Buddha Park of Ravangla

The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Ravangla in South Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was constructed between 2006 and 2013, and features a 130-foot-high (40 m) statue of the Buddha, erected to mark the 2550th anniversary of the birth of Gautama Buddha, as its main attraction. The statue, built of 60 tonnes of copper, is an example of repousse work.[1] Mount Narsing forms the backdrop to the statue.[1] The site was chosen within the larger religious complex of Rabong Monastery, itself a centuries-old place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is Ralang Monastery, a key monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. Built and installed through the joint efforts of the government and people of Sikkim, the statue was consecrated on 25 March 2013 by the 14th Dalai Lama.[2] The Buddhist circuit of the park was built under a state government project, intended to boost pilgrimage and tourism to the region. The Cho Djo lake is located within the complex, surrounded by forest.[3] The park has a tranquil setting with spacious pathways, and there is a Buddhist conclave, a meditation centre and a museum with a spiral gallery.[4]

Buddha Park
LocationRavangla, Sikkim, India
Created2013

Access

The Buddha Park is located approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of the city of Ravangla, in the South Sikkim district of India's Sikkim state. The city of Ravangla is connected by road, rail and air. It is located 126 km (78 mi) from Bagdogra Airport, 122 km (76 mi) from Jalpaiguri, 118 km (73 mi) from Siliguri, and 85 km (53 mi) from Gangtok. Nationalized Transport SNT buses run from the headquarters of South Sikkim district. Apart from this, taxis are also available on private or shared fare, and the park is within walking distance of the bus stand in Ravangla.[4]

  • Buddha statue
    Buddha statue
  • The Dalai Lama entering the Buddha Park
    The Dalai Lama entering the Buddha Park
  • View of the Buddha Park
    View of the Buddha Park

Translation

Tathagata Tsal translates to the following:

  • Tathagata is just one of the titles of a buddha, but was the one most frequently employed by Siddhartha Gautama, and the generally adopted interpretation is "one who has thus (tatha) arrived (agata)" or "one who has thus (tatha) gone (gata)".[5][6]
  • Tsal is difficult to translate and refers to the potential of the awareness to manifest and the manifestation itself.[6][7]

References
  1. Tathagata Tsal (The Place of the Buddha). Information and Public Relations Department, Govt. of Sikkim. 2017.
  2. "Dalai Lama to consecrate Buddha Park in Sikkim .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com.
  3. Ghatani, Anand. "Chamling greets His Holiness Dalai Lama at Ravangla - The North Bengal And Sikkim Times".
  4. Aishwarya Mishra (7 May 2020). "All About The Spectacular Buddha Park In Ravangla". Native Planet. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. "Tathagata | Buddha". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  6. "Tathagata Tsal Rabong". 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  7. david. "Tsal". Nālandā Translation Committee. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
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