Dalai Lama teachings in Dharamsala and quick travel guide

Dalai Lama Teachings Dharamshala Gyuto Monastery

Mcleodganj, Dharamsala: Also known as Little Lhasa and famous around the world for being home to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mcleodganj is a beautiful town situated near upper Dharamsala and Three kilometres north of Dharamsala town (or 10km via the looping bus route),The Tibetan government-in-exile is based just downhill at Gangchen Kyishong. Nestled amidst majestic hills and lush greenery, this town is culturally blessed by a prominent Tibetan influence owing to the major settlement of Tibetans here. McLeod attracts thousands of international visitors each year to received spiritual teaching of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, take courses in Buddhism, meditation or yoga, trek in the Dhauladhar mountains, shop for Tibetan crafts, or just hang out and enjoy the low-budget spiritual/alternative vibe and the many good cafes and restaurants dishing up Indo-Italo- Israeli-Tibetan food.

With an interesting mix of travelers, volunteers, maroon-robed monks and nuns, the international dharma crowd and an increasing flow of Indian tourists, you’re never far from an interesting conversation here.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama Teaching in Dharamsala, HP, India

June 5 – 7, 2017- His Holiness will give three days of morning teachings on Nagarjuna’s Commentary on Bodhicitta (jangchup semdrel) & Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (laklen sodunma) for the Tibetan Youth at the Main Tibetan Temple.

August 29 – September 1, 2017– His Holiness will give four days of morning teachings on Buddhapalita’s Commentary on the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (drel-pa Buddhapalita) at the request of a group from Asia including Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam at the Main Tibetan Temple.

Places to visit in Mcleodganj, Dharamsala:

  1. Namgyal Monastery: Overlooking the mountain ranges of Dhauladhar, the Namgyal Monastery is situated within the Tsuglagkhang complex. This complex also is the proud home to the residence of Dalai Lama, among various other shrines, temples, bookstores, souvenir shops etc.
  2. Tsuglagkhang: Tsuglagkhang is the place where the Dalai Lama resides. It is one of the most significant places of worship which attracts devotees from all over the world and serve tourists as well.
  3. Tibet museum: This museum is located inside the Tsuglagkhang complex and has a collection of brilliant forms of Tibetan Art, which include history documents, pottery, handicrafts, paintings etc.
  4. Norbulingka Tibetan Institute of culture: Norbulingka Institute, founded in 1988 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi at Sidhpur, near Dharamshala is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms.
  5. Tibetan Library: The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is a Tibetan library in Dharamshala, India. The library was founded by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama on 11 June 1970, and is considered one of the most important centre for research on Tibetan Buddhist and culture.
  6. Men-Tsee- Khang: Men-Tse –Khang formally also known as Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute), is a charitable institution based in Dharamsala, India. The institute was founded by the 13 th Dalai Lama in Lhasa in 1916. In the aftermath of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, 14 th Dalai Lam came to India where he reestablished the institution in 1961 with the mission of to promote and practice Tibetan medicine as well as Tibetan astronomy and astrology,to provide healthcare and social service to people regardless of caste, color or creed, to provide health care based on service orientation.
  7. Church of St. Johns in the wilderness-This neo-gothic architecture was built in 1852 and is one of the most important churches in Himachal Pradesh. Located near Dharamshala and on the way to Mcleodganj , this church was built in dedication to John the Baptist.
  8. Trekking- A number of treks are available in and around Mcleodganj, ranging from simple to difficult terrains. There are also a number of institutes that provide training as well as tools and facilities for trekking.
  9. Dhauladhar ranges- The name literally translates into ‘White Range’ and the panoramic views and snow clad ranges here do all the justification to the name. The mountains provide a flattering view of the Kullu Valley is thickly laid with Pine and Deodar trees covered with snow.

Best Time to Visit Dharamshala:

Dharamsala is the most appealing hill stations that can be visited throughout the year. That offers a breathtaking view of the mountains and the lush coniferous forests. The exotic culture in Dharamsala along with dotted monasteries is attractive; it is an important center for the Buddhists. The weather conditions are pleasant in summer and we would like to suggest summer for the best time to visit, Dharamsala experiences rains during the monsoon and snowfall in winters, there is an added season of autumn. Dharamsala is a great tourist destination and can be visited any time of the year.

 

Seasons

 

Months

 

Temperature

Summers

March to June

20°C – 35°C

Monsoon

July to Sep

18°C – 22°C

Winter

Dec to Fab

4°C – 7°C

How To Reach Dharamshala

Travel options

By Air

The nearest airport is at Gaggal, about 13 kilometres away from Dharamshala. Gaggal airport connects Dharamshala to Delhi via Air India and Spice Jet flights. Tourists from other parts of India would find it easier to take a flight till Chandigarh and book a taxi for their onward journey to Dharamshala, which is about 275 kilometres away.

By Bus

Dharamshala is well-connected to Delhi and other parts of North India via a network of state operated buses as well as private tour operators. The journey is almost 520 kilometres from Delhi. Most buses stop at the main bus terminal in Lower Dharamshala, but there are also some public Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and also some private buses that go all the way to the main square of McLeod Ganj. An overnight journey from Delhi takes about 13 hours. You can book HRTC tickets online.

By Train

An overnight train journey is a good option to reach Dharamshala. The nearest major railway station is at Pathankot, 85 kilometres away. There are numerous trains that go to Jammu and Kashmir that stop by in Pathankot. You can take a taxi or bus from Pathankot to reach Dharamshala. There is also a smaller railway station, Kangra Mandir, just 22 kilometres from Dharamshala but none of the important trains halt here.

Road

There are taxis available at the Gaggal airport as well as the Pathankot railway station for Dharamshala. From Pathankot, it takes around 3 hours to reach Dharamshala. The drive from Delhi via Chandigarh, Kiratpur and  Bilaspur should take around 12-13 hours. From Delhi and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Dharamshala. Our special teaching and retreat tour to Dharamsala will start form 26 th Aug To 3 rd Sept 2017: This Dalai lama teaching journey will be under the guidance of of Ven. Lobsang Jinpa a Tibetan Buddhist monk.

For more details: https://soulfultours.com/tour/dalai-lama-teaching-retreat-tour-to-dharamshala/

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