Almost two decades ago Ngawang Tenpa and 19 other Buddhist monks escaped the oppressive Chinese regime in their Tibetan homeland to India.

"There was no freedom, we couldn't study exactly what we'd like," Mr Tenpa said through a translator.

"It was difficult. We had a problem with lack of food and we were hungry."

Mr Tenpa fled his homeland, taking on the dangerous mountain passes on the Tibetan-Nepalese frontier, before securing safe passage to India.

He is now in Warrnambool with four other monks to create a sand mandala. They are spending five days in the city, creating the artwork at Gateway Plaza.

It is constructed from finally crushed coloured marble and is a symbol of a perfect world and its energy.

After hours of tediously creating the mandala, the monks will destroy it tomorrow.

Mr Tenpa said the aim of the mandala was to show how impermanent things are and about letting go.

"Some people feel sad when it's destroyed because it is so beautiful. But it doesn't feel sad for us because we understand what it means."

The reason for creating the mandala is two-fold -- to raise awareness about the plight of Tibetans and also to encourage Australians to join a sponsorship programs for Tibetans living in China and India.

Despite the Chinese occupying the vast Himalayan plateau for 50 years, Mr Tenpa was hopeful the country would soon gain autonomy.

A Tibetan documentary will be screened at the Archie Graham centre tonight at 7.30pm.

The mandala dissolution will be held at Gateway Plaza tomorrow at 3pm.

It is the monks' fourth visit to Warrnambool.