About This Retreat
Thosamling Nunnery, Institute & Retreat Centre is a living Tibetan Buddhist community nestled in Sidhpur, on the peaceful northern edge of Dharamshala — close to the sacred Norbulingka Institute, and framed by the snow-capped Dhauladhar Range.
The center is home to both Tibetan and international nuns and follows the Rimé (non-sectarian) tradition. What makes Thosamling exceptional is its faculty: teachings here are given by Geshemas (the highest female scholarly title in Tibetan Buddhism), Drupon Masters (female retreat masters), and senior Geshe scholars — one of the rarest and most qualified lineages available to international students anywhere in India.
Whether you are new to Buddhist meditation or have existing practice experience, Thosamling's structured 5-day retreat programs offer a unique window into authentic Tibetan dharma — taught in English, in a genuine monastic environment, surrounded by one of the most inspiring landscapes in the Himalayas.
What's Included
What's Not Included
The Retreat Experience
Pause. Observe. Transform. Our 5-day programs are carefully structured to guide practitioners through a progression of practice and study. Each day has a theme and rhythm — balancing formal sitting meditation, dharma instruction, contemplation periods, and rest. Whether you seek spiritual depth, emotional balance or a deeper understanding of the mind, this five-day immersion offers a foundation for lasting inner transformation.
2026 Schedule
| Program | Dates | Teacher | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Meditation 5 days · Residential · Beginner friendly |
Jun 10–14, 2026 | Drupon Ma Gyalten Samten | ⚡ Enquire Now |
| Lamp to the Path of Enlightenment 5 days · Residential · Lam Rim |
Jun 24–28, 2026 | Geshema Dawa Dolma | ✓ Open |
| Vinaya Teachings Monastic discipline · Ordained Sangha only · Online & Onsite |
Jun 8, 15, 22, 29 · Aug 17, 24, 31 Mondays 1–3 PM IST |
Geshe Ngawang Thekchok | Ordained Sangha |
| Personal Retreat Self-directed · Flexible duration |
Year-round | Self-directed | Enquire for dates |
More programs may be added for July–August 2026. Follow @thosamling for announcements.
Food & Accommodation
The nunnery provides simple, wholesome vegetarian meals prepared in the traditional monastic style — nourishing, clean, and conducive to practice. Accommodation is provided in shared or private rooms within the nunnery campus, in keeping with the spirit of simple monastic living.
Your Teachers
Born in Tibet in 1982 to a nomadic family, Geshema Dawa Dolma escaped to India in 1993. She joined Dolma Ling Nunnery in Sidhpur, Dharamsala in 1996 and studied all Buddhist topics across a seventeen-year program culminating in the Geshema Degree — the first time this degree was conferred upon women. On November 5th 2018, she received the Geshema Lharampa degree (PhD in Buddhist Philosophy) in Nepal. She subsequently entered Gyuto Tantric Monastery as an external scholar and obtained the highest grade in both dialectical debate and written examination. She is renowned for her practical approach and keen insight into the modern mindset, and teaches with great joy and warmth.
A former model and actor, Drupon Ma Gyalten Samten is a Buddhist nun whose commitment to dharma was profoundly deepened following a life-altering meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001. In 2012, under the guidance of Venerable Lama Zopa Rinpoche, she received full ordination at Sera Jey Monastery from His Eminence Choden Rinpoche. Within the Drikung Kagyu lineage, under the guidance of His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, she completed a three-year solitary retreat — upon the conclusion of which she was bestowed with the title of Drupon (Retreat Master), one of very few women to hold this distinction in the Tibetan tradition.
Geshe Ngawang Thekchok is a senior Geshe scholar at Thosamling who offers Monday morning teachings on the Vinaya — the traditional code of monastic discipline that forms the bedrock of Buddhist communal life. These teachings are open exclusively to ordained monks and nuns. Geshe Thekchok brings both scholarly rigour and lived experience of the monastic path to his transmission of this profound and practical body of teaching.
Location & Getting There
Thosamling is located in Sidhpur village, approximately 6 km north of McLeod Ganj (upper Dharamshala), near the Norbulingka Institute. The setting is notably peaceful compared to the busier tourist areas — surrounded by deodhar trees, with clear views of the Dhauladhar peaks.
Taxis available, ~30 min
Kangra Valley Railway (narrow gauge) to Dharamshala
McLeod Ganj (15 min drive)
Tsuglagkhang Complex
What Practitioners Say
I came as a complete beginner, quite nervous about whether I'd manage five days. Drupon Ma Gyalten Samten's teaching style is so clear and warm — she makes these ancient practices feel completely accessible without dumbing them down. The nunnery itself is magical: waking up to monastery bells, the mountains right there. I left feeling more settled in myself than I have in years.
Geshema Dawa Dolma is extraordinary. I've done retreats before but never with a Geshema — the depth of her scholarship combined with genuine warmth was something I hadn't expected. The Lam Rim text suddenly made sense in a way it never had from books. Sidhpur is also such a beautiful, quiet spot — very different from the McLeod Ganj chaos.
I did a two-week personal retreat at Thosamling. The community was welcoming without being intrusive — they genuinely understood that I was there to practice, and created the conditions for that. The food is simple and good, the room was clean and quiet. Being surrounded by nuns who are living the dharma every day added a quality to the retreat that's very hard to find elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
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📞 +91 98161 41830 📞 +91 98824 55065 ✉️ thosamling@gmail.com 🌐 Contact via website 💬 WhatsApp Dhamma Retreats