Feb. 28th: The Tsuglagkhang Complex

Also known as H.H. Dalai Lama’s residence (or photang) and the exile equivalent of the sacred Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet, the Tsuglagkhang Complex is the primary destination for Buddhist pilgrims, and is where the Dalai Lama holds his once-a-year public teachings (as well as private gatherings, teachings, and affairs of state). I was fortunate enough to attend his public teachings in 2001, however, as one can imagine, it was difficult to get closer than about 40 feet to him because these areas are reserved for actual monks – still, it was quite inspiring to see him in person back then.

This is were H.H. holds his teachings...
 (this area is packed with monks!)

We were not permitted to take photographs throughout most of the temple so we don’t have a lot of pictures to show, but the statues and altars were beautiful. The Dalai Lama was on the grounds, somewhere, but busy, I’m sure, with more important things than entertaining us. He is scheduled to commemorate the 52^nd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day (when Tibetans finally, and unsuccessfully, tried to fight back against the invading Chinese) on March 10^th - unfortunately we will have left Dharamshala by then. (Visit www.dalailama.com for all the info you could ever want on His Holiness.)

The complex sits on the edge of the mountains with views of the mountains above (the Dhauladhar Range) and the Kungra Valley bellow.

Chortan Buddhist Temple in McLeod Ganj

We ate lunch at a restaurant overlooking the McLeod Ganj’s hub of activity – the jumping off point for new arrivals – and spent some more time shopping in the town’s wonderful shops. We ate dinner at our hotel’s restaurant for the first time, sharing a thali dinner between the two of us. 

Some local critters doin' their thing outside our balcony...

Nice try, Ryan, but this is not an asiatic brush-tailed porcupine...