Nepal

About Nepal: Nepal is the country which has been attracted travellers as an exotic destinations of the world for it's adventure, cultural, pilgrimage and wildlife travel packages. Mostly known as the Land of Everest, or the Birthplace of Lord Buddha. It has a variety of attractions to keep tourists coming back for more with its lofty mountains, deep valleys, lush green jungles, exotic wildlife and diverse peoples.
Pilgrimage in Nepal Situated in the lap of Himalayas. Nepal has been renowned for centuries as a pristine place for religion, peace and salvation. Nepal has been enjoying the honor of being the place of penance and spiritual gratification for sages, saints and rishis for the time immemorial. It is the place where centuries old temples of several Hindu gods and goddesses, sitting on the banks of holy rivers: Bagmati, Koshi and Gandaki, continue to attract devotees from far and wide; where many tributaries of holy Ganga originate from snow-capped Himalayas flowing down to Indian plains; where bountiful Nature shelters sages meditating at the foot hills of Luminous mountains or by side of tranquil holy waters; where the apostle of peace Lord Buddha, was born 2,500 years ago; where Puranas (Hindu Holy Scriptures) praise each of the hundreds of temples and monasteries spread across the country; and where diversity thrives in harmony.
The Himalaya is the youngest yet highest mountain range in the world and forms a natural border for Nepal in the northern front. For Nepalese these mountains are the sacred abode of the gods but they also continue to captivate millions around the world due to their sheer majesty and beauty; tempting thousands to attempt at conquering its peaks. Those who actually reach the Himalaya will tell you that the experience can indeed be very humbling.
Total of the fourteen peaks higher than 8000 meters, eight are in Nepal. Although there is no denying that walking up and down the hills for a close up view of the Himalaya is very much worth the effort, this we have to confess is not for everyone, due to the physical and time requirements. The Everest Experience is meant especially for those who don’t want to leave Nepal without touching the sacred and majestic Himalaya.

Duration of the Trip: It was a 6 days and 7 nights’ trip from Asansol, West Bengal. We started by 8 pm on Saturday and reached back to Asansol by next Sunday morning.

Transportation: We boarded Mithila Express (13021) from Asansol station at 8:08 PM on Saturday and reached Raxual at 8:30 AM next morning.
For returning back to Asansol we had boarded RXL-HWH Bi-Weekly Express (13044), at 7:45 PM from Raxual and reached Asansol at 8:05 AM.
Ticket cost Rs. 367/- for Sleeper classes, Rs. 977/- for 3 tiers AC and INR 1332 for 2 tiers AC for each.

Details of the Trip:
Day 1: After getting down at Raxul Railway Station, we hired a Tanga(Horse pulled cart) from outside of the station to reach Birgaunj(Nepal Boarder), 3 km from Raxul Station for Rs.70 per person.
We had our breakfast at Birgaunj and started for Kathmandu by 12’O clock noon. We hired a Tata Sumo for the journey which normally charges 750 NPR or Rs. 500/- (INR) per person to drop at Kathmandu bus stop. It’s a five hours journey and we reached Kathmandu bus stop by 5 pm. There was no good accommodation near the bus stop and we had to hire a car to reach Sundhara where hotels were available. That place was at a distance of 4 kilometers from bus stand. Initially the driver agreed for 300 NPR but as he had to wait for 10-15 minutes as we were checking out for a decent hotel. He demanded another 200 NPR. However, finally we opted for a hotel called
Hotel Siddhartha
Baghdurbar, Sundhara, Kathmandu
Phone Number: +97714267226, +97714216240Near Dharahara Tower
As it was a long and tiring day for us. We didn’t plan anything for the evening and decided to stay at hotel.
Day 2: Kathmandu valley, the political, commercial and cultural hub and the capital of Nepal is also famous for its natural beauty and historic, holistic places. The valley is rich in harmony for pilgrimage of both Hindus and Buddhists. Both of their deities well side by side by tantric symbolism and ancient animistic beliefs. On the second day of our trip, we decided to visit heart of Nepal and booked a package at a cost of 1280 NPR per head (or INR 800).
We had our breakfast and started for full day sightseeing at around 11 am. The places we visited -
Pashupatinath Temple, an UNESCO World heritage site, oldest Hindu temple of Pashupatinath or Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath is the other popular name of Shiva. Nepal is constitutionally a Hindu kingdom so non- Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple, though Buddhists are allowed. But no one is allowed to enter the inner sanctum except the Bhatts(priests of the temple), the main priests who come from the South of India. The temple starts swarming with devotees around 4 am every morning. There is evening art, scheduled every day at 6:00 pm.
There are many temples inside the Temple complex as
• Vasuki nath temple
• Unmatta Bhairav temple
• Suryanarayan temple
• Kirti mukh bhairav shrine
• Budanil kantha shrine
• Hanuman Shrine
• 184 shivaling Shrine

