A visit to the Peace Pagoda will take you on a journey to discover peace and learn about life at peace with nature. Here, you will learn about how to live in harmony with nature and how to live in harmony with yourself. As a result, you will learn about how to live in harmony with God and how to live in harmony with each other. Which means, the greatest lesson of life!
You might have heard about the famous Buddhist “pagodas” like the Shwedagon Paya and the Bayon Temple. They are also popular places for meditation and relaxation.
Read this blog to find all your answers.

Table of Contents
A Journey To Discover Peace And Learn About Life At Peace Pagoda
The pagoda was built to spread the message of peace and prosperity to all beings. Which means, this place has been built for peace, love and compassion. Also, the pagoda is situated on top of a hill which offers scenic views of the surrounding areas.
The construction of Peace Pagoda began in 1972 and it was completed in 1992. It has four images of Lord Buddha, representing his different stages of his life—
- birth,
- Enlightenment,
- Teaching and
- Death.
It has become a famous tourist attraction due to its unique architecture and beautiful landscaped gardens that surround it.
Brief History
The Nipponzan Myohoji organization of Japan built Peace Pagoda for world peace. In 1947 Nichidatsu Fujii founded the organisation. He was a Buddhist monk who believed that there would come a time when war would destroy the world. He established many Peace Pagodas all over the world with an aim to help people reach enlightenment.
The pagoda was complete by 1972 and showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha.
Late Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche on April 1st, 1992 laid the foundation stone of this pagoda. He also gave his blessings for it’s completion. The construction took about 6 years to complete and was ready by 1998. In comparison, there are a lot of stupas all around the world but this one is special. Eight smaller shrines surround the Pagoda to help people from different faiths pray in their own way.
The construction work for this pagoda began in 1972 and it took almost 12 years for it’s completion. It is located on top of a hill at Lebong Cart Road and hence, offers some amazing views of the surrounding areas. The dome itself is constructed from white granite stones and has golden statues of Lord Buddha in four different positions. It celebrate Buddha’s life from birth to enlightenment.

Find out: Where is Darjeeling?
A Day At Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling And The Story Behind The Construction
Peace Pagoda is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Darjeeling. It is a tranquil place that offers peace and quietness to its visitors. You can visit this place and enjoy the serenity.
Peace Pagoda has become an important part of Darjeeling’s tourism industry as it attracts thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. Which means, visitors flock here to enjoy the peaceful ambience, which is truly a pleasure for those who want to spend some time away from their busy lives in big cities.
Also in addition to these, Peace Pagoda offers various facilities such as meditation classes & yoga classes.
The Peace Pagoda is one of the most famous places of worship in Darjeeling. It is a Buddhist stupa built under the guidance of a Japanese monk, Nichidatsu Fujii. He was a follower of Nichiren Buddhism and he had planned to build 81 such stupas around the world. Therefore, this would be a symbol to promote peace and encourage people to live in harmony with one another.
In addition to being a place where one can pray, the Peace Pagoda also houses a large number of monks. They meditate here and also join other activities in relation to Buddhism.
Explore The Peace Pagoda
Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is at the very top of Jawahar Parbat. It is one of around 80 such pagodas around the world. But it is one of only two in India, the other being in Rajgir.
What is a peace pagoda
Peace pagodas have been found throughout Asia and can be seen in almost every country and culture. They were originally built to provide a quiet space for contemplation, reflection and prayer. These pagodas still serve this purpose today but now they are also centres of pilgrimage and often the local Buddhist temple.
the Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa which has become a symbol of Darjeeling.
In 1992 by His Holiness Dalai Lama inaugurated the pagoda.
Explore the Peace Pagodas
Explore the wonderful world of peace pagodas and meditate at the “peace corner”
The Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa; a monument to inspire peace. It’s design provides a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace.
Most Peace Pagodas built since World War II were built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885–1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist Order.
- Meditate and Relax in Pagodas
- Discover Buddhism in Pagodas
- Meditate at the “Peace Corner”
- learn meditation techniques, learn how to mediate,
- Go on a Peace Pagoda Tour
A small shrine near the entrance houses images of Buddha, Guru Rimpoche and Guru Nyingma.
It stands atop Jalapahar Hill and provides beautiful views of Darjeeling town and the surrounding Kanchenjunga range.
Also, you might be interested in: The Good Darjeeling Life.
Location
The Pagoda is located on top of a hill and it offers panoramic views of the surrounding areas. You can see the Himalayas, Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Brahmaputra valley, Lake Tso Mo Ri and many more places from this place. You can also see some famous Buddhist monasteries like Tawang Monastery, Rinchenpong Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Chumik Shukpa Monastery, etc., from this place.
The Peace Pagoda stands at an elevation of 7100 feet above sea level, and offers a panoramic view of Darjeeling and its surrounding mountains. A spiritual centre for Buddhists, the stupa is in between prayer wheels and has a beautiful shrine inside.
This place was a stronghold of the Gorkha community during the colonial era before it’s conversion into a peaceful site by Nichidatsu Fujii. He structured this place after his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi during his visit to India in 1936.



How To Reach
The walk up to the pagoda is quite pleasant and there are numerous shops selling Tibetan handicrafts along the way.
Visitors can reach the top through a long flight of stairs or hiring jeeps from Chowrasta to reach directly to the pagoda. You can also hire a taxi from anywhere in Darjeeling city to reach this destination.
You can climb up steps to reach the top of pagoda or take a walk towards it from Sonada station. The latter option offers better views but it’s an uphill walk so make sure you carry enough water and wear proper footwear. There are some shops along the way where you can stop to rest for a
Conclusion
I recommend you visit both places when on a tour to Darjeeling. First up is peace pagoda, which overlooks the entire Darjeeling town. You can reach there by taking a cab or a toy train ride from Sonada station.
If you have any questions for me, leave them below! Thanks for reading my blog and have a wonderful day!
Find out more about: The Good Darjeeling Life.
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