Chandragiri Tibetan Settlement

aivlysweetie

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone has visited Chandragiri west of Berhampur in off the coast of Orissa. I am interested in visiting the Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement during our visit, but it seems off the beaten path. Just checking if anyone has information on traveling or staying in the area. I believe there is a guest house through the Cooperative Society there. Thanks!

blackbird

Hi aivlysweetie, I visited Chandragiri in February for a Tibetan royal wedding, and because I am setting up tours in western Orissa I have enquired into this.

As I understand it from the correspondence I had, it is unlikely to be possible to stay there overnight, unless you are invited by a local person, in which case you have to apply for a Protected Area Permit (for details see this page on the Tibetan Govt in Exile site: http://www.tibet.net/en/home/pap.html).

This is a shame for tourists because there is a lovely new guest house at Jeerang settlement which looks like it's probably the best place to stay in the whole western half of Orissa.....

However, if you want to visit without staying overnight, there is no need for a permit, you can just turn up. You can stay at the Government hotel at Taptapani which is about 1 1/2 hours drive away, in a beautiful setting and comfortable.

There is a stunning new monastery under construction at Jeerang which is due to be opened by the Dalai Lama in January, so if you are travelling around this time accommodation will be scarce, but exact dates don't seem to be available at present.

aivlysweetie

thanks for the tip! i'll let you know if we make it down there or not.

blackbird

Cheers.

By the way, you will need to hire a car because there are few buses in the area and by all accounts it's very tough going by Indian standards.