Bharabi Temple@Pashupatinath Mandir

Pashupathinath Temple

Bagmati River@Pashupatinath Temple

For many temples and idols in this premises photography is not allowed.
Top of the hill to the east of the temple is the ideal place for the non Hindu visitor to view the temple, its rich surroundings, and below on the edge of the Bagmati river ghats where the dead bodies are brought to be cremated.
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. Bodnath was probably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions; after the arrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, the temple has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Today it remains an important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis, as well as a popular tourist site.
Bouddhanath, the holiest shrine for the Buddhist culture in Nepal, From above, Bodnath Stupa looks like a giant mandala, or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. And as in all Tibetan mandalas, four of the Dhyani Buddhas mark the cardinal points, with the fifth, Vairocana, enshrined in the center (in the white hemisphere of the stupa). The five Buddhas also personify the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), which are represented in the stupa's architecture.
There are other symbolic numbers as well: the nine levels of Boudhanath Stupa represent the mythical Mt. Meru, center of the cosmos; and the 13 rings from the base to the pinnacle symbolize the path to enlightenment, or "Bodhi" — hence the stupa's name.
At the bottom, the stupa is surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. In addition to the Five Dhyani Buddhas, Boudhanath Stupa is closely associated with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Padmapani), whose 108 forms are depicted in sculptures around the base. The mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Om Mani Padme Hum - is carved on the prayer wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara around the base of the stupa.
The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms, decreasing in size. These platforms symbolize Earth, and here you can look out at the mountains while listening to the chants of the devout doing kora, walking around the stupa praying, next two circular plinths supporting the hemisphere of the stupa, symbolizing water.

Boudhanath Stupa 

Bell@Boudhanath Stupa

Entry fee for this place is 40 NPR per person.
Budhanilkantha is sleeping Narayana and is a pilgrimage for all Hindus. The colossal statue of lord Vishnu reclining on a bed of snakes on Water pond and is also called Jal Narayan. This located approximately 10 kilometers from the center of Kathmandu at the base of the Shivapuri Hill, is the largest and most beautiful, enigmatic stone carving in all of Nepal.

Budhanilkantha

On the way to The Driver stop @at roadside where we had our lunch.

Swayambhunath is a famous world heritage site with magnificent views of the Kathmandu valley and tribute to Buddhism. It also known as Monkey Temple. It is an antique Buddhist stupa, situated at top of a green shrouded hillock at the west of Kathmandu, it's famous among both Hindus and Buddhists. Swoyambhu literally means ‘Self-Existent One.’ It is the center of Lamaism where Buddhist texts are taught to young monks. Amazing to look at, the lofty white dome and a glittering golden spire that are visible from all sides of the valley. Swayambunath Temple gives way to the feelings of reverence and adoration. The stupa consists of a dome at the base and a cubical structure with eyes of Buddha looking in all the four directions. There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space above which the Gajur is present. According to Swayambhu Puran, the entire Kathmandu valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a mystical Lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created' or 'Self-Existent'. The Bodhistava Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it.

