Activities in Western Himachal Pradesh
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Tushita Meditation Centre
Near Dharamkot, Tushita offers eight-day nonresidential courses and 10-day residential retreats in Buddhist philosophy, plus courses for advanced students.
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Sangye's Kitchen Cooking Courses
Tibetan treats, with a different menu daily. Book one day in advance.
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Branch Security Office
Meeting face to face with the Dalai Lama is a lifelong dream for many travellers and certainly for Buddhists, but private audiences are rarely granted. Put simply, the Dalai Lama is too busy with spiritual duties and running the government in exile to meet everyone who comes to Dharamsala. Tibetan refugees are automatically guaranteed an audience, but travellers must make do with the occasional public teachings held at Gangchen Kyishong during the monsoon (July/August), after Losar (Tibetan New Year) in February/March and on other occasions, depending on his schedule. For annual schedules and just about everything you need to know about His Holiness, check out www.dalaila…
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Walks
Interesting short walks around McLeod include the 2km stroll to Bhagsu and the 3km walk northeast to Dharamkot, for uplifting views south over the valley and north towards the Dhauladhar Ridge.
A popular longer walk is the two-day return trip through boulder fields and rhododendron forests to Triund (2900m), a 9km walk past Dharamkot. Triund has a simple rest house and you can stop overnight and stroll up to the glacier at Laka Got (3350m) before turning back to McLeod Ganj. There's a scenic route along the gorge from the waterfall at Bhagsu. From Triund, you can trek to Indrahar La (4300m) and the Chamba Valley.
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Z Meditation
McLeod Ganj has dozens of practitioners of holistic and alternative therapies, some legitimate and some making a fast buck at the expense of gullible travellers. Adverts for courses and sessions are posted on noticeboards all over McLeod Ganj and in Contact magazine, but talking to other travellers is a better way to find the good practitioners. Be warned that some women travellers have been molested by so-called 'therapists'. Readers have recommended Z Meditation.
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Mani Mahesh Travels
Near the Lakshmi Narayan complex, Mani Mahesh Travels can arrange treks with guides and porters in the foothills of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar (Rs1200 to Rs1800 per person, per day, depending on altitude), as well as informative tours of Chamba’s temples (from Rs550).
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Tibetan Children’s Village
About 4km northwest of McLeod Ganj on Mall Rd, peaceful Dal Lake is home to the Tibetan Children’s Village, which provides free education for some 2000 refugee children. Visitors are welcome and there may be opportunities for volunteers.
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Trekking
It's possible to trek from McLeod Ganj to the Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, and there are several agencies in town who can make the necessary arrangements. Probably the most popular route crosses the 4300m Indrahar Pass over the Dhaula Dhar to Bharmour.
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VolunteerTibet
VolunteerTibet is a community organisation that arranges placements in areas of need – eg teaching, computer training, and social services. Volunteers with two months or more to spare are preferred, but short-term placements can also be arranged.
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Himalayan Travelling Agency
Treks from Bharmour can be arranged through the Himalayan Travelling Agency, by the HP State Coop Bank in the bazaar. Expect to pay around Rs1200 a day, for food, tents, guides and porters. The trekking season lasts from May to late October.
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Regional Mountaineering Centre
Uphill from the bus stand on the road to Dharamkot, the Regional Mountaineering Centre can arrange treks and adventure activities and offers courses and expeditions on set dates. It can also provide a list of registered guides and porters.
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Tibetan Welfare Office
The Tibetan Welfare Office can provide advice on other opportunities for volunteers around McLeod Ganj, including environmental efforts such as the Clean Upper Dharamsala Project.
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LHA - Volunteering
LHA arranges placements at a variety of local community projects. You need a minimum of two weeks for teaching placements and one month or more for serious vocational programmes.
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Tibetan Universal Massage
The recommended Tibetan Universal Massage offers training in traditional Tibetan massage. Courses run for five afternoons on set dates and cost Rs1500.
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Tibetan-language Courses
Inside the Gangchen Kyishong complex, the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives runs long-term Tibetan-language Courses for beginners and experienced students.
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Palampur Tea Cooperative
You can pass a few hours observing the tea-making process at the Palampur Tea Cooperative, about 2km from town on the road to Mandi.
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Vipassana Meditation Centre
Located in Dharamkot, this centre runs strict 10-day retreats on vipassana (mindfulness meditation) from April to November.
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Private Language Tuition
LHA offers private language tuition or there are several independent Tibetan teachers - check Contact magazine for details.
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Lha
Lha runs yoga classes at 7.30am and 5.30pm (Rs100 per session) and also runs reliable Tibetan massage sessions.
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Buddhist Philosophy Courses
There are Buddhist Philosophy Courses at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in the Gangchen Kyishong complex.
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Universal Yoga Centre
Universal Yoga Centre gets good reports for drop-in yoga classes and longer courses.
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Sangye’s Kitchen
Tibetan treats, with a different menu daily. Next to Tashi Choeling Monastery.
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Eagle’s Height Trekkers
A reliable trekking operator. Also runs birdwatching tours and 4WD safaris.
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