McLeod Ganj
Encyclopedia
McLeod Ganj, McLeodGanj, or Mcleodganj, is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district
of Himachal Pradesh
, India
. It has an average elevation of 2,082 metre
s (6,831 feet).
Situated on the Dhauladhar Range
, whose highest peak, "Hanuman Ka Tibba", at about 5,639 metre
s (18,500 feet), lies just behind it, it is known as "Little Lhasa
" or "Dhasa" (short form of Dharamshala, used mainly by Tibetans) due to its large population of Tibetan refugees
. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.
, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab
, while the suffix Ganj is common Hindi word for "neighbourhood".
, and soon a subsidiary cantonment
for the troops stationed at Kangra was established, on the slopes of Dhauladhar
, in an empty land, with a Hindu resthouse or dharamshala
, hence the name for the new cantonment, Dharamshala. During the British rule in India, the town was a hill station
, where the British people spent hot summers, and around late 1840s when the district headquarters in Kangra became over crowded, the British moved two regiments to Dharamshala, and a cantonment
was establish in 1849, and in 1852 Dharamshala became the administrative capital of Kangra district
. By 1855 it had two important places of civilian settlement, McLeod Ganj, and Forsyth Ganj, named after a Divisional Commissioner. In 1860, the 66th Gurkha Light Infantry, later renamed the historic 1st Gurkha Rifles, was moved to Dharamshala. Soon 14 Gurkha paltan villages were established nearby and the Gurkha
s patronised the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunag.
Lord Elgin
, the British Viceroy of India (1862–63), liked the area so much that he even suggested at one point, that it be made the summer capital of India. He died at Dharamshala while on a tour there, on 20 November 1863, and lies buried at the St. John in the Wilderness
at Forsyth Ganj, just below McLeod Ganj. His summer residence called Mortimer House became part of the private estate of Lala Basheshar Nath of Lahore and was acquired by the Government of India to house the official residence of HH Dalai Lama. The original Tea House built by Lord Elgin and catered to by a local grocery store called Nowrosjee & Son continue to prosper to this date. Nowrosjee & Son is a popular hangout for visitors to Mcleodganj and has been at its present location since 1860. The Tea House set up by Lord Elgin became homeless when the Government acquired Mortimer House and shifted to a new base in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. It continues to this date under the name and style of Mcleodganj Tea House and sells fine teas under the Mcleodganj Tea House brand by invitation to some of the classiest hotels and exclusive residences on the ground, in the air and on sea. The official tea service in residences ranging from the Buckingham Palace to Rashtrapati Bhavan to Air Force One to the Tea Buffet at the Claridges in London is almost always a proprietary blend created by Mcleodganj Tea House exclusively for that customer.
The twin towns of Forsyth Ganj and McLeod Ganj, continued to grow steadily in the coming years, and by 1904 had become important centres of trade, commerce and official work of Kangra District. But much of the town was destroyed by the devastating 7.8 magnitude 1905 Kangra earthquake
at 6:19 am April 4, 1905 which occurred in the Kangra valley
, as a result close to 19,800 people were killed and thousands were injured in the Kangra area. The earthquake destroyed most buildings in Kangra, Dharamshala, and McLeodGanj — even the Bhagsunag Temple was destroyed. Thereafter district headquarter offices were shifted to a lower part, and the town waited for another half a century before anything significant transpired in its history.
In March 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled to India after the failed uprising in 1959
in Tibet
against the Communist Party of China
. The Indian Government offered him refuge in Dharamshala, where he set up the Government of Tibet in exile in 1960, while McLeod Ganj became his official residence, and also home to several Buddhist monasteries and thousands of Tibetan refugees
. Over the years, McLeod Ganj evolved into an important tourist and pilgrimage destination, and has since grown much in population.
Rail
Tourism is an important industry in McLeod Ganj, but many people come here to study Tibetan Buddhism, culture, crafts, etc. as well. The town is also known for Tibetan handicrafts, thangka
s, Tibetan carpets, garments and other souvenirs.
's temple. It has 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
, Gompa Dip Tse-Chok Ling (a small monastery), the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
, Gangchen Kyishong (called Gangkyi in short by Tibetans and Library by Indians is the premises of the Tibetan government-in-exile), Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung
Monastery, Norbulingka Institute
, which is 8 kilometres away. The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is currently living near Dharamshala, in Gyuto monastery in Sidhbari
.