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath 

Swayambhunath

Entry fee for this place is 50 NPR per person.
Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Hanuman Dhoka square, is an UNESCO world heritage site and one of the major attractions in Kathmandu Valley. The Durbar Square is made up of two sub-areas. The outer complex is renowned for numerous interesting temples as Kumari Ghar , Kasthamandap , Shiv-Parbati Temple, Jagannath Temple, Big Bell etc ,while the inner complex comprises the old palace area ,Hanuman-dhoka and its courtyards as Nasal Choke, Mul Choke, Sundari Choke, Basantapur Durbar etc. Besides the magnificent temples and shrines, various festivals, cultural activities and traditions people are following from centuries, which are presented in the Durbar Square.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Hanuman Chowk @ Kathmandu Durbar Square

We headed back to hotel by 5 pm. Later in the evening we paid a visit near by Sundhara market which is at a walking distance from our hotel and a good place for getting jackets, bags etc. We also visted
Dharahara Tower, a 203 ft tall, 9 storied tower at the center of Sundhara in Kathmandu. It was built in 1832 by Bhimsen Thapa(Mukhtiyar or Prime Minister) under the commission of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari. The tower has a spiral staircase containing 213 steps. The eighth floor held a circular balcony to provide visitors a panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley. It also had a 5.2-metre (17ft) bronze mast on the roof.
On the way back to hotel, we booked a package tour for next three days from a nearest travel agency. The package cost 15000 NPR for three days. They travel agency provided us a Toyota Corolla for next three days sightseeing and accommodation was inclusive in the package.

Day 3: We had our breakfast and headed towards Nagarkot around 9 am, en-route we visited Bhaktapur Durbar square which is around 15 km away from Kathmandu.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the city is also known as a museum of medieval art and architecture with many examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated for different gods and goddesses which is 15 km far from Kathmandu. It is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five 'window palace' of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place-struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows-all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony. Pottery and weaving are its major traditional industries. The Major attraction of Bhaktapur Darbar Square
55 Window Palace is the main architectural structure dominating the entire Durbar Square. This magnificent monument was built in 15th century AD. Seated on a huge column top in a position of prayer to God is King Bhupatindra Malla.
Golden Gate is the main entrance to the palace. The artisan who worked on this wonderful gate must be from Heaven. It is an eternal beauty in itself.
Lion's Gate has two beautiful stone statues of Hindu deities installed on its either side. It is said that the hands of the artisans who produced this were cut off immediately after he gave a finishing touch to them. A jealous Bhadgaon King did this so that the artisan could not produce any more of such arts.
Mini Pashupati Temple is a royal dream temple as per localities. Folklore says - once a Bhadgaon King who was a great devotee to Lord Pashupati had a dream in which Lord told the king to build a temple for Pashupati right in front of this palace.
Vatsala Temple is dedicated to a mother goddess is full of intricate works on stone. This temple is known for its dog-barking bell. This bell is believed to produce a death knell when it is rung up.
Nyatapola Temple is the most famous pagoda of Nepal. Nyatapola in Newari language means fie tires - the symbolic of five basic elements. This is the highest pagoda of Nepal ever built with such architectural perfection and artistic beauty. This temple is dedicated to Sidhilaxmi, the tantric goddess of supreme power and success.
Bhairava Nath Temple is dedicated to Bhairava the God of terror and death
Entry fee for Bhaktapur Durbar Square is 100 NPR per person. It takes around 2 hours to visit the complete Durbar Square.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square 

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar square - Main Building

Bhaktapur Durbar square - Peacock Window

We started from Durbar Square and reached Nagarkot by 1:30 pm and checked in to the hotel and had lunch there.
Nagarkot is popular tourist destination of Nepal. It is situated 32 Kilometers east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2200m. above the sea level. It is a fantastic as well Naturally beauty place which provides the panoramic viwe of the major peaks of eastern Nepal Himalayas including Mt. Everest can be seen from here others including Annapurna, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa and Gauri Shanker, Ganesh Himala. From here one has a fascinating and mesmerizing view of the sunrise. Nagerkot is also known for the glorious views that it offers of the Himalayas. It has also served as a locale for the film makers of Bollywood and has seen many celebrity visitors who have found the place enchanting. When the sun reflects on these snowy peaks the view becomes absolutely spell binding.
We went to see sunset at a nearest view point by 4:30 - 5:00 pm. Though the same is visible from hotels also, but the view points give a better view.

Day 4: We woke up in the morning and went for sunrise by 5a.m. An awesome experience which is beyond any description. After sun rise , we came to hotel had out breakfast, checked out and headed for Pokhra. by 8a.m.

