Places to See in Mcleodganj Dharamshala India

The most memorable experience of my Journey was when the temperature dropped to almost zero degree and I woke up at 0400 hours due to extreme Cold temperature and no heating facility besides my jacket and socks , as I woke up to the dark night, in an instant decided to capture the Himalayan Sunrise on my Camera

Hiking the Himalayas between the Prayer flags

I was waiting in my hotel lobby to feel safe to move out and see something across the narrow streets, however to my surprise there were monks dressed in traditional red gown with handy prayer wheels and chants on there lips heading towards the " Tsuglag Khang "or better known as Dalai Lama Temple, due to extreme FOG the streets weren't  visible to my lame eyes hence I followed the Monks towards the Mountain and got the Best Shots to cherish for life.

Following the Right Path 

Devotee at Dalai Lama Temple 

Prayer wheels, has the MANTRAS engraved on each wheel and as per the Buddhist Belief, one must rotate the wheel to let the Mantras flow in the air, quite an effective way of chanting prayers.

"Om Mani Padme Hum" the basic of all Mantras is engraved on the prayer wheels, prayer flags and even on random stones as you walk pass the Monestary giving a sense of Holiness and Divine ethnicity as the simple harmony and the rich values which people here follow. 

St.John's Church built in 1862 - was one of the most dramatic places I have ever been to, there was so much of history going on in here at once, though the church was closed I sneaked in after bribing the Care taker and felt the presence of English culture in India with pure sense of great monumental architecture.

Amidst of the Great Pine trees 

St John's Church, Macleodganj India

Jogiwara Road right in the Middle of the Main Chowk is the best shopping place to buy Nostalgic Tangka  paintings, symbolic icons and Local in-vogue fashion.

Tangka Art in Process

A 7feet tall Finished Tangka Painting 

Dharmkot, TIPA ( Tibetian Institue of Performing Arts), Bagsu Waterfall, Dal Lake, Triund, TCV (Tibetian Children Village) and many more to name a few places that changed my over all prospective towards life. 

Cultural Photography in the Land of Gods - Himachal Pradesh.

As My journey continues up on  the Higher altitude the climate gets colder and humans around me gets warmer, The best way to have an excellent picture is through simple communication.

Land of Gods where Temples are faded amidst the mighty Himalayan ranges

Kites of Mighty Mountains 

Engraved name buried deeper 

Child with a Bright future

Water as a best source of offering to God as one of Tibetian Custom

Top Ten Tips to Travel on a Limited Budget to Dharamshala India.

The train Journey is of two days, wandering in and around five Mainland states of Central India.Starting from Bombay destined to Jammu. Alighting station Pathankot in Himachal Pradesh.

My first bag-pack trip, no one just me, borrowed camera and a dead cell-phone, I was very sceptical to remove the indigenous expensive stuffs in train however people around me were so friendly that before we could even cross Rajasthan (Second State) I had already shared all the stuffs from my bag pack. 

Funny!Not Recommended !!

I am on a Limited budget and excited to make this Journey for the lifetime. So here's my list of Top Ten things I did to Travel on Limited Budget

1. Downloaded Maps " IMAGES" if you do not have a local  reception, this suffice the need to Hire a Guide to go Hiking or Trekking off the Himalayas .
2. Slip in the Budget hotels around $20 - $50 a night, bargain and have a long term deal of 15-20 days, not equipped with best amenities however better than sharing bunk beds .
3. Have Many pairs of Clothes so Laundry Spending is saved.
4. Hire a Bike for the entire term of stay. Just $10 a day, this ensure we cover more places from single point of stay without having to waste time waiting for Local transportation. Ride Safe !!
5. Make friends with locals ensures Stay, Transport at times even Meals are presented as a friendly gesture as Indian Tradition of "Athithi Devo Bhava " literally translates for Guest is God. Time to blend in share a smile and a good story. 
6. For Long term stay of around 4-6 months in the vicinity Kindly contact the local authority, many schools supporting Tibetians look for Volunteers to take up basic teaching in Schools, Stay along with basic sum of Rupees is given as a token of appreciation.
7. Bars and Pubs in Macleodganj  have friendly Poetry Singing and playing musical Instruments, participate in these activities to get some greater glimpse of the Tourist Culture.
8. Walking is the best source of sight-seeing, hiring cabs or private vehicles is a waste of a Dime.
9. Rechargeable batteries and Memory cards with higher capacity for electronic equipments is a must, be it for Cameras or Torch Lights.
10. Finally as we say Take nothing but photographs and Leave nothing but Foot Prints, Contribute to the Culture and Surrounding by not disturbing the harmony. 

Sunrise at Mcleodganj Home to His Holiness Dalai Lama

P.S : This may not be the conventional way to travel but who cares when you are all alone and no one to ask or answer to
Live it Strong.

My First Travel Diary. Himalayas - The Crown of Planet Earth .

My name is Rahul Sharma, at 23 years of my age I am a Financial Advisor, after the long two years of my Post graduation degree in Finance and completing Chartered Financial Analysis, at the end of the road I see myself caught up in this bubble of recession, that's when I thought of Experimenting with my other sense's than just working on Calculators and checking daily slopping market conditions.This is the month of January'09, My First travel Journey all by myself to the Land of Gods India Himachal Pradesh on my Quest to meet His Holiness Dalai Lama.

The trip to Himachal Pradesh occurred after reading the book based on the 

"True Adventure of Michael Palin to Himalayas" , and his interview with

" His holiness Dalai Lama the 14th - Tensin Gyatso" .

 My Loving Uncle who is a frequent visitor to this Place named Dharamshala - McleodGanj, booked my train tickets from Bombay. And the adventure of the entire Journey had already begun as he only booked one sided ticket. Hence I travelled without a return ticket or a fixed date to be back and the whole idea was to return when I Am bankrupt " Literally"