Peak Art Gallery
The major towns near McLeod Ganj include Dharamshala, Palampur
, Kangra, Tatwani and Machhrial. Other nearby spiritual attractions include Chinmaya Tapovan (a Hindu retreat centre), Osho Nisarga (an Osho
retreat centre), and Chamunda (a pilgrimage place for Hindus). Other tourist spots include:
Triund
St. John in the Wilderness
Dal Lake
Mountain Cleaners
This is an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in waste management activities for businesses, locals and tourists in the Dharamsala area. The organisation also arranges clean-up treks, and children's days that volunteers can participate in.
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It has an average elevation of 2,082 metre
Metre
The metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...
s (6,831 feet).
Situated on the Dhauladhar Range
Dhauladhar
The Dhauladhar range is a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains. It rises spectacularly from the Indian plains to the north of Kangra and Mandi...
, whose highest peak, "Hanuman Ka Tibba", at about 5,639 metre
Metre
The metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...
s (18,500 feet), lies just behind it, it is known as "Little Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
" or "Dhasa" (short form of Dharamshala, used mainly by Tibetans) due to its large population of Tibetan refugees
Tibetan diaspora
The Tibetan diaspora is a term used to refer to the communities of Tibetan people living outside Tibet. Tibetan emigration happened in two waves: one in 1959 following the 14th Dalai Lama's self-exile in India, and the other in the 1980s when Tibet was opened to trade and tourism. The third wave...
. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.
Etymology
McLeod Ganj was named after Sir Donald Friell McLeodDonald Friell McLeod
Sir Donald Friell McLeod CB KCSI was a Lieutenant Governor of British Punjab...
, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
, while the suffix Ganj is common Hindi word for "neighbourhood".
History
In March 1849, the area was annexed by the British after the Second Anglo-Sikh WarSecond Anglo-Sikh War
The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in the subjugation of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India Company.-Background...
, and soon a subsidiary cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
for the troops stationed at Kangra was established, on the slopes of Dhauladhar
Dhauladhar
The Dhauladhar range is a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains. It rises spectacularly from the Indian plains to the north of Kangra and Mandi...
, in an empty land, with a Hindu resthouse or dharamshala
Dharamshala (disambiguation)
Dharamshala can mean either of the following:* Dharamshala : A town in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is the Headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile, headed by the Dalai Lama...
, hence the name for the new cantonment, Dharamshala. During the British rule in India, the town was a hill station
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
, where the British people spent hot summers, and around late 1840s when the district headquarters in Kangra became over crowded, the British moved two regiments to Dharamshala, and a cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
was establish in 1849, and in 1852 Dharamshala became the administrative capital of Kangra district
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
. By 1855 it had two important places of civilian settlement, McLeod Ganj, and Forsyth Ganj, named after a Divisional Commissioner. In 1860, the 66th Gurkha Light Infantry, later renamed the historic 1st Gurkha Rifles, was moved to Dharamshala. Soon 14 Gurkha paltan villages were established nearby and the Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
s patronised the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunag.
Lord Elgin
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
Sir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
, the British Viceroy of India (1862–63), liked the area so much that he even suggested at one point, that it be made the summer capital of India. He died at Dharamshala while on a tour there, on 20 November 1863, and lies buried at the St. John in the Wilderness
St. John in the Wilderness
St. John in the Wilderness is an Anglican church dedicated to Saint John built in 1852, located near Dharamsala, India, on the way to McLeod Ganj, at Forsyth Gunj...
at Forsyth Ganj, just below McLeod Ganj. His summer residence called Mortimer House became part of the private estate of Lala Basheshar Nath of Lahore and was acquired by the Government of India to house the official residence of HH Dalai Lama. The original Tea House built by Lord Elgin and catered to by a local grocery store called Nowrosjee & Son continue to prosper to this date. Nowrosjee & Son is a popular hangout for visitors to Mcleodganj and has been at its present location since 1860. The Tea House set up by Lord Elgin became homeless when the Government acquired Mortimer House and shifted to a new base in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. It continues to this date under the name and style of Mcleodganj Tea House and sells fine teas under the Mcleodganj Tea House brand by invitation to some of the classiest hotels and exclusive residences on the ground, in the air and on sea. The official tea service in residences ranging from the Buckingham Palace to Rashtrapati Bhavan to Air Force One to the Tea Buffet at the Claridges in London is almost always a proprietary blend created by Mcleodganj Tea House exclusively for that customer.