Sunrise @ Nagarkot

Sunrise @ Nagarkot

It takes 7 hours to reach Pokhra. We had our lunch in the roadside restaurant. This restaurant offers delicious and hygienic buffet at a cost of 350 NPR per person.
We visited Manokamna Temple enroute to Pokra. A cable car runs from the cable station of Cheres to reach Monokamna temple. The 2.8 km long cable car ride at a height of more than 1000m from Prithvi Highway to the Manakamana temple is an experience for lifetime.
Built in the tiered pagoda style, the Monokamana Temple dates back to the 17th century. It has a stunning Himalayan backdrop. Hindus believe that the goddess Bhagwati, an incarnation of Parvati, has the power to grant wishes, and newlyweds flock here to pray for male children. But this good fortune comes at a price – pilgrims seal the deal by sacrificing a goat, chicken or pigeon in a gory pavilion behind the temple. On Saturdays and other feast days, Manakamana almost vanishes under a sea of pilgrims and the paving stones run red with sacrificial blood.

Ropeway to Monokamna Temple

Monokamna Temple

For Indian and Nepalese , the cable car ride cost 345.00 NPR per head for one way and 575.00 NPR for toway. There is a separate cart in the cable car to carry goat which cost 220.00 NPR one way. The cable car usually operates during the daytime from 9am to 5pm stopping during lunch break from noon to half past one.
We finally reached Pokhra by 9:00 pm. Ideally it doesn’t take such a long time however we got stuck for hours due to land slide. We checked in at Hotel.

Day 5: We planned for Pokhra sightseeing on this day and started the day with Sunrise at Sarankot. Nothing can make you feel as divine as sunrise. This place is situated in 1350 m from sea level, from and gives a picture perfect view of Fish-tail, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal and other famous mountains of Himalaya Range.
The real white and orange during the sunrise will make you fall in love with Himalaya all over again.
We came back to our hotel, had our breakfast and again headed for visiting the famous places of Pokhra. Bindabasini Temple, known locally as Bindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly atop a hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara.

Brindabasini Temple 

The pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas. Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara's chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is an propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up a her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.
The ornate structure of Bindabasini temple is surrounded by a park-like landscape. Many come here to enjoy pleasant picnics whilst enjoying the amazing panorama. Spectacular views can be absorbed from this marvelous vantage point which looks out over the town of Pokhara and takes in some of the impressive Himalayas. Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is the fresh scent of “Dhup”.

Dhup-dai

A visit to Bindabasini temple can be combined with a stroll through the Old Bazaar.

Phewa Lake is the center of all attraction in Pokhara. This is the largest and most enchanting of three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. Here, boting around lake and visit the island temple (Barahi) in the middle of the Phawa lake.

Phawa Lake

The Barahi Temple or "island temple" is the most important monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the Center of Fewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protector deity representing the female force of Shakti.

Barahi Temple

Devi Fall, locally known as Patale Chango (Hell’s Falls) also known as Devins and Davids is a lovely Waterfall is about 2 km south West of Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway. Legend has it that a trekker by the name of Davy, was washed away by the Padi Khola and mysteriously disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.
Mahendra gufa or Mahendra Cave is a large limestone cave, locally known a s the House of Bats an apt name for it. A two- hours walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring our own torch to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local winged residents.

Apart from all of this falls, lakes and temples, the main beauty of Pokhra lies in the breath taking panoramic view of Annapurna Region, Dhaulagiri, Machapurche and other small peak.

Machapurche Range

While in Pokhra, one can also participate in river Rafting, Paragliding, Ultra- Light and Zip-flyer.

Day 6 : This was our last day at Nepal. We drove to Naudanda from Pokhra to witness our last sunrise at Nepal. We did all our packing on the prior night and checked out from our hotel at Pokhra before starting for sunrise.

