Photos show the Central & East India region. See the retreat's own site for its rooms and grounds.
13th Mile, outskirts of Kalimpong, West Bengal
Buddha Pāda Institute
Buddhist meditation retreats in forest near Kalimpong
- Retreat centre
- Meditation
- Spiritual
- Silent retreat
- Mountains
- Forest
Details checked on the official site, October 2026. We never take bookings or commissions.
A Buddhist study and practice centre in forest outside Kalimpong, designed by Japanese architect Yasuda Kenji and run through Siddhartha's Intent India. It hosts fixed-date residential programmes, from 10-day silent meditation retreats to chanting and arts workshops, with simple rooms on campus.
Our take · editors' note
Suits: Suits Buddhist practitioners and curious newcomers wanting donation-based meditation retreats or contemplative-arts workshops on a forested Kalimpong campus with simple single rooms.
Maybe not for: Not for drop-in tourists or anyone wanting hotel service: stays are tied to fixed programmes, meals must be booked ahead, and you bring your own towels.
Great for
- deep practice
- spiritual seekers
- solo travellers
Maybe not for
- Staying reachable by phone
Buddhist study and practice centre in forest, designed by Japanese architect Yasuda Kenji
Programmes run through Siddhartha's Intent India under Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Mixes silent meditation retreats with chanting, music and contemplative-arts workshops
Reviews elsewhereGoogle Maps
Price and dates
By donation
pay what you can
- Meditation
Teachings by donation; rooms and meals charged at cost, rates on request
Courses here are free or by donation. Never pay an agent or another website to book.
Indicative. Checked on the official site, October 2026.
Courses or any-day stays · book by email
- 10-day meditation retreat (shamatha-vipashyana, Sadhana of Mahamudra)10–11 nights
- 10-day Metta Vipassana (Tranquil Wisdom Insight) retreat10 nights
- Month-long Joy of Living retreat with Tergar facilitators27 nights
- 5-day residential workshops (chanting, music, contemplative arts)4 nights
Rooms: Basic campus rooms for about 70 (suites, singles and doubles, some with shared bathrooms); guest houses nearby
Programme names and lengths change. Check the retreat's calendar for current dates.
Practical facts
Single rooms
Single rooms
Available
Upcoming dates
- Nov23
Naad sadhana: Banaras gayaki workshop (Pandit Prosenjit Chakraborty)
Check site23–27 Nov · 4 nights
Check site - Nov30
Vedic chanting and drawing: two parallel workshops (Nicola Durvasula)
Check site30 Nov – 4 Dec · 4 nights
Check site - Jan7
10-day meditation retreat: teachings for turbulent times
Check site7–16 Jan · 9 nights
Check site - Feb3
Subject to Change: exploring impermanence (Dr. Nivedita Chalill)
Check site3–7 Feb · 4 nights
Check site
From Buddha Pāda Institute's published schedule, checked October 2026. Dates change: confirm on the official site before you plan travel.
What's included
Included
- Teachings, offered by donation
- Bed sheets, blankets and pillows
- Free filtered drinking water
Not included
- Room and meals, charged at cost
- Meals must be booked at least three hours ahead (8 am, noon, 6 pm)
- Laundry (small charge)
When to go
Best Mar–May, Oct–Dec. Oct–Dec and Mar–May are clear and mild; Jan–Feb is cold; Jun–Sep brings heavy monsoon rain and slow hill roads
- Summer · Mar–May
- Post-monsoon · Oct–Nov
Weather by month
6° to 23°C through the year · wettest in July
Average daily high and low (°C) and rain for the month (mm).
Best monthsRain: dry to very wetHighs: cool to hot
Long-term averages (1981–2010) for the area around 13th Mile, outskirts of Kalimpong, on a grid of about 1 km; any one year can differ. Data: CHELSA V2.1 (Karger et al., 2017), CC0.
