attain peace and solace. Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist Monk from Japan, considered the ideals of Buddhism and helped the team in constructing the temple here.
· The visitors coming to this temple get a small sweet ball as ‘prasad’
· Though photography is allowed inside the temple premises, visitors are prohibited from doing so as prayers are chanted inside the main prayer hall.
· The peace pagoda which is just 100 yards away from the temple showcases the four different avatars of Lord Buddha.
· The tallest structure in Darjeeling, the Japanese temple is almost 28.5m high.
· The visitors can find two concrete models of lions while going upstairs. Also, there is a large wall sculpture polished in gold (color finish) which depicts different avatars of Lord Buddha.
· It took almost three years for Dr. M Okha of Japan to build the temple.
· During a bright sunny day, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the snow-capped peaks and tall mountain ranges.
· The Japanese temple which is a popular destination in Darjeeling remains open to public view from 4:30 AM to 7 PM; there is no entry fee.
How to Reach
Both, the Japanese Temple and the Peace Pagoda are located in the town of Darjeeling on a hillock – Jalapahar.
By Air
The travelers can reach Bagdogra airport, which is 90 K.M. from Darjeeling. The airport is connected by flights from all the major Indian cities like Kolkata, Delhi, etc.
By Train
The nearest railhead to Darjeeling is New Jalpaiguri which is connected to all the major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi and Bhubaneswar. Both, Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri railway stations have direct railway connections with cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, etc.
By Road
Even travelers can visit Darjeeling by road via Siliguri. The NH 55 is connected to all the major cities of India.
How to reach the temple
The Japanese Buddhist Temple is easily accessible by car/taxi/cab and therefore, visitors can take a taxi/car from downtown to reach the place. It takes just a couple of minutes to reach the Peace Pagoda complex by foot. Devotees can also take the Dr. Zakir Haussain road from Chow rasta Mall, which ultimately takes them to Jalapahar road.
Conclusion
So all those looking for some peace of mind must visit the Japanese Temple in Darjeeling. The vibrant premises of the temple with pictures and deities of Buddhist Gods are the major attractions among all the visitors. As a traveler, get a glimpse of Buddhist culture by paying a visit to the Japanese Temple in Darjeeling.
Amidst the serene landscapes, the Japanese Temple is a beautiful place to explore the unique Buddhist culture.