After welcoming the sun, we directly went to Pokhra bus stand to take bus for Birgaunj. We had our breakfast at bus stop and took a bus at 7:30 am and reached Birgaunj around 1 pm.
It is very difficult to find any good and hygienic restaurant in Birgaunj, however a luckily we got one and had our lunch there. From Birgaunj to Raxual is just at a distance of half an hour and we had a train at 7:45 pm, but as we experienced tremendous jam while going to Nepal, we didn’t want to take any risk for Raxaul by tanga immediately after we finished our lunch at 3 pm and we reached station by 5 pm. What else, we took train and reached Asansol next day morning.

Disclaimer : This trip was made during March 2014, a long time prior to the massive Nepal Earthquake. This post might not be of any use anymore. All prices might have changed, many places have got destructed. However, I still wanted to write this as a small tribute to the beautiful place where I had a great time of my life. I tried to provide as much as details is possible for the trip. For any further clarification please feel free to contact, dutshilpi@gmail.com

Dharamsala

About Dharamsala: Dharamsala is the district headquarters of Kangra of Indian State, Himachal Pradesh. A place which means “spiritual dwelling”. This place has a major role in Indian history during various periods. From the earliest times until the British Raj, Dharamsala and its surrounding area was ruled by Katoch Dynasty of Kangra. The Katoch Dynasty is said to be the oldest serving Royal Family in the world.
During mid-1800 century, Dharamsala has witnessed the transformation of Gurkha regiment.
In the year, 1959, when The Tibetan settlement of Dharamsala began in 1959, when His Holiness, the Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet and then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru allowed him and his followers to settle in McLeod Ganj (in Upper Dharamsala), a former colonial British summer picnic spot. There they established the government-in-exile in 1960.
Now, several thousand Tibetan exiles have now settled in the area, and most live in and around McLeod Ganj in Upper Dharamsala, where they have built monasteries, temples and schools. McLeod Ganj is sometimes known as 'Little Lhasa ", after the Tibetan capital city, or 'Dhasa' (a compound of 'Dharamsala' and 'Lhasa'). It has become an important tourist destination with many hotels and restaurants, leading to growth in tourism and commerce.
Dharamsala is the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh. The Legislative Assembly is at Sidhbari, near the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram, and the winter sessions of the Government are held there.
The newest attraction of Dharamsala is Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. This stadium is situated at the height altitude in India and has the most beautiful background. This stadium is the home stadium for the Kings X1 Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Cricket team for Ranji.

Duration of the Trip: We had a trip of 8 days and 8 nights from Bangalore and we had visited Manali - Rohtang Pass – Keylong - Naggar - Manikaran – Dharamsala. However, Dharamsala can be covered within 2 days and 2 nights including the travel time from Manali/Delhi.

Transportation: As I have already mentioned, we travelled to Dharamsala from Naggar visiting Manikaran en route at a cost of Rs 4500/-. For coming back, we took a local bus from Dharamsala bus stop to Pathankot and from there we boarded Jammu Mail to reach New Delhi.
But this is not the common route taken by most of the visitors. There are direct volvo busses available from Delhi /Chandigarh /Manali which drop at the lower Dharamsala. They cost around 1500/- and same applies for coming back to Delhi /Chandigarh/ Manali. For local sight-seeing, we used local cabs. I will provide the details as and where I the situation will arrive. :)

