It has been almost more than three months i was chasing the office of the H E Dalai Lama for a meeting with the spiritual guru.As i have already planned for my Indrahaar pass trek near Dharamshala, i though it would be a great idea to meet H.E Dalai Lama.I am not a believer of any kind of  super or supra spiritual guru concepts but i am really fascinated by the aura and the respect that Dalai Lama commands throughout the world.

 

 

First time i tweeted the official handle of Dalai Lama requesting for a meet that goes unreplied.Then i dig into the webpage of the Dalai Lama and mailed the office of the Dalai Lama requesting the meet and i also called their office.The officials said its difficult these days to get a private audience with the spiritual guru but advised me to send the mail anyway.In the mean while i got a reply by mail that due to busy schedule of HE Dalai Lama its not possible to get a private audience but to call the office again on the date of my arrival in Dharamshala to see if any last moment arrangement could be done.I was disheartened by the reply as i was already in the frame of mind to meet him.

It was a perfect sunny day when i reached the Kangra airport.The noon sun was shinning bright but within half an hour the clouds engulfed the sky over Dharamshala and it started raining like cat and dogs.Stuck in the road with rain lashing the window pane of the car,i was thinking about the meeting with Dalai Lama that was never going to happen.After one hour the rain slowed down and the traffic on the road receded.It was evening by that time and i moved straight into the starting point of the trek.Switching on my headlamp i started my trek.Within two days i completed my 14000ft Indrahar Pass trek.I started my trek downhill early in the morning to visit the Dalai Lama temple in Dharamshala.

It was an overcast morning with clouds passing through the overheads in the picturesque hill station.The hill station was looking lush green in the monsoon season.After walking a few kilometers through the city i found the direction to the temple.As i entered the temple sanctorum,i found the monks in the red robes are walking in out of the temple.After the security check at the entrance i asked one of the guy there whether Dalai Lama is present that day in the temple and the guy replied a firm no.Then i continued walking towards the main entrance of the temple consoling myself to try another time.

As i reached the main entrance i found a group of young monks in their red robes with such innocence in their faces were sitting in a file in the sanctorum.It was such a beautiful sight to watch on.In no time an elderly monk came and the young monks started reciting something with synchronized movements.I couldnt take my eyes off.When i enquired later i found that they were attending a class.That was the class i would have love to attend although i never was attentive in my classes.

Then i walked 20 steps and i saw a lot of lamps were lighting in a little room nearby.Seeing so many lamps were burning in a room and two monks were putting the fuel in the lamp and were lighting it, i asked one of the monks to get inside the room and he said no at my face.Many of the people were waiting outside and clicking photographs from the window.But i waited there more than half an hour requesting them to let me in to lamp room and used my poor convincing skills that i learnt in my organisational behavioral classes.At last the other monk budge and they let me into the room.I was taken aback by the number of lamps,they were neatly arranged in line and one monk is putting the fuel into it and the other monk was lighting the lamps.The room was filled with stoic silence yet the sound of silence was so vibrant and lively.The lamps were burning bright making it a sight to behold.I requested them to light a lamp and they let me to that.It was one of the best experience ever.

Then i moved on to the main hall where the large idol of Lord Buddha is being worshiped.I roamed around the temple complex rotating the buddhist prayer wheels and reading out the prayers written on it.It is the best place to enjoy the scenic beauty of McLeodganj from a height.The location of the temple is such that one would feel as if he is floating in the air when watching the city from the balcony of the temple complex.By the time i was about to leave there were also other monks reciting their prayers in the other side of the sanctorum. I talked to their head monk and asked him for a photograph (Customary for my trip) with me which he obliged.My date with H E DalaiLama didnt materialise but the date with the Dalai Lama temple was a success.I am now looking forward to try my luck again to meet HE Dalai Lama.

 

 

Location: walking distance from the McLeodGanj bus stand

How to Reach there: By Bus-McLeodganj is well connected by bus from Delhi,Kullu,Shimla and Pathankot.

Nearest Airport: Kangra (20 km from McLeodganj)