McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal

Recently I went on vacation to McLeodganj also known as Upper Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh in the month of August 2008. McLeodganj is the town also known for the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile. Though most of the time it rained a lot but still the trip was good and the Tibetan food fantastic. Here are a few photographs of the trip that I would like to share.

Entry into Himachal near Una

I drove to McLeodganj from Delhi on 14th August 2008 and it took me 14 hours to reach as for the first 9 hours there was heavy downpour till I was in the plains. There is a bad stretch of road between Una and Amb so one has to go very slow. Also lost more than half an hour on the way as at one stretch a big Eucalyptus tree was being cut by the villagers and therefore the road was blocked. While coming back it took me 12 hours to reach back to Delhi.

View on the Way

Sunset by the River

Namgyaima Stupa in McLeodganj

Tibetans Marching in Protest Against the Chinese occupation & Olympics

While the Olympics were on at Beijing each day at McLeodganj there was a candle light protest march against the Olympics, Tibetan occupation by the Chinese and the Tibetan genocide.

Protest Against the Chinese Occupation at the Tsug-Lha-Khang Complex

Dal Lake, McLeodganj

The walk to the Dal lake from McLeodganj is about three kms one way and is enjoyable as it is pretty green on the way.

Dal Lake, McLeodganj

The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness

This church was built by the the British in 1852 and is surrounded by big deodar trees and is surrounded by marble gravestones. This again is an interesting area to go to by walking.

Henna Trade on the Path

Wild Flowers

Wild Flowers

Trek to the Falls near Bhagsunag

Bhagsunag is again about 2-3 km walk from the town. This has become almost a mini-town in itself and is quite commercialized. The Bhagsunag temple, though supposedly very old (more than 10,000 years as the local put it) but there is not much to see from the architecture point of view as most of the complex has been remade with bathroom tiles!

The Waterfall

The walk to the falls and the fall itself, which is massive, is worth it.

The Natural Way to Chill Cold Drinks in Remote Places

Even Goats Need Shelter from Rains