1905 Kangra earthquake
1905 Kangra earthquake was a major earthquake that occurred in the Kangra Valley and the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh in India on 4 April 1905. The earthquake measured 7.8 on the surface wave magnitude scale and killed more than 20,000 people...
at 6:19 am April 4, 1905 which occurred in the Kangra valley
Kangra Valley
Kangra Valley is situated in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is a popular tourist destination, with the peak season around March and April.Dharamsala, the headquarters of Kangra district, lies on the southern spur of Dhauladhar in the valley .-Geography:...
, as a result close to 19,800 people were killed and thousands were injured in the Kangra area. The earthquake destroyed most buildings in Kangra, Dharamshala, and McLeodGanj — even the Bhagsunag Temple was destroyed. Thereafter district headquarter offices were shifted to a lower part, and the town waited for another half a century before anything significant transpired in its history.
In March 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled to India after the failed uprising in 1959
1959 Tibetan uprising
The 1959 Tibetan uprising, or 1959 Tibetan Rebellion began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the Communist Party of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951...
in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
against the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
. The Indian Government offered him refuge in Dharamshala, where he set up the Government of Tibet in exile in 1960, while McLeod Ganj became his official residence, and also home to several Buddhist monasteries and thousands of Tibetan refugees
Tibetan diaspora
The Tibetan diaspora is a term used to refer to the communities of Tibetan people living outside Tibet. Tibetan emigration happened in two waves: one in 1959 following the 14th Dalai Lama's self-exile in India, and the other in the 1980s when Tibet was opened to trade and tourism. The third wave...
. Over the years, McLeod Ganj evolved into an important tourist and pilgrimage destination, and has since grown much in population.
Transport
Air- The nearest airport is Gaggal airport, 15 km south of Dharamshala.
Rail
- The nearest railway stations on the Shimla-Kangra narrow gauge line are at Kangra and Nagrota (about 20 km south of Dharamshala). The nearest railhead (broad gauge) is at Pathankot (85 km).
Tourism
Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting...
s, Tibetan carpets, garments and other souvenirs.
Tibetan sites
The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai LamaDalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
's temple. It has statues of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara
Avalokitesvara
Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism....
, and a statue of Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
(Guru Rinpoche).
Other Buddhist and Tibetan sites in McLeod Ganj include the Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery associated with the Dalai Lamas. Founded in 1575 by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, Namgyal Monastery was historically housed within the Potala Palace...
, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts
The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts was founded by Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama on reaching Dharamsala, India in exile from Tibet in August 1959, it was one of the first institutes set up the Dalai Lama, and was established to preserve Tibetan artistic heritage, especially opera, dance, and...
, Gompa Dip Tse-Chok Ling (a small monastery), the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives ' is a Tibetan library in Dharamsala, India. The library was founded by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama on June 11, 1970 and is considered one of the most important libraries and institutions of Tibetan works in the world.The library...
, Gangchen Kyishong (called Gangkyi in short by Tibetans and Library by Indians is the premises of the Tibetan government-in-exile), Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung
Nechung
Naiqung Monastery, Naiqung Jog , or Naiqung Goinba , is the seat of the State Oracle of Tibet.It is also referred to as Sungi Gyelpoi Tsenkar, the "Demon Fortress of the Oracle King."...
Monastery, Norbulingka Institute
Norbulingka Institute
The Norbulingka Institute was founded in 1988 by the present 14th Dalai Lama at Sidhpur, near Dharamsala, India. The institute is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan language and cultural heritage.-Etymology:...
, which is 8 kilometres away. The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is currently living near Dharamshala, in Gyuto monastery in Sidhbari
Sidhbari
Sidhbari is a small town, situated in the foothills of Dhauladhar mountains, in Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.-Overview:...
.
Art galleries
Naam Art Gallery- The Naam Art Gallery is located at Sidhbari. The permanent exhibition in Naam Art Gallery shows paintings by Elsbeth Buschmann - water colours and acrylics - and oil paintings by Alfred W Hallett. The gallery remains open from 10 am to 7 pm on all days except Monday.
