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The Portobello Stupa, a sacred landmark monument, embodies the essence of traditional Tibetan Buddhist spirituality and wisdom. Transcending religious sectarianism, the serenity of its surrounding environment welcomes people seeking quiet reflection in a unique place. Read on to learn about the story of the Portobello Stupa, its history and construction, and the activities available for visitors to participate in.
Introducing the Portobello Stupa
The Portobello Stupa is the southernmost stupa in the world. With its height of over 5 metres, it stands magnificently on a knoll below Harbour Cone, the iconic hilltop above the township of Portobello on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin in the south of New Zealand's South Island. This traditional Buddhist monument honours the late Tibetan scholar and meditation master Venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, the revered inaugural teacher and founder of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, where he lived and taught from 1985-1995. Consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1996, the profound cultural significance of the Portobello Stupa makes it a focal point for the Tibetan Buddhist community and people with a general interest in spirituality.
Building the Portobello Stupa
After Geshe Dhargyey passed away, his body was ritually cremated on August 17th, 1995, at the site where the Portobello Stupa now stands. Following an ancient Tibetan protocol, bone fragments were carefully picked from the ashes to be enshrined within the stupa. After a busy period of planning and fundraising, the Portobello Stupa was built according to traditional Tibetan design.
During his second visit to New Zealand, His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the stupa on September 13th, 1996. He dedicated the Portobello Stupa to local and global peace, with Buddhist community members, mana whenua representatives, and many locals and visitors in attendance. His dedication draws on the premise that true universal peace can be best achieved in societies where individuals strive for peace within themselves.
A Place of Joyous Peace
On the occasion of the consecration, His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowed the name “Zhi-de-Ling" on the stupa grounds, which can be translated as "Place of Joyous Peace". The name reflects the peaceful surroundings of the Portobello Stupa and the landscape of tranquil, natural beauty that offers sweeping and inspiring views of the Otago Harbour right out to the open Pacific Ocean. Together with neighbouring land, Zhi-de-Ling forms a private nature reserve with original and regenerating New Zealand native bush, hosting a wide variety of birdlife.
An Enlightenment Stupa
The Portobello Stupa is a profound symbol of Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment, embodying the essence of his spiritual journey. Stupas like this one hold immense significance in Buddhism, transcending their architectural beauty to represent deep spiritual truths.
Stupas, with their diverse designs, each narrate a chapter of the Buddha's life and teachings. In Tibet, there are eight distinct types of stupas, each with its unique features reflecting specific events in the Buddha's life. This Enlightenment Stupa, for example, commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India, over two and a half thousand years ago. Every part of a stupa holds symbolic meaning, representing aspects of Buddhist cosmology and teachings.
The Portobello Stupa is a spiritual monument that invites reflection and meditation. Visit the stupa to explore this remarkable embodiment of Buddhist teachings and connect with a sacred tradition that has inspired peace and wisdom for millennia.
Auspicious Visitors
The attentive caring for this unique environment and all its life forms is symbolised by a cypress tree on the stupa grounds, planted by His Holiness Yongzin Ling Rinpoche when he visited Dunedin as part of his first New Zealand tour in March 2020. In his previous incarnation, Ling Rinpoche was the revered Senior Tutor to the present Dalai Lama as well as a principal teacher of Geshe Dhargyey. This tree planting ceremony was dedicated to the peaceful co-existence of all sentient beings. Other prominent Tibetan Buddhist teachers who have blessed the stupa site with their visits include Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Za Choeje Rinpoche, and Khensur Kangurwa Rinpoche.
Building Community
Over the years, the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre and, with it, the Portobello Stupa have played a vital role in promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange, fostering a sense of community among diverse individuals and groups interested in Buddhist philosophy and meditation practices. Visitors from all walks of life have been welcomed, offering them an opportunity to learn, meditate, and participate in various activities aimed at inner transformation and personal growth.
Beacon for Peace
The Portobello Stupa stands as an enduring symbol of peace, compassion, and spiritual awakening in the region, serving as a reminder of the universal values that transcend cultural and religious boundaries. Through its continued presence and related activities, it aims to inspire and enrich the lives of people in the local community and beyond.
Visiting the Stupa
The stupa grounds are open to visits by members of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre and by prior arrangement to the wider public. From the city centre of Dunedin, the drive takes about half an hour on the picturesque Portobello Road alongside the Otago Harbour to Portobello township and then to the stupa location just below Harbour Cone hill. Access to the stupa and parking are on private land owned by members of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre.
The grounds at the Portobello Stupa are a place for quiet contemplation and meditation or to take a deep breath and relax. As is customary in Buddhist tradition, you may want to walk clockwise around the stupa, or you may like to sit in the shade of the trees and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, the bird calls, and the amazing harbour views.
Visit Request
If you are interested in calling to view the Portobello Stupa, visitors from the wider public are requested beforehand to contact the resident guardians of the stupa grounds using the Stupa Visit Request Form. Please ensure a minimum of two days' notice before your intended arrival. Access to the stupa is private property and permission to enter is at the guardians' discretion. The Portobello Stupa is located on a working farm. For your safety and to respect the farm's operations and animal safety, please ensure that you always leave gates exactly as you found them—whether open or closed. Thank you for helping us maintain this special place!
Activities at the Stupa
Apart from individuals, small groups, and students visiting the Portobello Stupa, people associated with the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre gather at times for ‘gardening working bees’, announced through DBC members' information channels (see the monthly edition of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre Newsletter on their Website or Facebook pages, plus text messaging for weather-related date changes).
Gardening work at these gatherings focuses on weeding, pruning, and filling in rabbit holes and is carried out without noisy power tools. It is followed by a sociable cup of tea at the guardians' house. Stupa ‘gardening working bees’ are an excellent opportunity to make closer contact with the spiritual teachers and members of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre community and to form a closer connection to the stupa grounds.
Casual Volunteers
A warm invitation goes out to those seeking a closer connection with the Portobello Stupa and who feel enthusiastic about actively contributing to maintaining and developing this special spiritual and ecological environment. You can register as a volunteer for jobs like the ones undertaken at the working bees. Further tasks include lawn mowing and brush cutting. Please get in touch with the guardian and indicate your interest and experience with gardening: stupavisit@harbourconesanctuary.co.nz
Portobello Stupa Visitor Enrolment
Contacting the Stupa Guardian
If you are interested in visiting the Portobello Stupa, we ask visitors from the wider public to use this Form to contact the resident guardians of the stupa grounds beforehand.
Notice Period for Visiting Portobello Stupa
Please ensure a minimum of two days’ notice before your intended arrival.
Safety and Protocol at Portobello Stupa
We recommend you wear suitable outdoor footwear to walk on the path leading to the stupa. Accessing this private property entails assuming your own risk. Please be aware that the grassy path can be slippery, especially in wet conditions, and may have occasional rabbit holes. Take care.
The Portobello Stupa is located on a working farm. To respect the farm's operations and animal safety, please ensure that you always leave gates exactly as you found them—whether open or closed. Thank you for helping us maintain this special place!
The stupa grounds are considered sacred. We request that all visitors act respectfully and with dignity. Due to the fire risk at the site, please refrain from lighting candles or offering burning incense at all times.
Visit Request Form
If you wish to visit the Portobello Stupa, please complete this Form, including number of visitors and estimated arrival time. Please ensure a minimum of two day's notice before your intended arrival. With prior permission, the stupa grounds are open from 10 am to 4.30 pm.