Contributor: Dr Amelia Hall

Dharamsala

Located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India, Dharamsala has risen to
international fame since the 1960s as the site of the Tibetan Buddhist 14th Dalai Lama's
official residence and the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration (actually
located in McLeod Ganj, a village within the Dharamsala district). Due to the presence of the
14
th
Dalai Lama and a thriving Tibetan community, Dharamsala - commonly known as Little
Lhasa - is a popular destination for tourists, spiritual seekers, Buddhist pilgrims and scholars
of Buddhism and Tibetan culture. During the period of British rule of India in the 19
th
century
Dharamsala was one of the popular British colonial hill stations offering relief from the lower
elevations during the sweltering summer months. The state of Himachal Pradesh particularly
in the Himalayan mountain regions has had connections with Buddhism at least from the 10
th

century CE onwards, well before the influx of Tibetan refugees to Dharamsala in the 1950s
and 1960s.


Establishment of Tibetan exile community

In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled from Chinese reforms of Tibet and was followed by
thousands of Tibetan refugees. The then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, allowed
them to settle in various regions of India and permitted the 14
th
Dalai Lama to live in McLeod
Ganj a village near to the town of Dharamsala. In 1960 a Tibetan government in exile was
established there and several thousand exiled Tibetans have now settled in the region. During
the 1960s and 1970s many of the religious, political and social organisations of Tibet were re-
established in exile in Dharamsala. The intention of which was, and is, to preserve the
spiritual values, culture and history for future generations of Tibetans. Since then a
flourishing Tibetan community has developed with monasteries, temples, schools, libraries
and institutes for the arts and traditional medicine. Tourism has provided much of the income
to the region and the district has consequently seen a proliferation of Buddhist themed hotels,
shops and restaurants. Many refugees still arrive from Tibet to the region and are offered
help by a variety of charitable organizations set up for this purpose.

Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)

Established in 1959, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is an organization which aims
to assist Tibetan refugees and works towards advocating the restoration of freedom and
happiness in Tibet. It is commonly referred to as the Tibetan government in exile, but while
it resembles a government and has an elected prime minister (Sikyong), it has stated that it is
not an organization which intends to take power in Tibet and will be disbanded as soon as
freedom is restored in favor of a government formed within Tibet. The CTA also manages a
network of schools and cultural centers for Tibetans in various parts of India and liaises with
its various offices located in other countries serving as an equivalent of overseas embassies.

Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA)

In 1970, The 14th Dalai Lama established the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in
Dharamsala. The library and archives contain over 80,000 Buddhist manuscripts, as well as
Tibetan Buddhist paintings (thangkas), statues, photographs, many other materials and
important literature related to Tibetan religion, history, politics and culture. It is considered to
be a vital resource for Buddhist and Tibetology scholars worldwide. The library offers
language and history classes and frequently host scholars, researchers and Buddhist speakers.
The LTWA also publishes spiritual and academic books on all aspects of Tibetan and
Buddhist culture and religion.
Norbulingka Tibetan Institute

This institute provides training, education and employment for exiled Tibetans. Its intention
is to support and train Tibetan refugees in traditional Tibetan crafts such as painting, carving,
metal craft, statue making and other artistic skills with the aim of maintaining Tibetan culture
and Buddhist values. The Norbulingka institute also offers a 3 year course of higher
education in traditional Tibetan studies, Buddhism, language classes and history.

Dolma Ling, Tibetan Buddhist Nuns Project

Inaugurated in 2005 by the 14
th
Dalai Lama, this is a nunnery and educational institute
dedicated to Buddhist education for Tibetan nuns from all Buddhist traditions. It offers an
extensive curriculum of traditional Buddhist philosophy and debate as well as language
courses, maths and IT. The nuns also train in ritual Buddhist techniques such as sand mandala
creation and butter sculpture.

Gyuto Monastery

This monastery located near Dharamsala is a recreation of the institution which was founded
in Tibet in 1475 CE. The monks of Gyuto monastery, which now number in the hundreds, are
famous for their tradition of overtone singing which has become popularized in the west. This
monastery is also the residence of the current 17th Karmapa, another important reincarnate
lineage holder in Tibetan Buddhism.

The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA)

Founded in 1959 by the 14th Dalai Lama, TIPA was established to preserve Tibetan artistic
heritage, especially traditional Tibetan opera, dance, and music. The institute is located in
Dharamsala and offers many traditional performances throughout the year.

Tibetan Childrens Village (TCV)

This organisation was established for the care and education of Tibetan orphans and refugee
children from Tibet. From 1964 until 2006 the TCV was governed by Jetsun Pema, the sister
of the 14
th
Dalai Lama.

Namgyal Monastery,

The original monastery in Tibet was first established by the 3rd Dalai Lama in 1579 and in
1959 it was re-established in Dharamsala. It is now the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai
Lama and houses over 200 monks who study Buddhist philosophy and canonical works as
well as language and history.

Tsuglagkhang

An important Buddhist shrine and known as the Dalai Lama's temple. It houses statues of
kyamuni Buddha, Avalokitevara and Padmasambhava a festival is held here annually
when traditional dances and plays are performed.

Kalachakra Temple

The Kalachakra Temple is adjoins the Tsuglagkhang. The temple has wall paintings of the
numerous deities of the Kalachakra mandala. Meaning the wheel of time the teachings of
the Kalachakra are very complex and esoteric relating to the concept of cycles of time.
Considered to be a very high and esoteric teaching, it is however, frequently performed and
offered publically by the 14
th
Dalai Lama every year in different locations around the world.
This temple is dedicated to this particular set of complex teachings.

Men Tsee Khang

Also known as the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute, the original organisation was
founded in the early 20th century CE by the 13th Dalai Lama in Tibets capital Lhasa. It was
subsequently re- established in Dharamsala in the 1960s by his successor the 14
th
Dalai
Lama. Its main aims are to promote and practice Tibetan medicine as well Tibetan astronomy
and astrology and provides traditional healthcare for the population of, and visitors to,
Dharamsala.



























References:

Klieger Paul Christiaan (ed.) 2002. Tibet, Self, and the Tibetan Diaspora: Voices of
Difference. Proceedings of the Ninth Seminar of the IATS, 2000. Leiden: Brill.

Namgyal, Tsering 2006. Little Lhasa: Reflections on Exiled Tibet. Indus Source Books.

Website of the Central Tibetan Administration: http://tibet.net/