The tour ended with the opportunity to hold and smell the final products – different grades or qualities of tea. Apparently all of their produce is sent to Calcutta from where it gets distributed around the country; fascinating!
Archive | Himachal Pradesh
Things to see and do in Himachal Pradesh.
Buddhist temples of Palampur
Bir has a sizeable Tibetan population with a fantastic Buddhist temple in the center. We entered its main gate and crossed a small courtyard, which had a half-open handicrafts store to the left.
Palyul Choekhorling Monastery
The Palyul Choekhorling Monastery, home to about 170 monks, was established in 1980 by Venerable Rigo Tulku Rinpoche. This monastery is also known as Nyingmapa Buddhist Monastery.
Palpung Sherabling Monastery Seat
Palpung means “glorious union of study and practice”. H. E. the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche fled Tibet to India at the age of six, where he received his formal traditional training under H. H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.
Tashi Jong Monastery
In the late 1950s, the eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche, Dongyu Nyima left Tibet with many of his followers just prior to the communist Chinese invasion. He led his followers to Himachal Pradesh and started a new Khampagar.
Hotel Lotus Lake, Rewalsar Lake
Hotel Lotus Lake is a modest hotel with budget prices and a great location. It is right by the entrance to Rewalsar Lake and has rooms overlooking it. Madhu had called in advance and booked our stay for 2 nights.
Fauna at Rewalsar Lake
Rewalsar Lake is home to a lot animals including Pahari dogs, monkeys and ducks. The dogs laze all day long around the banks of the lake.
Walk around the Lake, Rewalsar Lake
The lake is shaped like a square with the shoreline of about 735 m. It is held as a sacred spot for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists alike. With water, woodland and high hills, it presents a variety of natural beauty.
Zigar Drukpa Kargyu Gompa
Uphill from the lake is the towering white Zigar Drukpa Kagyud Institute, with outsized statues of Tantric deities. A 12m-high statue of Padmasambhava is on the hill above the lake.
