Dalai Lama to inaugurate south Asia's biggest monastery

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader will open the biggest monastery in south Asia on Tuesday at Chandragiri in south Orissa's Gajapati district.

The 70-feet height and five-storied monastery, known as Rigon Thupten Mindoling will be inaugurated by the Dalai Lama during his four-day visit to the Tibetan settlement of Chandragiri. Around 300 Lamas across the country will attend the ceremony.

The monastery which is spread over 10 acres has been built at a cost of Rs eight crore. The construction work on the monastery started in December 2003 and it was completed in 2009.

The monastery houses a 21 feet high idol of Budha, 17-feet high second Budha Padma Sambhav and the idols of Avaloketeswara.