March 28, 2018
March 26, 2018
Places to Visit in McLeodganj
Nestled amidst the snow capped Dauladhar range in Kangra, McLeodganj
and its twin town Dharamshala have been spiritual abodes for years and also
home to the Dalai Lama. However, in the last couple of decades, McLeodganj has
grown into a popular backpacker destination with travellers and adventure enthusiasts
rubbing shoulders with the red robbed monks in the alleyways of this hill
station. There is an eclectic vibe of cultures, cuisines, shops, cafes and
music across the town as the place offers myriad things to every kind of
visitor. Also referred as Little Lhasa, McLeodganj was a British outpost in mid
19th century when they shifted from Kangra. However, a devastating
earthquake in early 20th century made the British shift and it was after
the Dalai Lama made this his home that McLeodganj began to flourish again with
a huge Tibetan contingent. Further, it has now become a sort of
hippie town with visitors and travellers from all walks of life heading to this hill station.
Here is a list of must visit places while in McLeodganj.
Temple Complex (Tsug Lha Khang):
Probably the most popular place to visit in McLeodganj, the
temple complex is the heart of the town with Dalai Lama’s residence and Buddhist
temples. The main shrine has a gilded Buddha statue with statues of Padmasambhava
and Avalokiteshwara next to it. It also houses numerous Kagyurs and Tangyurs which
are teachings of Buddha and interpretations of the teachings respectively. The
other temple known as Kalachakra is quite a colourful one with gorgeous mural art
adorning its interiors. The complex is home to a huge contingent of Buddhist
monks and if you are lucky you could catch them during a session of discussion
on their learning which is an interesting watch. The complex also houses a
Tibetan war memorial and a Tibetan museum which has displays of Tibetan
history, photographs and numerous stories of their hardship during the invasion
by China.
St. John in the Wilderness
Located amidst the tall deodhar trees is the Church of St.
John in the wilderness which was built in 1852 CE. The stone church is known for
its beautiful stained glass windows and is one of the oldest structures in
McLeodganj. The church has a gothic character to it and is one of the oldest cathedrals
in North India. The premise also has a cemetery which has graves of Englishmen
including that of former British Viceroy, Lord Elgin.
Bhagsunag Waterfalls
A short distance away from the centre of McLeodganj,
Bhagsunag has a popular Shiva temple. Further ahead of the temple is the waterfall
that goes by the same name. It is a nice short hike away to the falls from the
temple. Though the falls isn’t a big one, the surroundings are beautiful and the
views are lovely. There are a few tea shop en-route and near the falls.
Dal Lake
Engulfed by cedar trees, the oval shaped Dal lake is a
sacred one and there is a fair that is held here every year. The lake offers
boating facilities and has a Shiva shrine nearby. This small lake is 2 Kms from
McLeodganj and it is a lovely walk all the way.
Alleyways
The alleys of McLeodganj are an absolute delight to stroll
through. Lined with numerous shops selling myriad items, cafes offering a wide
range of cuisines and a vibrant ambience, the heart of this hill station lies in
its alleyways. From hippies to Buddhist
monks, they are all spotted on these narrow streets that are ideal for a languorous
walk in the evenings.
Dharamkot
Dharamkot is an alternative base to Mcleodganj and is a couple
of kilometers further up from the centre. With beautiful views of the
surrounding mountains, the place is ideal if you would like to stay away from
the crowds of McLeodganj. The place also has its own cafes and guest houses
apart from a meditation centre. Dharamkot is popular with trekkers as this is
the base for the trek to Triund and further ahead to snowline.
Triund
The trek to Triund is the most popular adventure activity in
McLeodganj and it is a lovely hike all the way with gorgeous views of the
mountains and valleys. Engulfing mist,
mountain dogs and fellow trekkers are what you encounter on this trek along with numerous tea stalls. Though the trek can be completed in a day, one can also
camp atop the summit as there are a few tent providers. The trek further ahead to
snowline is also quite a favourite with trekkers.
Norbulingka Institute
Located in Dharamshala, which is 9 Kms away from McLeodganj,
the institute presents the rich Tibetan culture through its workshops where
many craftsmen work on their skills. The institute also has a temple which has
a Buddha statue along with Buddhist scripts and paintings on display. A major attraction
at the institute is the Losel Doll museum, which displays the cultural,
religious and theatrical costumes of Tibet through a huge collection of dolls.
Gyuto Monastery
The monastery is near Norbulingka institute and is also
referred as Karmapa monastery as Karmapa, the third in line after Dalai Lama
and Panchen Lama resides here. The main shrine houses a large statue of Buddha.
