McLeod Ganj Himachal Pradesh

The Kangra Valley is also home to the unique Tibetan culture and “Little Lhasa in India” at Dharamsala, the hill town north of Kangra where the Dhauladhar range outlines the valley. The upper reaches of Dharamsala is called Mcleod Ganj named after Sir Alan Mcleod, the Governor of Punjab. In 1849 the British posted a regiment here and within a short time, it became a small flourishing hill station. The place was favoured by colonial residents and after independence in 1947, with the exodus of the British, the place became deserted.

Exalted Tenzin Gyatso His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, fearing persecution by the invading Chinese army, left Lhasa in Tibet overnight, in disguise and sought political asylum in India. 80,000 Tibetan immigrants followed their spritual leader and mentor and made India their home. Pt. Nehru, the then Prime Minister settled them in Mcleod Ganj. The place was liked by Dalai Lama and he made it his residence. The place is now more popular as “Tibetan Kingdom in Exile or “Little Lhasa in India”. It has a traditional aura, soft-spoken, smiling Tibetans and a bracing climate. Against the backdrop of the splendid, snow-capped Dhauladhar heights are pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron.

A 12 km climb from Mcleod Ganj brings one to Triund (2,800 m) where there is a level clearing, exotic plants and an ice pond. There is a divine, magical silence in this place. Beyond, at 3,065 m. is the lake of Karen, the adventurous one.

Around Mcleod Ganj are Dal Lake, Talnu fresh water springs near the ancient Bhagsu Nath Temple and the waterfalls 3 kms. away. Dharamkot (2 kms. ) is a quiet and peaceful place which offers very fine views of the valley and the mountain range. In this tranquil atmosphere is the Tushita Retreat Centre and the Vippassana Meditation Centre. They offer 7-10 days’ free residential courses on mediattion and spiritual retreat based on the 2,500 year-old principles and techniques of the Buddha’s teachings. In the main market at Mcleod Ganj is the Namgyalma Stupa erected as a memorial to those who laid down their lives for the cause of the freedom of Tibet.

Kullu

Kullu, a small township at 1,200 metres is 42 km. before Manali on the main Manali highway. Kullu lies in a narrow valley edged between the river Beas on one side and the towering Himalayas on the other. Lush pine forests and a network of hill trails dominate the valley. Also known as the Valley of Gods, Kullu was originally called Kulantapith, the end of the habitable world. Shrines dot the countryside and apple orchards abound. The celebration of Dussehra, every year in October, is a unique event in Kullu. Deities from village temples around are brought in palanquins to Dhalpur Maidan and kept in state for seven days along with Raghunathji, the presiding deity. Celebrations include a huge fair, dancing and singing, food stalls and brisk markets. Manali, at an altitude of 1,830 metres, lies in the upper Kullu Valley on the banks of the river Beas. It is a quaint settlement set amidst lovely forests of flowering cedars, circled by snowy peaks and the unending roar of the Beas as a constant companion. Manali offers opportunities for trekking, rock climbing, angling and winter sports.

Kangra

Kangra is often described as the `Valley of Delight’. Protected by the Dauladhar Range in the north, Kangra is on the banks of the river Beas. It is a lush valley with rich harvests of grain and a plentiful produce of fruit that includes peach, pear, plum and apricot.

Chamba

Chamba, a historic temple town, was the capital of the rajas of Chamba from the 8th century. The township is perched on the top of a cliff overlooking the river Ravi and is surrounded by dense forests inhabited by a variety of wildlife. At an altitude of 2,380 metres, this picturesque town has been the citadel of Hindu culture and religion for two millenniums. Its religious heritage is symbolised by six tall stone temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. It is also the base of the hardy gaddis, pastoral shepherds who spend the summer in the upper reaches of the mountains grazing their herds of sheep and goats.

Spiti

Spiti - For centuries a mystic aura surrounded the trans Himalayan tract of Spiti (locally pronounced `Piti’). This territory remained locked behind formidable mountain barriers and was only connected by treacherous passes and narrow paths.

Behind this veil of mystery and geographical isolation lay wonders that are hard to comprehend even today. In Spiti, where faith is as deep as the swift rivers, is the Monastery of Tabo, a jewel of a Buddhist gompa. In a land where the monsoon rains cannot reach, where winters are long and summers short, where the terrain has an almost ethereal yet mesmerising bleakness and life is hard, this gompa was founded in 996 AD.

Although Spiti lay in practical isolation for centuries, it has an introvertive culture and life focused around its several monasteries. It was ruled for several centuries by a hereditary wazir, styled Nono. The people are largely Buddhists. They are warm and hospitable and religion plays a major role in everyday life testified by the chanting of mantras, piles of mani stones and prayer flags.

The valley is narrow with little cultivable land and a few patches of willow and poplar. And for all this seeming bleakness, Spiti has a haunting and unforgettable beauty.

The bare hills around Tabo have been swept into uneven ridges by winds and snow. In a long boat-shaped valley, these hills hold a tiny hamlet that is home to some 350 people. Tabo Monastery in Spiti is one of the most sacred shrines of trans Himalayan Buddhism which is endowed with some of the greatest art treasures of the world. A wealth of wall paintings and stucco images unfold the elaborate iconography of the region. They also tell a tale of fortitude and painstaking labour that created these splendid edifices over two centuries. With its breathtaking murals, Tabo is often called `The Ajanta of the Himalayas’. Here is art that above all, is born of religion and deep faith. Tabo Monastery is a complex that holds 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monk’s chamber and an extension that houses the nun’s chamber. On the sheer cliff-face above the enclave are a series of caves which were used as dwelling units by the monks.