THE TRIP TO MCLEODGANJ

I have always felt that i m a hills person.I just love them-the mountains. They always give me the feeling of stability, serenity and calm. So what better way to destress than to make a trip to the mountains. Past two three months i had been really busy with work... the usual -too much work ,too many deadlines, too little sleep. Needed to take a break so that i don't crack up. My elder sis was also in almost the same situation n thus this trip was planned. We were a group of 7 girls- me,my freind, my sis, her friend, her friend's other friend and her sis and my 31/2 year old niece.We started our journey from Delhi. We had taken a bus that would take us directly to Dharamshala.The starting was eventful ...two girls got stuck in traffic and were late...we made the bus wait for half an hour but they hadn't reached till then. Finally they were able to catch us only after 45 minutes courtesy my dear bro in law. And the poor chap that day was in no mood to drive that day. He was there only because my sister was unable to find an auto . And he had to drive so much to make those girls reach . I guess this is what murphy's law is. Well after that the journey was quite normal. We reached Dharamshala in the morning then went to Mcleodganj by taxi and after a little bit of searching were able to find a decent place to stay in. With fantastic views.

Mcleodganj- a quaint little hill station in Himachal Pradesh. Its the official residence of Dalai Lama. So lots of buddhist monks. Though the place was full of people, there was a certain peacefulness which is hard to describe. Unlike the other hill stations it did not feel commercialised. I have heard that wherever there is prayers there is lot of positive energy. I think thats what kept the place so peaceful . Any hill station for me is fantastic but there is nothing to beat the majestic Himalayas. Tall mountains standing proudly ,looking down at the going ons in their valleys,touching the skies.They make everything look so small in comparison. They inspire ,they intrigue. So many years of being there, how much they must have seen. The coming of people, the destruction of their land, deaths, lives, changes. And still they are there,almost the same ..the silent spectators ofpassing times. I get this feeling that we will go and they will remain eternally-to see a new civilization a new evolution.In this transient world they appear to be permanent.

The places around Mcleodganj are all at walkable distance.We went to the St Johns church about 1.5 kms from the town centre. A nice walk and a fascinating place. Though the church was closed when we went but there was a graveyard. Graveyard on a sloping hill ... and very old too. The graves were of 1863 , 1869 etc. Mostly british officers and there wives. One was the grave of a Serg major 43 year old. Was wondering what did it feel like to live and die in a foreign country. Were any of his decendents still in India or all have left ? Does anyone even remember or care about his grave anymore? But despite being so old the graveyard was in good shape. I read a lot of epithets and tried to imagine about their lives.

The monastry was another place which I liked.The images of Avalokiteshwara were fantastic. On the wall paintings of the boddhisattavas the iconography had so much of hindu mainstream symbols and that of tantrism that it was quite fascinating ... The reason is that buddhism in Tibet was takenby a siddha yogi . Siddhas are well versed in tantricism so it is not surprising that the symbols like skeleton head, snake etc are present in Tibetan iconography too . What was interesting that one of the image of boddhisattava resembled Shiva. It would be one interesting study to find a connection of these symbols.

When we went to the monastry prayer was going on ...seeing all the monks praying together and other people too was incredible. So many people but still silence.Amazing.All the monks sitting in long rows, chanting verses. Such calmness on their faces as if they have attained contentment.No sign of violence,no aggression ,just peace. And that to when they are an exiled lot...thrown away from their country or ran away for their lives. One of the sections of people in this world who have every reason to be angry ,bitter. But none of this bitterness , this anger shows on their faces.

Was wondering when i saw all those people from Tibet how do they feel living in a country away from their own. Having the tag of refugee, praying to go "home". A "home" which many have not seen since they were born. A place just being described to them by their elders, who themselves have been exiled since long.Will they even recognise it when they go back? Will they, especially the children be able to acclimatise to the extreme weather there? How difficult it is to keep a distant hope alive in those who have never ever seen a place ?How difficult it is to keep your culture, your tradition alive in a foreign place.Where do you belong?

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