Japanese Buddhist Temple
Nipponzan Myohoji (Japanese) Buddhist Temple is dedicated to Lord Buddha. It is situated in the west part on the hillocks of Darjeeling at the state of West Bengal. There are a total of 6 Peace Pagodas in India and Darjeeling was the second one. The buddhist temple is also famous as the Japanese Buddhist Temple. This famous temple is a two storied white building which was constructed in a traditional Japanese style in 1972.
How
to reach:
Japanese Buddhist Temple is easily approachable by car/taxi/cab and therefore, visitors can take a taxi/car from downtown and reach the place in only ten minutes. It takes five or six minutes to reach the complex from the parking area and rest tourists can also choose to walk till that Peace Pagoda complex. However, it will not take much time if one prefers to walk all the way, simultaneously. Devotees can also take the Dr. Zakir Haussain road from Chow rasta Mall, which will ultimately lead to Jalapahar road. The Peace Pagoda is situated on Jala pahar Road near the iconic Lal Kuthi.
History
People say that there are some mythological
stories related to Japanese Buddhist Temple such as- a Gift of Mango Grove by
Amrapali at Vaishali and Great departure of Siddhartha. Four Avatars of Buddha
during the Parikrama, that includes Buddha’s postures such as sitting,
sleeping, standing and meditating. Peace
Pagoda is positioned just close to the temple which displays the basic four
avatars of Lord Buddha. According to a legend this is the tallest free standing
structure in Darjeeling hill station. The height is 28.5 meters and diameter is
23 meters. Inside the temple premise- this Pagoda is sited along with the two
concrete models of lions on two sides at a lower level. However, the avatars of
Buddha are all in large statues form and are thus carved in the walls and
polished in gold colour. It was designed by Dr. M Ohka of Japan and took almost
three years to build this Japanese temple.
