Dharamshala — Peace is the synonym
Himachal diaries — I
Have you ever visited a place and didn’t wish to leave? A place which harmonized with your personality. A place which instantly blossomed your heart. A place which you have visited for the first time and yet you find a long-lasting connection.
Yes, for me — it was Dharamshala. And, no — this isn’t the aftereffects of my trip. This place gave the kindred experiences in its true sense.
Dharamshala is a hillside city in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh (a northern state in India). Surrounded with coniferous trees predominately Deodar and Himalayan pines. The Upper reaches of the Dharamshala is called Mcleodganj — a village with Tibetan establishments and home to H.H. Dalai Lama.
As our bus entered the valley with the onset of the Sun — the view of the Dhauladhar ranges mesmerized me. After a fatigue for 28 hours of Train+Bus journey, this picturesque invigorated me.
Also, our home-stay cum hostel’s view was overwhelming. The valley of Kangra — houses roofed with green & red asbestos has etched in my memory.
Later, the same day, we visited The Dalai Lama temple at Mcleodganj. The absence of spoken communication in the temple routed me to my inner self. My friends meditated in the temple. And, I contemplated about the ambience — to strike the right balance in the group :)
I wondered about the time when Tibetans came to India in 1959 when their fellow countrymen were mass murdered back home. The emotional turmoil of the refugees and struggle in starting a fresh life with scars of their destroyed culture. Were they welcomed by the people of this valley? Or did they had to fight for their survival? Did the people of Dharamshala share their homes & meals with the refugees? I didn’t find answers.
Strolling around the market near the temple — I captured this beauty. The little monk was intriguingly listening to a street musician.
Another point to mention — the people of Dharamshala, commonly referred to as Pahadis (a Hindi word for dwellers of the mountains). Their wondrous hospitality — from serving an extra paratha (a type of bread) to using respectful words in conversations. They welcomed with their gestures. And, Contentment flew through their face.
For me to describe Dharamshala in one sentence would be —
Peace is the synonym.
P.S. My phone’s camera sucks in clarity. Hence, some of the photos might be of degraded quality. And, some photos I have borrowed from my friends whenever my battery temporarily rested in peace.