Getting there
Nearest airport
Bagdogra (IXB), ~3 hr driveBy train
New Jalpaiguri (NJP), ~3 hr driveFrom big cities
- ~680 km from Kolkata, best to fly
- ~1,520 km from Delhi NCR, best to fly
- ~2,010 km from Hyderabad, best to fly
From your town
See the drive, the nearest airports and the easiest way to get to Buddha Pāda Institute from where you live. The trip estimate below uses it too.
Estimate your trip
Free or by donation: just the travel to plan
- Stay at Buddha Pāda Institute
- Donation of your choice
Rough estimate from the published starting price; set your town in “From your town” above to add the drive. Rooms, seasons and programmes change the total; Buddha Pāda Institute's own quote is final.
Before you book
Arrival
Fixed courses, or arrive any dayFood
Vegetarian foodBooking
Book by email
Not stated on their site: couples, phones, taxes. Ask the retreat before you book.
Good to know
- Most stays are tied to fixed-date programmes; register by email or the form on each event page
- All meals are vegetarian and must be booked in advance; bring your own towels and toiletries
- About 3 hours by road from Bagdogra airport and 20 minutes from Kalimpong town
What to pack
2 things the retreat asks you to bring, plus 4 tips
The retreat asks you to bring
Also useful
General tips for the setting and the months people go, not from the retreat.
Tick things off as you pack. Nothing here is saved.
Day, inclusions, packing and facts from Buddha Pāda Institute's official information, checked October 2026: buddhapada.in/facilities-at-buddha-pada/, buddhapada.in/schedule/, buddhapada.in/travel-info/, buddhapada.in/events/datun-timeless-teachings-for-turbulent-. Ask them if anything matters for your stay.
Read before you go
Contact Buddha Pāda Institute
Ask about dates, rooms and programmes directly. They take bookings themselves; nothing passes through us.
Not sure what to ask?
We'll help you write a clear message about dates, price and rooms. It opens in your own WhatsApp or email, ready to send.
- Phone
- +91 89272 43259
- info@buddhapada.in
From Buddha Pāda Institute's official website, checked Oct 2026.Their contact page
Questions people ask
How much does a stay at Buddha Pāda Institute cost?
Buddha Pāda Institute asks for a donation of your choice rather than a fixed rate. Teachings by donation; rooms and meals charged at cost, rates on request.
What's included in the price?
The official site lists: Teachings, offered by donation; Bed sheets, blankets and pillows; Free filtered drinking water. Not included: Room and meals, charged at cost; Meals must be booked at least three hours ahead (8 am, noon, 6 pm); Laundry (small charge).
What's the minimum stay?
The shortest stay is 4 nights.
When is the best time to visit Buddha Pāda Institute?
The best months are Mar–May, Oct–Dec. Oct–Dec and Mar–May are clear and mild; Jan–Feb is cold; Jun–Sep brings heavy monsoon rain and slow hill roads.
4 more questionsFewer questions
How do I get to Buddha Pāda Institute?
Nearest airport: Bagdogra (IXB), ~3 hr drive. By train: New Jalpaiguri (NJP), ~3 hr drive. Times are rough estimates by road.
What food is served?
The food is vegetarian.
How do I book Buddha Pāda Institute?
You book directly with Buddha Pāda Institute, by email. There are fixed-date courses, and you can also arrive any day for a regular stay. RetreatAdvisors doesn't take bookings or commissions.
Are single rooms available?
Yes, private single rooms are available.
Answered from our research on Buddha Pāda Institute's official information. Details change, so confirm prices, dates and policies with them before you book.
Researched from the retreat's official website and public sources. Details change, so confirm prices, dates and policies with Buddha Pāda Institute before booking.
- Photo: Jared Rice, Unsplash
- Photo: Lisa Hobbs, Unsplash
- Photo: Yogi Madhav, Unsplash
- Photo: Olga Pukhalskaya, Unsplash
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By donation
Courses or any-day stays · book by email · best Mar–May, Oct–Dec