Details of the trip
Night 1: We reached Dharamsala at around 11 pm. Ideally it doesn’t take such a long time to reach Dharamsala, but our cab had a flat tire on the way and the driver had no jack to change the tier. It was difficult to get help from other travelling car as well as they were rare at that hilly road and late night. So we had to wait for almost 2 hours when a car came and helped us. There was no proper restaurant on the way as well or might have been closed at that time. This led us to starve whole night.
We had already booked a room at Hotel Kunal. From our past experiences with HPTDC hotels, we had expected a better service. This is the WORST hotel I had ever stayed. First, we thought of taking the room of Rs 1000/- but the room was dingy and filthy with torn up bedcover. Then we opt for room of tariff 1400/-. This room was also stinking terribly and was not at all maintained. But it was the best room Hotel Kunal could offer us and as it was 12:00 at night, quite late for searching any other option than taking that room. Other than bad smell, the locks in any of the door were not proper and commode was broken. Hotel Staffs were using the vacant room next to our room and watching television in full volume which was really disturbing. After that somewhere around 2:00 am, someone started nailing something which felt like someone was breaking our head. Behaviour of stuffs was also very rude. I had spent entire night till 4 am, searching better hotels on internet and finally went to sleep at 5 am when the generous hotel stuffs switched off the television and stopped nailing.
In the meanwhile I booked a room for two of us in Snow Crest Inn in Naddi, a small village in upper Dharamasala, from ezeecloud.
Day 1: We woke up at around 6:30 in the morning and had cold and tasteless breakfast. But due to the starving from last night, we had no other option than eating that. We went out to check around for travel agencies as we had lost all the trust from The Kunal and didn’t wanted to take any further risk by taking any service from them.
We went to Ramdip Travel Agency, near Dharamsala bus stop. The first thing, one will notice as soon as they enter the office of Ramdip Travel Agency is the photos of the owner clicked with all the top most Indian and International cricketers. The owner claimed he arranges transport for all the matched organized at Dharamsala Cricket stadium. Well, which Indian won’t be clean bold by this, so did we!!:)
We hired a Tata Indica at Rs 1400/- which will show us around couple of places in Dharamsala and Kangra and will drop at Hotel Snow Crest Inn finally.
We checked out from Hotel Kunal and headed for sight-seeing. There are many famous Devi temples around Dharamsala but Ramdip suggested us not to go all the temples as those places are very crowded and we will end up spending our entire day in queues. The places we visited were,
Mata Brajeshwari Devi Temple, located in the old Kangra Township, is said to have been built over the charred breasts of Sati. This shrine, once renowned for its great wealth, has been plundered relentlessly over the ages. The first of the plunderers was Mahmud of Ghazni, who looted it in 1009. A mosque was built on the ruins and a garrison was left behind. 35 years later, the local king regained its possession. The shrine was repaired and a replica of the idol was enshrined. The temple was filled with gold, silver and diamonds only to be ransacked again in 1360 by Firoz Tughlaq. Later Emperor Akbar visited the shrine with his Dewan, Todar Mal and restored it to its former grandeur.

Mata Brajeshwari Devi Temple

Lions inside the temple

Throne of Devi

Actual murthi of goddess | picture courtesy Google Search

This place will show you all the different colours of Hinduism. One can witness tolis of devotee’s carrying chunri, bells tided in a big bamboo to show their respect, people tying small chunris in the Holi tree as a request to Mata for fulfilling their prayers. We also witnessed a lady who was shaking her head vigorously. Upon enquiring to the local people, we learnt that Mata has come inside the lady so she is behaving this way. However, we were not allowed to take picture of the same.

Tolis of Mata

Tolis of Mata

Wish Tree

On the way out of the temple, one can find many colourful stalls who sell almost everything starting from Devis murthy to chunris to puja samagris and many more.

It’s better to leave your footwear in the vehicle before you go to the temple. As your footwear has to be left unattended outside the temple and there are high changes of them getting damaged or misplaced. I experience this personally!!:(
Kangra Fort was built by the royal Rajput family of Kangra (the Katoch dynasty), which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is the largest fort in the Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India.
The location of the fort is such that it is inaccessible from three sides. This fort is a witness of the majestic architecture of India however in a ruined form.

Main Entrance of the Fort

Stairs leading to different part of the Fort

Manjhi and Banganga Rivers

Sahi Angan of Fort

Stone Craved Temple inside Fort

More stairs inside fort 

Architecture inside Fort

View of the Fort of ticket counter

Entry fee of Kangra Fort is Rs. 5/- per head. Also, an audio guide device is available at the ticket counter with a cost of Rs 100/- which is refundable upon returning the device. Once should must take the device to know more details about the fort. The dramatic storytelling with suitable background music took us to the period of Kutch and we could almost visualize everything on our mind and it was a moment of Goosebumps to imagine myself standing in the same place from where once the oldest Royal family ruled. Rs 100/- is a very cheap price we paid for that priceless experience.
Chamunda Temple is situated around 10 km west Palampur, on the Baner river. As per the saying, among the local people,
Around 400 years ago the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for permission to move the temple to some easily accessible location. Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her consent. She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient idol would be found and that idol should be installed in the temple and worshipped as Her form.
The king sent out men to bring the idol. Although they were able to locate it but were not able to lift it. Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream. She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone. She instructed him to get up early in the morning, take a bath, wear fresh clothes and go to the place in a respectful manner. He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not. He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the idol to the temple.
The temple now depicts scenes from the Devi Mahatmya, Ramayan and Mahabharata. The Devi's image is flanked by the images of Hanuman and Bhairo on either side.
Taking picture in not allowed in the temple. Also, because of the crowd our driver suggested us to leave camera, mobile and other expensive items inside the car.
Gyuto Karmapa Temple situated in the town Sidhbari, is the residence of 17th Karmapa. This place defines the meaning of serenity, peace or heaven. This place is part of Gyuto Tantric University.