The monastery follows Kagyu sect of Buddhism and practices Tantric studies.
Navigator:
Mcleodganj is located 9 Kms from Dharamshala in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The closest airport is at Gaggal (22 Kms away) and the nearest rail head is at Chakki Bank (91 Kms away). There are frequent buses between Dharamshala and McLeodganj. There are buses plying from Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali and Shimla to McLeodganj.
March 23, 2018
March 21, 2018
March 14, 2018
Dancing Monks!
Buddhist monks practicing dance at Tashijong Khampagar monastery.
Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. October 2017.
March 13, 2018
6 Important Things to Note While Making a Travel Plan
In today’s world, travel has
become a significant part of our lives and we have all become frequent travelers.
From day trips to weekend drives to long weekend holidays to annual vacations,
travel has taken over our lives and we eagerly look forward to our next one.
While it is stimulating to plan travels, create itineraries, pack your bags and
hit the road, we also need to take into consideration a few things we usually
miss out in the midst of all the excitement. Here are a few pointers that would
help make your travel a happier one.
Always keep the itinerary flexible: While creating itinerary is an
important part of any travel, make sure to keep it flexible. A fixed itinerary
with absolutely no flexibility could create problems in case of any unforeseen
circumstances. A flexible itinerary would help to make sure that even if the
original plan doesn’t work out, you have an alternative.
Travel insurance is a must: Even if the travel is within the
country, make sure to get a travel insurance as it covers your medical expenses, luggage loss, accidents or
any such unforeseen emergencies during the travel. There is also student travel insurance available for students who travel abroad for their higher
studies.
Pack light: Most of the times we end up packing excessive luggage
or clothes that are hardly used. Excessive luggage can be a concern at airport
check-ins, cumbersome on treks and while travelling in public transport. With
regard to clothes, it is very likely that you would require only half of what
you have already packed.
Stash additional cash: There are ATMs present all across the world,
plastic money is accepted at most places and e-wallets too have become popular
these days. However, there might be situations when liquid cash would be the
need of the hour. Make sure to carry additional cash and stash them away in
your bag. Use it only in case of an emergency.
Carry copies of your photo IDs: Most hotels these days ask for your
photo identification cards and carrying copies of the same (driving license/
passport/Aadhaar) would be helpful as you don’t have to leave the originals
with them.
Keep medicines handy: While we generously carry biscuits,
chocolates and juices during our travel, what we mostly miss out are the
medicines. From band-aid to antiseptic lotions to pain balms to pills, you
should make it a mandate to mark medicines in the list of things to carry.
P.S.: This post is in
collaboration with Bharti AXA Insurance.
March 9, 2018
Triund: A Trek through Mist and Boulders
Mcleodganj has been a backpacker’s haven with travellers, hippies and adventure enthusiasts thronging this Buddhist hill town over the years. With red robed Buddhist monks making Mcleodganj their revered home, the charm of the place has further accentuated. Along with innumerable shops selling myriad collectibles and clothing, and some lovely cafes offering a wide range of cuisines, Mcleodganj has definitely made a mark for itself on the traveller’s map. A popular activity here which most visitors enjoy is the trek to Triund, which is a couple of hours from Dharamkot, Mcleodganj’s next door village.
I initially thought I got misled by the locals while finding
the trek route from Dharamkot to Galu temple. I was the only one on the stretch
and the route definitely didn’t seem like a trekking route. It seemed more like
the trail the locals take to commute. I slowly realized that I was right and
had taken the wrong route. However, the trail still led me to Galu temple after a
while, albeit the tough climb. Galu café nearby is a marker on this trek and
next to it is the forest entry where trekkers need to give their details before
trekking further.
The sun was warming up and it was a tough hike all the way
until the temple but from then on it was walk through the shades of stooping
trees. The initial walk became a hike and then a trek as I trudged along the
ridges chiseled on the slopes of the gigantic Dauladhar range. En-route, a few
vantage points popped up offering magnificent views of the valley, intimidating
mountains and also of Galu temple and Dharamkot village in the distance. The
route had many trekkers who were headed up and quite a number of people who
were headed back to the base after camping atop Triund the previous night. The
trek also had horses carrying various items for the shops at the top. There
were quite a few tiny shops that sold short eats and thirst quenchers on the way.
I did stop at many of those for a tea and the most popular among them is Magic
View Café, which proudly states that it is the oldest café on this trek and has
been present since 1984. The café is the midpoint on the trek and offers
panoramic views of the valley. There is also a small settlement nearby who are
mostly shepherds.
