A Buddhist trip to Dharamsala, Manali
This trip is not a trek
Photos Gallery of Eric Lon
What is "yogatrekking"? Click on the question to get the answer
This is a cultural tour for anybody, but mainly for people interested in comparing Buddhism and Hinduism. It is designed to provide a glance about the harmony between Buddhism and Hinduism.Once in his lifetime any Buddhist should visit Mcleodganj where HH the XIV Dalai Lama is living with the Tibetan government in exile and thousands of Tibetan refugees.
It is especially tailored for people who are not trekkers but who want to have a glance of the Himalayan trekker land, touching the snow with the eyes and with the finger tips.
Your fitness guide will be Eric Lon a French medical masseur and a physiotherapist who has pioneered new ways at Mcleodganj and in the surrounding mountains.
As a fitness guide Eric will teach you Himalayan yoga and foot massage techniques which will make your journey easier.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: DelhiUpon arrival, meet and assist and then drive to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight hotel
Day 2: Delhi to Pathankot
After breakfast proceed for full day sightseeing tour of both Old Delhi and New Delhi including a visit to the Tibetan colony. This is an interesting small part of the city where many Tibetans are living in harmony with Indians.
Later drive to the railway station to board your overnight train to Pathankot.
To take a train in India is an interesting adventure. Photos.
Overnight in the train.
Day 3: drive to Mcleodganj: 92 km, 3 hours
This is a very interesting drive which starts at the plains. Then the road turns on the green hills, with pristine rice fields on terraces and tea plantations. Going through colorful villages is a good way to catch bits of Indian life with a lot of smells. We are reaching the foot hills of the Himalayas with the Dauladhar range crowned with snow.
After crossing a pine forest, then an oak and deodar forest telling we are already we reach Mcleodganj, 1600 meters, which is part of Dharamsala.
Overnight at the hotel. Himalayan yoga and massage class.
Day 4: Mcleodganj - Dharamsala: 1600 meters.
Is Mcleodganj a big village or a small town? It seems small but there are thousands of Tibetans living here in exile. The place is worldwide well known because HH the XIV Dalai Lama is leaving there. His wise teachings suggesting to follow "the middle way' in order to find inner peace are attracting thousands of Buddhists from all over the world as well as Tibetan monks and nuns, including monks from Thailand.
Hotels and guest houses are growing like mushrooms. Explore "the little Lhasa". Feel and enjoy his peaceful atmosphere, walk around the temple of the Dalai Lama with Tibetan moving their prayer wheels: photos. Visit the Tibetan medical Institute and his museum. Visit also TCV, the biggest school for the Tibetan children. The Principal is the youngest sister of the Dalai Lama. Eric Lon gave them yoga lessons, as well as at Yongling kindergarten school.
Have a look to Eric's photo set; "yogas" and you will discover places and local children. Visit his Flickr's set:"trek above Dharamsala". You will see high places and lakes beyond the mountains. Eric is in love with Mcleodganj.
Tibetan yoga and massage class. You can buy here a small yoga mat and his Tibetan bag.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : drive to Manali: 260 km, 7 hours
Interesting mountain drive, with enchanting landscapes through different kinds of vegetation. Beautiful villages with many Hindu temples.
Easy Tibetan yoga and massage class to stretch and relax on arrival.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Manali: 2000 meters
Manali is a famous recreational town with hundreds of hotels and restaurants. It is a climatic resort surrounded by dense forests. Breathing and feeling good is easy at Manali.
There are many Hindu temples and interesting Buddhist monasteries. Many Tibetans are living there. Visit of the main places of interest.
Eric Lon has given lectures about reflexology, foot massage at the Regional Mountaineering of Manali. He did cross country skiing at high altitude.
Enjoy the sulfur hot bath at Bashit. They are part of a Hindu temple, but anybody can take a relaxing hot bath at the sulphur springs. Himalyan yoga and massage class.
Overnight at hotel
Day 7: the snow around Manali
Discover by car the skiing resort of Solang Nala: 2500 meters. Proceed by car in direction of Rothang pass, around 4000. You will get the opportunity to touch the snow. Rothang pass is on the way to Ladakh and to Spiti. This will gives you another glance of the Himalayas, very different from Manali side. Himalayan yoga and massage class.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: drive to Delhi: 650 km, 11 hours
There are many things to visit around Manali and old Manali, with apple fields.
Departure by evening and drive all night long, with several stops at restaurants.
Overnight in a Deluxe Volvo bus
Day 9: Delhi.
Upon arrival, meet and assist and then transfer to your hotel.
In the evening proceed to local restaurant for farewell dinner.
Overnight at hotel
Day 10: departure from Delhi
Final departure transfer to airport to board your flight home
End of our services.
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr and Vivek Chander, Manali: hocm71@yahoo.com
www.himalayanoutdoorcenter.com