- Elsbeth Buschmann, is a professional painter from Germany, now living in Dharamshala. Alfred HallettAlfred HallettAlfred W. Hallett was an English artist.He wanted to study art from the time he was young but his parents were members of the Exclusive Bretheren sect and his mother faced excommunication for encouraging him. He studied in London, and exhibited in two Summer Exhibitions in 1937 and 1939 at the...
was a very well known painter from England. He lived over 40 years in Dharamshala and became very popular in Himachal Pradesh. Many of his paintings are owned by the government of Himachal Pradesh. AW Hallett had a great love for, and a special interest in, the culture and scenery of Himachal Pradesh, which are among the main elements of his work. He died in 1986 in Dharamshala. The display of his paintings in Naam Art Gallery are a tribute to him.
Peak Art Gallery
- The Peak Art Gallery is located on Temple Road in the heart of McLeod Ganj. It features contemporary painting and prints from Tibetan exile communities throughout India and Internationally. They promote the work of middle to early career Tibetan Contemporary artists, as they explore the complex themes surrounding the refugee identity through various mediums including oil, watercolor, and mixed medium. The gallery frequently has events like poetry readings, lectures, and workshops.
Other places
Palampur
Palampur is a green hill station and a municipal council in the Kangra Valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests before they merge with the Dhauladhar ranges. Palampur is the tea capital of northwest India but tea is just one aspect that...
, Kangra, Tatwani and Machhrial. Other nearby spiritual attractions include Chinmaya Tapovan (a Hindu retreat centre), Osho Nisarga (an Osho
Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)
Osho , born Chandra Mohan Jain , and also known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s onwards, as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s and as Osho from 1989, was an Indian mystic, guru, and spiritual teacher who garnered an international following.A professor of philosophy, he travelled...
retreat centre), and Chamunda (a pilgrimage place for Hindus). Other tourist spots include:
Triund
- A day's trek at the upper reaches of Mcleod Ganj, located 9 kilometres from McLeod Ganj.
St. John in the Wilderness
St. John in the Wilderness
St. John in the Wilderness is an Anglican church dedicated to Saint John built in 1852, located near Dharamsala, India, on the way to McLeod Ganj, at Forsyth Gunj...
- An Anglican church located in the forest near ForsythGanj. The neo-Gothic stone building of the Church was constructed in 1852. The site also has a memorial of the British Viceroy Lord ElginJames Bruce, 8th Earl of ElginSir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
, and an old graveyard. The church building is also noted for its Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin.
Dal Lake
Dal Lake (Himachal Pradesh)
Dal Lakename taken from Kashmir natural lake called Dal Lake , is a small mid-altitude lake near the village of Tota Rani in Kangra district in northern India....
- A small lake located around three km from McLeodGanj, next to the TCV, one of the Tibetan Children's Villages schools. An annual fair is held here in August or September, and is attended mainly by the Girths and the Gurkhas.
Volunteering
Several NGOs are established in the Mcleod Ganj area with volunteering activities:Dharmalaya
Dharmalaya offers educational and service-learning programmes and promotes cross-cultural appreciation and personal empowerment. Volunteers can serve as English tutors or computer teachers or to help with the environmental programmes of the Tibetan Welfare Office.Learning and ideas for Tibet (LIT)
LIT aims to offer free education for Tibetans, and to inform visitors in the McLeod Ganj area on the Tibetan situation. Volunteers can participate in English grammar and conversation classes.Lha charitable trust
Lha provides free language and computer training, medical assistance, clothing to the Tibetan community in in McLeod Ganj. Volunteers can participate long term as teachers or drop-in for conversation classes.Mountain CleanersMountain CleanersMountain Cleaners is a non-profit organization in India that aims to enable good waste management systems in India. The organization enables establishing sustainable waste management systems in mountain camps, trekking routes, pilgrimages and tourist destinations...
This is an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in waste management activities for businesses, locals and tourists in the Dharamsala area. The organisation also arranges clean-up treks, and children's days that volunteers can participate in. Rogpa
Rogpa acts to integrate the Tibetan community in exile by increasing Tibetan cooperation and responsibility. The organisation has a cafe/shop in McLeod Ganj where profits go to local projects involving empowerment of single mothers, baby care center etc.Tibetan Charity
Tibet Charity’s runs social program aimed to improve the standard of living of Tibetans living in India. Mid to long term volunteers are needed for English and computer teaching. As well, the organisation runs a vet clinic in McLeod Ganj for treatment of stray dogs.External links
- A Guide to Little Lhasa in India Government of Tibet in Exile website.
- The New Lhasa Eateries review in Hindustan Times