I hiked further and slowly the surroundings changed from the
narrow trail paths lined with trees to large boulders, floating mist and
interspersed forest stretches. It looked beautiful as the mist engulfed the
trail often and the temperature dropped too. Mountain dogs popped up from
nowhere and the gradient turned steep gradually. Clambering over rocks at
certain places, the trail turned fascinating as the landscape was absolutely stunning
all the way. Strewn with boulders, the mountains looked absolutely picturesque.
The final stretch to the summit was quite steep and I took it slow to reach the
top after two and a half hours from Galu temple.
Triund top was not clearly visible as the mist kept engulfing
the place intermittently. However, when the mist cleared, the gorgeous views of
the valleys and mountains opened up. I walked around for a while, enjoyed the
views and had some hot tea with maggi as the mist continued the hide and seek
game. The colourful tents and prayer flags against the green backdrop made a
gorgeous frame. Many trekkers camp overnight atop Triund and there are many
providers for the same. I was recommended
by many to visit snowline, which lies 5 kms ahead of Triund at 3350 meters.
Lahesh caves and Indrahar pass are further ahead of snowline. However, the
snowline looks beautiful during the winter months and with absolutely no snow,
I decided to skip the trek further.
The return was much quicker with more beautiful views and
tea stops in between. On the way back I made sure to take the right route this
time from the temple and the path led me through numerous deodhar trees back to
Dharamkot. The magnificent landscapes are definitely the highlight of this trek
and with numerous trekkers, horses, dogs, views and mist for company, the trek
to Triund is an ideal way to lose yourself amidst the nature while in
Mcleodganj.
Travel Tips:
- The summit is 7 Kms from Dharmakot and it usually takes anywhere between two to three hours one way.
- The trek can be done alone and the route is clearly marked all the way.
- If you intend to camp overnight, make sure to reach early to book the tent or book it in advance at Dharamkot or Mcleodganj.
- Mcleodganj is the nearest major town which is 9 kms from Triund summit.
March 7, 2018
Paragliding over the Hills and Monasteries of Bir Billing
It was a bumpy drive up from Bir to Billing traversing through the pine and oak forests. The 14 Kms stretch took more than half an hour and as we ascended, the excitement grew within me. We had driven all the way to Billing to fly down to Bir. Though I had done paragliding earlier in Naukuchiatal, Bir Billing is one of the prominent spots for this adventure in India and that made it all the more exciting.
Inder from Himtantra, who has been paragliding for more than
10 years, was my pilot for the glide. He also conducts classes for basic,
intermediate and advanced courses in paragliding. While Inder was busy getting
the parachute and harness ready, I gazed at the numerous paragliders who were
either up in the air or getting ready for their flight. They were in large
numbers and the colourful parachutes made them seem like tiny birds up in the
air. They glided for long balancing themselves in mid air before landing at
Bir.
Inder called out and soon I was buckled onto him and was
ready to take the instructions. ‘Do not run, just take a few steps’, was all
that he told me as he tried to get the parachute up. He repeated the line again
and I nodded. Before he could say that a third time, I remember taking two
steps and in less than 5 seconds, I couldn't feel the ground beneath me. We too had joined the colourful birds up in
the sky. Just relax and enjoy the experience said Inder, as we swayed over 9000
feet high to the tunes of the wind. It was a twenty minute ride with a lungful
of fresh air and amazing view of the landscapes. The town of Bir and its
monasteries seemed like a tiny speck as we glided over them. We smoothly landed
on the open ground at Bir in less than half the time taken to drive up. Apart
from paragliding, Himtantra also organizes camping, trekking and a few other
adventure activities around Bir.
Travel Tips:
- You can get in touch with Inder from Himtantra at https://www.facebook.com/himtantra or call +91-7833089934.
- The paragliding charges are INR 2500 per person.
- Palpung Sherabling monastery is 10 Kms from Bir and Tashijong Khampagar monastery is 18 Kms from Bir.
Navigator:
Bir is located in Himachal Pradesh and is 72 Kms from
Mcleodganj via Palampur. It is recommended to hire taxis or have your own
vehicle to reach Bir and to travel to the monasteries. Though there are buses from
Dharamshala to Bir, they aren’t frequent.
Food and Accommodation:
Bir has a few cafes and restaurants which serve both Indian
and Tibetan fare. There are a few guest houses in Bir town and a couple of
camping sites too.
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