I always longed to visit Tibet-simply the name invokes pictures of snow capped Himalayan mountains adorned with vibrant, fluttering prayer flags, the roofing of the world, serene Tibetan culture, the splendor of the Potala Palace and the Dalai Lama and holds a practically mystical appeal for many travelers.
But Tibet is not an easy destination to go to, licenses and concerns with China imply that this lovely, serene culture is ending up being significantly quelched, not to discuss that the Potala Palace is not in use and the Dalai Lama not resides in Tibet.
I discovered that there is an alternative for those looking for to immerse themselves in the Tibetan culture and sensational mountain scenery, a place where the Tibetan culture is still permitted to flourish, where abbeys drip with colour, young monks in saffron bathrobes learn and practice this tranquil form of Buddhism.
Tibetan culture in India
However it's not found in China, to actually explore Tibetan culture follow in the Dalai Lama's footsteps and go to India! In the 1960s the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government escaped Tibet and China's injustice of their culture and pertained to India. I'm not a specialist so I'm not going to enter into the issues with Tibet and China excessive however this posts from the BBC offers a good introduction if you want to find out more.
There are lots of locations in India where you can feel like you’re in the Tibet of days gone by, most notably in the mountains of Himanchal Pradesh in McLeod Ganj, the home of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan federal government in exile, in Leh as well as in the North East of India in Arunachal Pradesh-- a little checked out area called the last frontier of India expedition and one of the last remaining 'Shangri-la's that I was fortunate enough to check out with a remarkable, regional guide called Sange from Holiday Scout.
Tibetan impact in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state in the North East tribal area of India nestled in between Bhutan and Tibet, and parts of this interesting region in fact utilized to be part of Tibet.
To experience Tibetan culture head into the West Kameng and Tawang areas of Arunachal Pradesh where you will be captivated by soaring Himalayan mountains, amazing landscapes, valleys decorated with fluttering prayer flags, stupas and prayer wheels at every turn, tasty Tibetan food and handicrafts, dynamic celebrations, terrific people and more colourful Tibetan Buddhist monasteries than you can count. The most popular is Tawang Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery worldwide that is still in use (Potala Palace in Lhasa is the biggest however is now only a museum).
Parts of Arunachal Pradesh are actually still objected to by China, which suggests you require an unique authorization to go to and there is quite a military existence in the area however everything seemed extremely peaceful when I checked out, the last problem remained in 1962 when China got into briefly.
Enthralling Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh has a unique, varied and truly fascinating culture that makes it appear a world away from the rest of India. In these remote valleys you could easily think that you have stepped back in time and it's such a treat to witness the way the Tibetans practise their tranquil culture and how the lots of various unique tribal individuals live their life undisturbed and situated in these largely undiscovered mountains.
For more information on Himachal Pradesh holiday packages from Delhi and any other tour packages contact Swan Tours India one of the leading tour operators in Connaught Place Delhi India.
