Come to Orissa, Celebrate the Conclusion of the Rinchen Terdzö, Stay for New Year!

February 8 - February 28, 2009

The Ripa sangha welcomes all those who wish to attend the Rinchen Terdzo in Orissa, India from 8 - 21 February 2009. The conclusion of the Rinchen Terdzo teachings is expected to be within this time period. Those who wish to stay for the week of 22 - 28 February 2009 are welcome to join in the traditional Tibetan New Year celebrations in Orissa.

Anyone wishing to attend any of these events is asked to register through the . A helpful Ripa will provide details on travel from Bhubaneshwar to Chandragiri as well as confirm accommodations for you at the monastery in Orissa. Rigon Thupten Mindrolling monastery is completed and in operation although no formal opening ceremonies are currently scheduled.

While you are welcome to come at anytime, we would recommend that a good time to go to the teachings would be from February 8 - February 21st, 2009. Currently, very reasonable airfare is available for that time period. Additionally, this time period is projected to be the end of the teachings. It is unknown what the exact ending date will be. However, if you where there during this two week period, it is likely that you would be there for the conclusion of the teachings. Additionally, if you are inclined to stay for the week of February 22 - February 28, 2009, then you would be in Orissa for Losar, which begins on February 26th for 3 days.

Also, unless you understand Tibetan, you should expect NOT to understand exactly what is being given. Regardless you will still have a profound experience and will be receiving the teachings on some level. Be aware that the entire Rinchen Terdzö Mandala of practice is receiving these offerings for the benefits of others, therefore, regardless of your attendance at the event or not if you are part of the Ripa or Shambhala Communities, you will be positively impacted by these teachings.

If you're curious about what life will be like, please visit the Rinchen Terdzo blog by Walker Blaine. If you would like to know more about the Ripa ladrang please visit ripaladrang.org

Costs for Room and Board - Bring Cash!

The only direct program expenses associated with your visit to Orissa are for transportation from Bhubaneshwar to Chandragiri (and back again) as well as for your monastic room and board once you've arrived at the settlement. The Ripa Ladrang has asked that everyone plan to bring enough to cash to pay the Monastery directly. Please note that traveler's checks and access to a bank machine is not at all straightforward once you have left Delhi and impossible once you are in the jungle! Rooms cost 300 Rupees per day (you can share the room and split the cost). Food costs between Rs. 250 and Rs. 400 a day. And one-way transport for the 270 km / 6 hour ride to Chandragiri will cost upwards of Rs. 6,500. Of course, you will want to have cash for offerings as well!

The Hoagland's Matching Gift Campaign Supporting the Rinchen Terdzö

As there is no "program fee" and no recommended teaching gift, we ask that you consider making a donation towards our sponsorship costs

Location

The Rinchen Terdzö will be held at Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery, P.O. Jeerang, Chandragiri - District of Gajapati

Indian Tourist Visas

Please apply for an Indian Tourist Visa. In answer to the question about the purpose of your visit, please state or select "tourism". In answer to the question about the places you will visit, please state the name of the main city into which you will be arriving, such as "New Delhi." If you will be arriving into Bhubaneshwar, please do not add any other location in Orissa. Please do not give any other information, such as "religious visit", "pilgrimage", or that you will be visiting the Tibetan settlements in Orissa. If you are required to state where you will be staying, please state the name of a major hotel in that city (eg Taj Hotel, New Delhi). There is more information about Indian tourist visas online for Canadians and for Americans.

Travel and Medical Insurance

Each person must have his or her own medical and travel insurance; the Ripa Ladrang, Padma Ling, and Shambhala International are not responsible for this. You can find more online about travel insurance for Canadians and for Americans.

Health Information

Orissa is a malaria zone. It is essential that you have preventive medicine against malaria. In the past, people have contracted malaria at the monastery - it is not a risk worth taking. Please bring mosquito netting, mosquito repellent, and your prescribed medicines. Grapefruit Seed Extract is said to be an excellent antidote for stomach woes often encountered in India. Information on vaccinations is available at from the CDC. It is best to go to a travel clinic and have a formal consultation with a medical practitioner to determine what vaccinations and medications are needed for your trip.

Traveling to and From Bhubaneshwar

You are responsible for arranging your own travel into and from Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. Flights from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar are approximately 200 US Dollars.

Helpful links on booking flights from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar (the capital of Orissa) can be found at mapsofindia.com and orissatourism.org. If you would prefer to book with an travel agent in Delhi, Zomdrok Travel and Tours is highly recommended by the Ripa Ladrang. Please note that Zamdrok Travel and Tours does not issue e-tickets. Your paper tickets will be hand delivered to you at your hotel once you arrive in Delhi.

Zomdrok Travel and Tours, New Delhi, India
Air ticketing, airport pick up and drop offs, train tickets, package tours, and hotel bookings.
Contacts: Lobsang and Chokyi Office: 011 9111 69913718, or 69813800. Cell: 011 91 9911079641 Email: dunlob@yahoo.com

Hotels in Bhubaneshwar

Hotels in Bhubaneshwar range between 20 USD to 500 USD. To make an early morning December 22 departure for the monastery more straightforward, we recommend Swosti Plaza to all travelers; rooms range from 112 USD (which can be split between two people) to 405 USD. There are also other accommodation options in Bhubaneshwar.

Food and Accomodation

All participants will stay in the Monastery guest accommodations, either in single or double rooms. The monastery will provide all meals. You are encouraged, however, to bring your own snack food (cliff bars, etc.) to supplement the simple monastic fare provided.

What to Bring: Reminders

Please bring all toiletries that you may need, as there is only a small shop with limited items for purchase in the village. As toilet paper is in short supply, you may want to bring a couple of rolls. Temperatures at this time of year range from 18-25 degrees Celsius. So you are advised to bring a sleeping bag and dress for hot and cold weather. Be sure to bring an elegant outfit for special ceremonies. In the spirit of generosity, you could bring clothing that you are willing to part with at the end of your stay, as well as children's clothing to give away.

The Tibetan Culture of Offering

Traditional Tibetan offerings are made differently than what we may be accustomed to in the west. The timing of offerings is unpredictable and you may want to bring small amounts of money (and katas) to have for these occasions. There may be a sense of constant fundraising, which is helpful to see as a dance of generosity, instead of something in which you must always partake. You may be asked to support many different projects, including the Water project, the Hospital, the Mosquito project, the Monastery itself, a Monk's sponsorship or an Elder's sponsorship. Consider in advance how much you may want to donate overall. Because the benefit is in the exchange, plan to give often and in manageable amounts.