Dream Vacation in Dharamsala

I am a Buddhist and i have experience by studying at the Lam Rim and the Kalachakra along with other teachings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It has always been a dream for me to visit Dharamshala, but till now I have not really made that trip. All my studies that I have accomplished have been with His Holiness have been in either the US or in Canada.

I have researched my dream vacation so that I am prepared to take this trip. I have a friend who has visited Dharamsala who pointed out that it is steeped in history and this is a very educational place to take your children.

Getting There

Since I'm from the US I will first fly to New Delhi, India and then take a bus to Dharamsala. India is a large country so the bus trip is likely to take about 10 hours or more depending on road conditions. I want to avoid the monsoon season.

Other names given to Dharamsala include Upper Dharamsala, Lower Dharamsala, McCloud Ganj, Dhasa, or Little Lhasa. It is situated in the beautiful Kangra Valley. The scenery in the Dauladhar hills is spectacular beyond words. Known as one of the hill stations Dharamsala is a base for trekking in the Himalayas. Also day hikes there are wonderfilled. There are many travel guide companies in this area for your pleasure.

History of Dharamsala

If you do not know the history of Dharamsala, let me fill you in. In 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped over the Himalayas from the Chinese who had invaded Tibet. The government of India gave His Holiness asylum in Dharamsala. He went on to set up the Tibetan Government in Exile there. Since then many refuges come to Dharamsala yearly and a large community of Tibetan's have also taken asylum there.

Many volunteers, especially from England and the US, come to Dharamsala to teach English and computer skills to the exiled Tibetans. The Tibetan's like it there because of the fabulous natural beauty of the Himalayas which they have left. It is much hotter in Dharamsala than in Tibet, and this can present a problem, especially for those who just recently arrived. The area from which the Tibetan's fled from China is now dubbed Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

This conch shell is a symbol of the Dharma and I bought it while visiting Kathmandu in 2005. The Photo was taken by Marsha Camblin and is copyrighted. To see some products I created with the photo above simply click on the photo of the conch.

Tibetan Children's Village

There was a need for a place for a large number of orphaned children or kids separated from their parents due to their difficult escape across the Himalayas. Thus the TCV (Tibetan Children's Village) was created to fill this dire need. The TCV has provided a home and an education to thousands of Tibetan children since 1960. Many of the kids were malnourished or ill upon their arrival. The TCV's mission is to provide "care, education, and hope for the future..." to these refuge children from Tibet focusing on Tibetan cultural heritage, values, and language so that these children grow up knowing who they are.

Thus far the TCV has served over 33,000 children. They now have school branches all over India. They appreciate all donations to help support the constant influx of children with needs for food, clothing and shelter.

Be sure to stop by for a visit with these precious, friendly, happy kids. It will be a highlight of your visit to Dharamsala.

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts

The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts was created by the Dalai Lama to promote the practice and preservation of traditional Tibetan culture such as dance, music, and theater. So be sure to check the calendar and see if you can take in a performance while visiting Dharamsala. This should truly be a treat!

Where I Plan to Stay

There are plenty of very nice places to stay while visiting Dharamsala

This particular place caught my eye. Just look at the spectacular view from the rooftop restaurant.

The Snow Crest Inn is a great hotel for a truly memorable holiday experience. Experience each one of Dharamsala attractions and things you can indulge yourself in and around this hill station resort. It is a 10 minute walk to the Tibetan Children's Village.

Norbulingka Institute

The Institute offers a place for Tibetans to work by focusing on preserving Tibetan culture and identity. Work to create the institute began in 1988.

One of the attractions At the Norbulingka Institute is the Losel Doll Museum, if you are travelling with kids you won't want to miss this one.

Here is a review of Norbulingka Insititue I found on Trip Advisor reads as follows:

"Lovely way of preserving Tibetan Culture"

You can also indulge in a half a day's sight seeing at the Norbulingka Institute. We hired a cab from Mcleodganj, but you can also take a bus. The gardens are incredibly charming due to their amazing greenery, the piped music, prayer flags and waterways. A cafe is also located there too along with a pleasant restaurateur with a delicious menu of salads and soups.

I especially liked the Doll's Museum, where the fine and delicate costumes of the dolls provided me with a deep insight into the original Tibetan culture and the extreme hardships that the climate and altitude bring to everyone’s lives.