Upper Dharamshala, Home of the Dalai Lama

McLeodganj

Buddhism began in the foothills of the Himalayas in India with Siddhartha Guatama who is believed to be a reincarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu. Even though Buddhism is virtually non-existent in India today, it is home to many Tibetan Buddhist refugees including His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a small hill station named McLeodganj.

McLeodganj, named after a British lieutenant governor of Punjab, or “little Tibet”, is 250 km from Chandigarh in the foothills of the Himalaya. After an 8-hour bus journey through the night, we arrive to cold and rainy Dharamshala.

The city is tiny and filled with novelty stores, temples, and tourists amongst an awe-inspiring landscape. If I hadn’t been to Nepal prior, I would have been more impressed. Now that I am back in the mountains, I want more. Next stop is to Gangotri, via Rishikesh, to see where the mighty Ganga originates.