McLeod Ganj
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| ?McLeod Ganj Dharamsala • Himachal Pradesh • India |
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| Nickname: Little Lhasa | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 2,081 m (6,827 ft) |
| District(s) | Kangra |
| Falling Rain Genomics | |
Coordinates: McLeod Ganj or Mcleodganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala is a suburb of Dharamsala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" due to its large population of Tibetan refugees.[1] The Tibetan Government in Exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.
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[edit] History
McLeod Ganj is named after David McLeod, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.[2] During the British rule in India, the town was a hill station, where the British people spent hot summers.
In 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama came to India after the Chinese conquest of Tibet, and was offered refuge in McLeod Ganj.
[edit] Transport
The nearest airport is Gaggal. The nearest narrow gauge railway stations are Kangra and Nagrota. The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot. The town is well connected by road to Delhi and major cities of Himachal Pradesh.
[edit] Tourism
Tourism is an important industry in McLeod Ganj. The town is also known for Tibetan handicrafts, thangkas and garments.
[edit] Tibetan sites
The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple. It has three magnificent statues, of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, and a statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
Other Buddhist and Tibetan sites in McLeod Ganj include the Namgyal Monastery, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.[3], Gompa Dip Tse-Chok Ling (a small monastery), the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Gangchen Kyishong, Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung Monastery, Norbulingka Institute, and Chinmaya Tapovan.
[edit] Other places
The major tourist centers near McLeodganj include Dharamsala, Palampur, Kangra, Tatwani and Machhrial. Other tourist spots include:
- Triund
- A tourist spot on on the foothills of Dhauladhar range, located 9 km from Mcleod Ganj
- Church Of St. John
- An Anglican church located in the forest near Forsyth Gunj. The neo-Gothic stone building of the Church was constructed in 1852. The site also has a memorial of the British Viceroy Lord Elgin, and an old graveyard. The Church building is also noted for its Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin.
- Dal Lake
- A scenic lake, located around three km from McLeod Ganj, next to the Tibetan Children's Village. An annual fair is held here in August-September, and is attended mainly by the Girths and the Gurkhas.
 Stupa and prayer wheels. Main street, McLeod Ganj |
 Main Street, McCleod Ganj |
 Street in McLeod Ganj |
[edit] References
- ^ Diehl, Keila (2002). Echoes from Dharamsala Music in the Life of a Tibetan. University of California Press, 45-46. ISBN 978-0585468785. OCLC 52996458.
- ^ History of Kangra. NIC Kangra. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
- ^ Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Planning Commission NGO Database. Planning Commission, Government of India. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
[edit] External links
- Macleodganj, Falling Rain Genomics
