DHARAMSALA
Dharamsala is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, and has come to prominence as the residence in exile of the Dalai Lama who is based in a small town of Mcleod Ganj just north of the Dharamsala itself.
Culturally the area is a mixture of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, giving a unique blending of cultures and religions.
TSUG LA KHANG, Mcleod Ganj
Tsug la Khang, The Dalai Lama’s temple, is the life-blood of the village. It houses the Namgyal Monastery and a number of shrine rooms.The largest shrine contains a huge gilded statue of the Buddha, along with two smaller statues of Chenresig and Guru Rinpoche. Parts of these statues were brought at great sacrifice from Tibet. The Dalai Lama’s residence and administrative offices are adjacent to the monastery.
The temple is always busy. Services are held daily and are attended by lamas, monks, nuns and lay people. In the shrine, you might come across a group of monks building an intricate sand mandala, and outside in the courtyard on Thursdays, monks debate Buddhist philosophy.
Around the temple hill there is a long meditation trail — LingKhor — with small shrines, stupas, and a massive chorten. The shrines near the chorten are always covered in thousands of prayer flags placed by devotees.
The temple is located a short walk down the hill from the main square at the centre of town.
NORBULINGKA INSTITUTE
The Norbulingka Institute is a self-sustaining community located in Dharamsala, dedicated to ensuring that the integrity of Tibetan artistic traditions is maintained for generations to come. Art is a large part of the culture, and by maintaining artistic lineages, the Institute helps to conserve the unique identity of Tibetans and the sacred traditions which took root in Tibet.
Norbulingka is a diverse community of over 300 people made up of masters and their apprentices, scholars and students, administrators, and hospitality staff. Employees hail from every region of Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora in India, and each individual has a unique story to tell. The goal of the Institute is to give a glimpse into the lives of some of Norbulingka's employees in hopes that people will gain a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture as a whole, and the values, dreams, and struggles of Tibetan people in exile.
MASROOR TEMPLE
Masroor Temple in Kangra is believed to have been built by the Pandava brothers, of the Hindu epic the Mahabharata. It is a group of 15 monolithic rock-cut temples.
The main shrine consists of the idols of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. The temple also has carvings of Buddha.
The temple is located on a hill, and has a pond within its grounds. A view of the snow-clad Dhauladhars is seen from the temple during the winter season.
Masroor is about 50 km from McLeod Ganj. Driving will take about one-and-a-half hour.
TUSHITA MEDITATION CENTRE
Tushita Meditation Centre provides for the study and practice of the Tibetan Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.
Tushita was established in 1972 by Lama Thubten Yeshe, a highly qualified Tibetan Buddhist teacher. Since Lama Yeshe’s passing away in 1984, his main student Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been the spiritual director of Tushita and the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition).
The meditation centre provides a friendly and conducive environment for the people of all nationalities and backgrounds to learn about the teachings of the Buddha. Tushita organizes regular introductory courses on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. There are various intermediate level courses, as well as group and personal retreats which are available for experienced students.
The centre is located in the forested hills about two km above McLeod Ganj.
