Darjeeling

Tibetan Refugee Center, Darjeeling

About Tibetan Refugee Center

Tibetan Refugee Center is a famous rehabilitation Centre for Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling, West Bengal. It was established on 2 October 1959 with only 4 workers, and now it accommodates more than 650 people. The refugee centre has a gompa (Tibetan Buddhist monastery), a school, an orphanage, a clinic, and a home for the elderly.

Discover the artworks being prepared in the sections of Tailoring & Leatherworks, Knitting & Painting, Carpet Weaving, Photo Exhibition, and Souvenir Shop. Handcrafted items produced here include carpets, gloves, jackets, bags, cards, wooden items and various types of antiques. These goods are exported to more than 36 countries all over the world.

Get a chance to learn about Tibetan history through the photo exhibition centre. Talk with the locals to find out more about the place and the techniques to produce different handicraft items. Shop the beautiful handmade items for your loved ones from the shop room as a memory of the Tibetan Refugee Centre. Click countless pictures or record yourself with your loved ones while exploring the Tibetan Refugee Centre.

Day Wise Timings

Burj Khalifa opening hours through the week.

Open 6 days a week

Free entry

Monday09:00 – 16:30

Tuesday09:00 – 16:30

Wednesday09:00 – 16:30

Thursday09:00 – 16:30

Friday09:00 – 16:30

Saturday09:00 – 16:30

SundayClosed

Hours are seasonal — confirm your date at checkout. Special events may extend closing time.

Tibetan Refugee Center Highlights

• Discover the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, a rehabilitation centre built for Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling.
• Explore the different sections displaying the process of making beautiful handicraft items such as carpets and woollen clothing.
• Visit the Photo Exhibition Centre and learn about Tibetan history and the Tibetan Refugee Centre.
• Get a chance to learn about the technique of weaving carpets and other handcrafted items produced in the Centre.
• Shop souvenirs offering varieties of handmade goods as a cherishing memory.

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Point of Interest for Tibetan Refugee Center

Explore the Carpet Weaving Section

Discover the Carpet Weaving Section of the Tibetan Refugee Center, where you can observe workers weaving different carpets. Behold the view of several workers who are working on different beautiful carpet designs.

Additionally, if you wish to learn weaving, you can ask the locals to teach you. However, make sure you are not taking much of their time.

Admire the Knitting & Painting Section

Admire the artworks prepared by skilful artisans in the Knitting and Painting Section of the Tibetan Refugee Center. Here, you can spot people knitting and creating woollen clothing like sweaters and caps. Behold the beautiful artwork on cards and pictures in the painting section.

Get a chance to learn about their artworks and the meaning of the art painted on different items. Enjoy learning these skills with the local Tibetans to carry it as a joyful memory.

Design a carpet for your own

Design a carpet for your own by attending the craft workshop organised by the local Tibetans of the centre. You can learn techniques like weaving and knitting to create carpets, woollen clothing, and bags.

Capture some priceless moments with the local Tibetans while talking to them and learning about the designs.

Shop handicraft items by the artisans

Tibetan Refugee Center has a shop room offering diverse varieties of handcrafted and antique items. You can shop for handmade goods like carpets, jackets, bags, cards and antiques like models of Buddha and sculptures.

Buy a gift for yourself and your loved ones to admire the skilly artwork of the artisans in the Tibetan Refugee Center. Notably, if you are purchasing an item from the centre, you are directly contributing to its welfare.

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Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center

This is essentially a rehabilitation centre for the Tibetan refugees, but since the place gives an opportunity to indulge in a shopping experience, it has also emerged as a popular site among tourists. This help center was initially established with an objective to make the Tibetan community in Darjeeling self-dependent by offering them opportunity to earn money.The place now offers a wide range of handicrafts including wooden articles, exquisite shawls, leather jackets, and much more that will tickle your fancy. In fact, these products are exported to 36 countries all over the world. Apart from being a place for shopping, it is also a good place to learn about Tibetan refugees living in India.Location: Havelock Villa, Gandhi Road, DarjeelingTiming: 9 am to 4:30 pm