Gyuto Karmapa Temple 

Water kept in different bowls.. As part of some ritual

Inside the temple 

Residence of the students

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, the most beautiful and colourful (cute, as girls define everything as :) ) International Cricket stadium in India. Before visiting Dharamsala, I knew only two things about Dharamsala, Hs Holiness Dalai Lama and the cricket stadium. I was ecstatic to visit this place. All the informative details are already mentioned about this place, so I will not bore my readers by saying the same details again.

Does it need any caption??

Norbulingka Institute founded in 1988 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi at Sidhpur, is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms. The institute is named after Norbulingka, the traditional summer residence of the Dalai Lamas, in Lhasa, Tibet. It reconciles the traditional creatively and respectfully with the modern, and seeks to create an international awareness of Tibetan values and their expression in art and literature.

Walk through the traditional Tibetan gateway to the Norbulingka and enter a world apart from the hustle and bustle outside. Making use of the existing rocks, trees, flowing water and the terracing of the land, we have created a semblance of a Japanese garden around the Institute buildings, where nature flourishes and tranquillity prevails.

The Institute also has the two-storeyed 'Seat of Happiness Temple', Deden Tsuglakhang built in 1985 .The Deden Tsuglagkhang is an elegant stone structure built on traditional Tibetan lines. Its principal focus is a 14 ft gilded copper statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni statue, that was made by the Norbulingka Sculpture Studio, which is surrounded by elaborate paintings and murals executed by our Thangka Painters. This temple also in houses a huge library of Tibetan books.

14ft Buddha Statue

Thangka Painting

Library

The Losel Doll Museum inside the institute houses a unique collection of 150 costumed dolls depicting the regional, official and monastic costumes of Tibet. These were created by a group of artistic monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery that has been re-established in South India.

Dolls in the Losel museum

Dolls in the Losel museum

Dolls in the Losel museum

One can buy dolls to keep as token of memory from this place.
Least important information for the visitors of this place is – this is one of the places where the song “Sadda Haq” of bollywood movie “Rockstar” was shot (Well, this is the most important info for a bollywood bluff and die hard Ranbir Kapoor fan like me :)).
With this, it was time to get back to hotel as we were exhausted because of the sleepless night and day long hoping. We reached Hotel Snow Crest Inn around 6:00 pm. In contrary to Hotel Kunal, Snow Crest was a home away home.
The rooms were clean, staffs were helpful and friendly and food was just finger-licking and will remind you about your mom-made food. After a tiring day, it was an awesome place to relax.
Day 2: After having our breakfast, we hired a cab with the help of our hotel owner at a cost of Rs 800/- to visit rest of the places in Dharamsala. The places we visited were
St. John in the Wilderness is an Anglican church dedicated to John the Baptist built in 1852, at Forsyth Gunj. Set amidst deodar forest, and built in neo-Gothic architecture, the church is known for its Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin, wife of Lord Elgin.
Its churchyard is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, who served as Governor General of the Province of Canada, who oversaw the Creation of Responsible Government in Canada, and later, while in China, ordered the complete destruction of the Old Summer Palace. He became Governor-General & Viceroy of India in 1861 during the British Raj, though he soon died at Dharamsala on November 20, 1863, and was buried there.

St. John Church

Graveyard of Lord Elgin

Bhagsunag Temple, of god Shiva situated around 2 km from McLeod Ganj Bazaar. Constructed by 1 GR by around 1800 century and then worshipped majorly by 14 Gukha platoon villages in Dharamsala.

