Dharamsala

McLeod Ganuj, northern suburb of Dharamsala, is the home away from home for the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. It is in the foothills of the Himalayas, a four-hour drive from Amritsar. We attended two events in the Buddhist temple there: a prayer session for victims of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and a public appearance by two Nobel Peace Prize winners, His Holiness the Dali Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Dharamsala Our beautiful, Tibetan-decorated room at the Chonor House, which is run by the Tibetan Norbulingka Institute Dharamsala Hand-painted Tibetan art on the room walls Dharamsala Lobby of the Chonor House Hotel Dharamsala Central salon of Chonor House; note the heater and the warmly dressed children Dharamsala The temple was overflowing for the prayer meeting in honor of Tibetan victims of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Do not know whether this is the Tsuglagkhang or the Kalachakra Temple (probably the former).
in12 020815071 j a Statue of the Buddha in the temple Dharamsala Butter candles Dharamsala It was cold, so hot chai and bread were distributed to everybody. From generosity, not as a Symbol of some item of creed... Dharamsala Monks and laypeople at the temple Dharamsala Inside the temple, the deep-bass voices drone on.
Dharamsala What space was not occupied by monks was squatted by laypeople and tourists. Dharamsala View of Dharamsala from ... the men's urinal. The Chonor House (red, with balconies) is visible in the trees. Dharamsala The other side of the valley. Dharamsala Gate of Chonor House after a cold and snowy night Dharamsala Sun peeping through snowy pines
Dharamsala Prayer flags �berall Dharamsala Prayer flags on pine tree in morning light Dharamsala From Chonor House, we could see the golden top of the Tsuglagkhang Temple in the distance. Dharamsala We made our driver stop the car to look at the mountains. Dharamsala Beautiful mountains!
Dharamsala The road here is one lane and one way. Dharamsala The nearby town of Bhagsu is built on a hillside Dharamsala Curious temple interior with cobras Dharamsala To get a bit of exercise, we walked up this path (almost) to a waterfall. Dharamsala Bhagsu waterfall
Dharamsala Anybody know what kind of bird this is? We saw it on the way to the waterfall. Dharamsala Cottony flowers Dharamsala First time we have seen larches in India Dharamsala Yes, let's! Dharamsala The water here is gorgeously clean -- for the moment.
Dharamsala Happy Swedish tourist in ... scarf Dharamsala Looking down the valley Dharamsala Looking down the valley Dharamsala Only in India have we seen ladies carrying loads of bricks on their heads, and we have seen them all over. Women's lib or equal opportunity? Of course, such manual laborers are Dalits. Dharamsala Slouching American tourist in Tibetan cap and Swedish tourist in happy scarf. It was cold in the restaurant, so the waiter served us on the terrace on three chairs. Nice of him.
Dharamsala Dal Lake, near McLeod Ganj Dharamsala The Tibetan Children's Village provides free education for refugee children. Since it was winter vacation, not many of the children were around. Dharamsala We were given a tour by a young Tibetan lady. Dharamsala The TCV is located at the foot of the Himalayas. Dharamsala The "Baby Home" of the TCV
Dharamsala Siv and some of the children Dharamsala Downtown McLeod Ganj Dharamsala A morning without snow Dharamsala Lunch on the Chonor House terrace -- in the sun Dharamsala The center of McLeod Ganj
Dharamsala Yummy! Dharamsala Caught in the act! Dharamsala Monks strolling in the town -- with cow Dharamsala Chorten (or stupa) in a temple in the middle of McLeod Ganj Dharamsala Prayer wheels at the chorten
Dharamsala Sunset Dharamsala Mountains above Dharamsala Dharamsala Last look at the mountains Dharamsala Prayer wheels at the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala Dharamsala Norbulingka Institute
Dharamsala Temple at the Norbulingka Institute Dharamsala Norbulingka Institute temple Dharamsala Dolls in the Losol Doll Museum of the Norbulingka Institute Dharamsala More dolls Dharamsala Prayer flags at the Norbulingka Institute