legacy of Glorious 50 Years

Unique among universities in India, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies was established with a noble mission informed by a rich religious and philosophical tradition embedded in ancient Nalanda School of Buddhism. The Institute emerged in 1967 from the critical struggle of the Tibetan diaspora like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes. The lush green 29-acre campus is located in Sarnath a few minutes distance from Deer Park, the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Conceived as an educational haven for the Tibetan youth in exile and the students from Himalayan region, CIHTS has today been recognised by the greatest universities of the western world as the best institute of Buddhism and Himalayan culture. True to its vision and mission, it took the weighty responsibility upon its shoulders to preserve, translate, disseminate and revive Nalanda’s rich tradition of various religious, philosophical and intellectual discourses. Besides its striving for excellence and constant academic rigour, the academic life at CIHTS is a vibrant mix of the colours and hues of Tibetan and Indian culture. The state-of-the-art architecture and cutting edge facilities at the campus allow the students to indulge in high learning and research furnished with all the modern amenities. The learning environment at the campus is vibrant, research-oriented and fully supported by a robust mechanism of teaching, learning and research. Along with an ‘A’ grade awarded by NAAC and many more noteworthy accolades to its name, the Institute has more than lived up to its original vision and mission as envisioned by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Our MOOC Courses on SWAYAM Portal
1. Buddhist Philosophy
Play Video
2. Buddhist Tourism
Play Video
3. History of Indian Buddhism
Play Video

INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION

oUR HIGHLIGHTS

CIHTS AT A GLANCE

One of the best research oriented Institute of Tibetan Buddhism,
equipped with a dynamic curriculum and the finest student-teacher ratio.

1967

Inception

5

Faculties

13

Teaching Departments

95

Faculty Members

13

Academic Programmes

Glorious 50 Years

20

Academic Courses

520

Students

UPCOMING EVENTS

What the world is saying about us...

    His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
    His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

    Two generations of Tibetan and Indian scholars at CIHTS have worked together on literary research resulting in significant publications in Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Hindi. Many of their books concern writing of the scholars of the glorious Nalanda Tradition.

      His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche
      His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche

      The uniqueness of this Institute is that the entire ancient Indian Buddhist traditions preserved in Tibet for more than thousand years in four major schools as well as the tradition of Bon, the pre-Buddhist wisdom of Tibet, are placed in one centre of learning. The Institute has developed skillfully .

        Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Former Sikyong
        Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Former Sikyong

        Central Tibetan Administration

        50 years have passed since His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru founded the Institute in 1967 with the prime purpose of preserving and promoting the unique language, religion and culture of Tibet, also shared by Tibet's neighboring Himalayan communities.

          Jay L. Garfield
          Jay L. Garfield

          Professor of Philosophy, Logic and Buddhist Studies, Smith College, USA

          “We are now the oldest academic exchange linking the Tibetan academic community to Western institutions. During this time over 400 American and Australian students have studied at CIHTS, and over two - dozen Tibetan students have earned degrees in American and Australian universities.”

            B. Alan Wallace
            B. Alan Wallace

            President, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies, USA

            “CIHTS has set the gold standard for higher education and research in the Fields of Tibetan culture, religion, philosophy, and mind science. By providing instruction based not only on original Tibetan literature but also Sanskrit, Pā li, and other Indic languages , it firmly established Tibetan Buddhism in the fertile soil of the Nalanda tradition.”

              John Powers
              John Powers

              Research Professor , Deakin University , Australia

              “From a small group of students led by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, to a government - funded institute for Tibetan Studies, to a university with several faculties and a successful record of graduating students, CIHTS has pioneered the study of Tibetan religion, philosophy, and culture in India and has provided an excellent environment for research and collaboration for a generation of scholars from around the world.”

                José Ignacio Cabezón
                José Ignacio Cabezón

                Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies University of California, Santa Barbara , USA

                “Tibetan cultural sciences including medicine, grammar and poetics, and history. CIHTS’ productive professoriate and research staff have made important contributions to many aspects of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, and its alumni occupy important positions in India and abroad.”

                  John Makransky
                  John Makransky

                  Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology Boston College, USA

                  “My time at CIHTS has continued to inspire and inform all my work ever since -- in academic Buddhist studies, comparative theology and religion, and in exploring ways of adapting Buddhist practices of compassion for secular and interfaith contexts. I am grateful for all that was offered to me at CIHTS.”

                    Victoria Lysenko
                    Victoria Lysenko

                    Professor, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow , Russia

                    “In comparison with the system of Western education, this system relies more on the development of memory and the internalization of knowledge, and the transformation of knowledge into a part of personal experience.”

                    NEWS & EVENTS

                    RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

                    NAAC AWARDS THE ESTEEMED ‘ A ’ GRADE TO CIHTS

                    STUDENT COMMUNITY BRINGS LAURELS IN VARIOUS SPORTS EVENTS

                    A TWO - DAY INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ENTITLED “BUDDHA KI DHARTI PE KAVITA” CLAIMS HUGE CRITICAL ACCLAIM

                    CTE ORGANIZES A TWO WEEK ICSSR SPONSORED CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

                    CIHTS IN PRESS & MEDIA