Very close to our restaurant is the Garraf Buddhist Temple, a unique wonder in the Catalan territory that combines the elegance and showiness of a historic Indian-style building with an environment full of peace and spirituality.
The Sakya Tashi Ling (which is its official name and means “ Island of good omens ”) is a Buddhist temple that has been in the area for more than 20 years, however , the building where it is located has much more history, dating back to 1890 with the construction of the Palau Novella.
Discovering the Buddhist Temple of Garraf
While it is true that the monastery was installed in 1996, the building and the area have an interesting history behind it with a certain romantic air. Are you thinking of visiting it? Maybe you want to know a little more about the history and what you will find there beyond the Buddhist Monastery.
The history of the Buddhist Monastery: from a prosperous colony to a landmark of Buddhism in Catalonia
We go back to 1875, when Pere Domènech i Grau -an Indian recently arrived from Cuba and married to Maria de Vilanova- bought 3 old farmhouses from the Raventós family in the area of the Garraf, among which was one in the Plana de la Novella, a beautiful area connected with nature and used for cultivation.
The origins of the colony of Plana Novella, the current Buddhist temple
After their acquisition of the farm, the couple decided to use their influence to apply the law of colonies to their assets, which granted certain tax benefits to the area in terms of consumption and services. This fact quickly caught the attention of farmers and merchants, who decided to settle there to grow olives and fruits, especially grapes, thus reinforcing the great tradition of viñas y bodegas en Sant Pere de Ribes y toda la zona del Garraf.
In 1885, as a result of this prosperity, King Alfonso XII granted the distinction of agricultural colony to the area in one of his last decrees before dying that same year.
The brilliant rise and fall of the Palau Novella
Meanwhile, to symbolize the success achieved, the family decided to entrust the construction of the Palau Novella to the architect Manuel Comas y Thos, who applied modernist and Indian inspirations to the construction.
The construction of the now monastery ended at the end of 1890, however 3 years later the phylloxera severely attacked the crops in the area, causing the total ruin of the colony. In 1896 the building went up to public auction, but no one bid for it, causing the entire colony to fall into complete abandonment.
The arrival of the Buddhist Monks and the creation of the Monastery
After an uninhabited century, the community of Sakya Tashi Ling Buddhist Monks began to condition the area in order to restore the historical and cultural value of the colony and, at the same time, make it a link with the Buddhist knowledge due to its powerful environment.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the main building, the Monks have also built two traditional Buddhist stupas, highly energetic places where you can walk, meditate and recharge your energies. Specifically, in the Buddhist temple of Garraf you will find a Namgyal -or Health Stupa- and a Jangchub -or Wisdom Stupa-.
What to do at the Buddhist Monastery? Plans and activities
In addition to the refreshing adventure that getting there by making our way through nature or the spectacular peace transmitted by walking can entail, the Garraf Sakya Tashi Ling Buddhist temple offers a plenty of options and activities, whether you come out of curiosity as if you really want to delve into Buddhism.
Guided visit to the Buddhist temple of Garraf
Discover the main aspects of this millenary philosophy, the history of the community and experience the atmosphere of the tempo by visiting the different areas and facilities of the temple. A visit of approximately one hour that will undoubtedly help you understand everything that you have before your eyes.
Guided tours of the Buddhist temple run every hour from 11:00 to 17:00 in groups of 30 people. And although it is not necessary to reserve – unless you are a large group – we recommend that you be ready half an hour before, since the guide is done in order of arrival.
Visiting Namgyal, the Health Stupa
Are you one of those who prefers to experiment on your own? In the Garraf Buddhist Temple you can freely contemplate and enter -although with great respect- the Stupa, a typical and iconic construction of Buddhist monasteries and culture.
These types of buildings represent the mind of Buddha and traditionally represent different areas of life such as health or wisdom.
Here you can enjoy a spectacular Health Stupa and enjoy the positive effects of contemplating it, being in its shade or circulating it.
For those more interested, the Stupa is designed to be traveled in a circular way in a clockwise direction and with a positive mental spirit. As we walk through it, it helps us calm our minds and reflect.
Although we can do as many laps as we want, the usual thing is to do a minimum of 3 complete laps and never less than one.
Around the stupa we find the prayer pinwheels, which serve for the wind to scatter our thoughts and prayers by turning them.
Buddhism in the first person: prayers
If we wish, it is also possible to be present at the prayers of the Buddhist Monastery of Garraf. To do this, all we have to do is contact them by phone or email to manage a reservation.
Retreats and activities for groups at the Buddhist Monastery
The Garraf Buddhist temple is a perfect place to disconnect either alone or with family, friends, students and even colleagues. If you are thinking of visiting in a group or you want to make a retreat, you may be interested to know that it is possible to carry out various activities related to Buddhist philosophy.
To find out about the possibilities, we recommend that you contact them at their website.
The Garraf from the The Garraf Buddhist Temple: Location, prices and schedules
This Buddhist monastery is located in the heart of the spectacular Garraf Natural Park, a protected natural area of more than 12,000 hectares and famous for its great variety of Mediterranean landscapes, among which we can find from beaches to trails that run through the interior of the forests.
How to get to the Buddhist Monastery
The spectacular location of the Palau Novella, combined with the possibilities offered by the monastery, make it a great place to go on an excursion that connects us with nature and tranquility, whether for half a day or practically all day long, however, let’s go over the different options to get there.
By car:
The temple has free private parking for visitors and for those who come to carry out all kinds of activities.
From Barcelona, we can use the C-31 to the Rat-Penat urbanization and from there take the Castelldefels Highway towards Plana Novella, a path that will take us through the park and It will take us directly to the area where the temple is located.
For those who leave the upper part of Barcelona, they can also take the C-32 as both roads join shortly before departure.
If we start from the Garraf area the best option is to go to Sant Pere de Ribes and from Carrer del Carç take BV-2111 towards Avinguda Plana Novella. As an alternative, and especially if we come from the interior, we can use the C-15 and take the detour towards the B-2111.
By public transport:
Although we can do as many laps as we want, the usual thing is to do a minimum of 3 complete laps and never less than one.
The best option is to get off at the Cercanías del Garraf station, belonging to the R2S line and accessible from Barcelona as well as from Vilanova and la Geltrú.
When we get there, we will have to walk up to the Monastery in a walk of about 2 hours.
How to get there by walking:
Visiting the Garraf Buddhist Temple on foot or by bike is, without a doubt, our recommended option if you enjoy nature and don’t mind walking a bit.
Being practically in the center of the Garraf Natural Park, reaching it is an excellent plan from practically anywhere in the surroundings. Garraf train station, our restaurant, Sitges, Olivella, from some of the Garraf beaches… There are different routes suitable for both cyclists and those who prefer to walk.
If the plan convinces you here you can consult a lot of wikilocs of different routes through the area to the Buddhist Monastery.
Hours and price of the Garraf Buddhist Temple
The Monastery opens its doors to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
However, we recommend consulting their web page since they also close or vary their schedule some specific days on the occasion of retreats and other activities.
Regarding the price, the Monks request a contribution to continue maintaining and improving the facilities in the area of €6 per person. There is a reduced rate of €5 for children, pensioners, students …
Eat at the Garraf Buddhist Temple
It is possible to eat in the same temple if we wish, although you should know that Buddhists are 100% vegetarian. They have a large dining room that serves a buffet made with natural and local products.
On the other hand, if you fancy a good reward after the day of excursion or prefer a more carnivorous option the Caburé is located just 25 minutes from the Buddhist Monastery of the Garraf and you will find spectacular dishes to nibble on, pasta, fish, meat, salads, good wine and good desserts.
