Stupkalnis Buddhist Centre: a retreat centre on a hill with a white Buddhist stupa

A centre and Lithuania's first stupa share the Stupkalnis hill

Stupkalnis Buddhist Centre is in Janapolis village near Kražiai, on the hill that has long been called Stupkalnis. A Diamond Way Karma Kagyu centre operates here, and its grounds contain Lithuania's first Buddhist stupa. The hill landscape and the white form of the stupa create the site's defining view.

Stupkalnis is the main centre of this tradition in Lithuania and the largest retreat centre in the Baltic states. This is not simply an isolated monument for photographs, but an active place for practice and gatherings.

The centre is organised around teaching, meditation, and retreats

Stupkalnis hosts teachings by important lineage lamas, practice weekends, and personal meditation retreats. Its purpose is tied to the Diamond Way community, so visitors should respect quiet, scheduled sessions, and people who came for practice rather than for a sightseeing tour.

What can be seen depends on the day. The stupa is an outdoor landmark, but meditation rooms, accommodation, and retreat areas are not automatically public exhibits. Ask the centre before taking photographs or walking beyond the outdoor areas that staff identify as available to visitors.

The 2022 stupa and what it represents

Stupkalnis's website says that Lithuania's first Buddhist stupa was ceremonially opened on 24 September 2022. Lama Nedo Rinpoche attended, and about 1,500 people from Lithuania and abroad came to the opening. The date distinguishes the present structure from the older history of the hill itself.

In Buddhist tradition, a stupa is explained as a symbol of the Buddha's enlightenment. Visit calmly and respectfully rather than treating a religious structure as a decorative attraction. Observe the architecture from outside unless a centre representative explains a different arrangement.

A country road leads to Stupkalnis

From Kryžkalnis or Šiauliai, follow the A12 or E77 toward Kražiai, turn toward Karklėnai after about 1.6 kilometres, and follow the centre's signs. The last part passes through a rural landscape, so set the navigation point before leaving the main road and allow extra attention for the final turns.

The coordinates 55.6097778, 22.6676389 mark the centre grounds rather than a separate public car park. Do not block gates or the approach road, disturb retreat participants, or assume that a map pin gives permission to enter every building.

Let the centre's rhythm set the terms of a visit

Stupkalnis Buddhist Centre is not a conventional museum with tickets and a daily tourist timetable. If you want to see the stupa, learn whether the grounds are accessible, or attend a teaching, contact the centre through its contact details first. This is especially important during retreats or events.

Follow the centre's arrangements on arrival: the stupa stands outdoors, while meditation rooms, accommodation, and retreat areas are available only with permission.

Forty-five to ninety minutes is enough for a quiet exterior look at the stupa and hill. If you attend teaching or a retreat, the organisers' timetable and access instructions take precedence over a tourist schedule.