Bhagsu Nag Temple

Inside the Temple

Very next to Bhagsunag temple is a water fall, one of the major tourist attraction spot in Dharamsala.
Bhagsu
Dal Lake is spread in an area of 1 km and is bounded by rhododendrons, deodars, and junipers forest. Annually, a fair is held at the Kali Temple near the Lake. There is another temple close to the lake that is dedicated to sage Durvasa. Dal Lake is 2km walk westwards from McLeod Ganj bazaar.

Dal Lake

Hearing the name Dal Lake, if you are expecting a lake like famous Dal lake of Kashmir, let me set your expectation correct, it doesn’t stand anywhere near to that.
Situated just above the town of Dharamsala, Tsuglagkhang Temple or Dalai Lama Complex is the official home of the 14th Dalai Lama. The complex houses the Photang (Dalai Lama's residence), Tibet Museum, Tsuglagkhang Temple, and Namgyal Gompa.
Tsuglagkhang is the premier attraction for visitors to McLeod Ganj as well as a pilgrimage site for Tibetan exiles. Pilgrims come to do a circuit around the complex, spinning the prayer wheels as they walk.
One must pass through a quick security screening and bag check to enter parts of the complex; cameras and phones are not permitted. Cigarettes and lighters will be kept at security until you exit.
Well, the above was info about Tsuglagkhang. But personally, I was very disappointed after visiting this place. I have visited many monasteries since childhood, and a have developed a major fondness about monasteries, Buddhism and Dalai Lama. This is because of the open environment they have like a bright and clean place, no restrictions on taking photographs, no restrictions on doing or not doing things inside the temple, which we normally don’t see in most of the Hindu Temples (I am a Hindu and with no intention of hurting any Hindu Sentiment); But being the biggest monastery in India, Tsuglagkhang, lack in all the sections. This place is congested with minimum lights and opens air, with lots of does and don’ts, led me to a major disappointment.
We came out of the temple and had veg momos, some ladies selling out side. Don’t even try!!! It’s horrible :(.
After visiting Tsuglagkhang, we headed towards McLeod Ganj Market, the best place for shopping in my entire trip. We bought many items for gifting friends and family like Buddha sculpture, handmade dairies, junk jewellery and a small prayer wheel for our car.

Junk Jewellery and statues

Solar Prayer Wheel for car

We had a plan to visit Kunal Pathari, a rock temple near Dharamsala but it started raining heavily so we dropped the plan and decided to have our lunch in the market before heading back to hotel. We took our lunch in a small restaurant near the junction of market (most probably ‘Hotel Lhasa & Restaurant’, don’t remember the name exactly but remember the location) with momos, fried rice, chilli chicken and Tibetian Tea. One must try the Tibetian Tea while in McLeod Ganj. It’s delicious.

The restaurant was at the left extreme corner next to city Travel | picture courtsy Google Image

In the evening we decided to take a walk in the nearby area.
Naddi has a awesome view point which was just at a walking distance from our hotel and a famous Gunna Mata Temple. We visited them.

View from Naddi 

View from Naddi

view of Naddi from Snow Crest Inn

After a random walk, we decided to come back to hotel and take rest. It was also time to pack bags :(
Day 3: This was the last day of trip and time to go back… We took a cab and went down to Dharamsala bus stop after having our breakfast in Snow Crest Inn. From Dharamsala, we took local bus and to reach Pathankot Railways Station. From there we took train and next morning we were at Old Delhi and by afternoon we were at Namma Bengaluru!!!

Glimpse of Dharamsala Stadium from top

Note: While visiting any of the above places there are few things which needs to be kept in mind
            • Drivers have a tendency to skip places that were told by the travel agencies or hotel owners. So before leaving, make sure to note down the places, you will be visiting and are paying for.
            • Rain is very frequent in these areas. So carry umbrella during all seasons. Also, temperature can fluctuate during any season; make sure to carry ample amount woollens.

Disclaimer: We went for this trip in August’2013. So the rates and timing might have changed by the time. Please check with hotel and travel agents about current timings and rates. I tried to provide as much as details is possible for the trip. For any further clarification please feel free to contact me dutshilpi@gmail.com.