A Walk On The Wild-Side (Part One) - HH Dalai Lama´s Back Garden

It might only be the beginning of February, but Spring seems to have arrived in McLeod Ganj. It is predominantly sunny during the days, if still bloody cold at night. This month I´ll endeavour to blog some of my favourite walks around the village.

One of my favourite trails goes round past the Dalai Lama´s back garden which is about 600 metres away from our apartment. His garden is beautifully decorated with mani (prayer) stones and flags. It is also a very popular kora (religious circuit) for the community living close by at the “Jampaling Elders´ Home". Despite their age most of the residents are very sprightly – it is pretty steep in parts, and whilst many use walking sticks and walk with a back angle of seventy degrees or more, many complete several circuits on a daily basis. However, this is a popular kora for both young and old. Common mynahs and monkeys abound through the surrounding pristine alpine forest.

There are over 200 prayer wheels for spinning on the circuit. Many devotees will spin them all, and the larger 2 metre high wheels are spun 3 or 8 times!












Editor adds : I´m pretty sure it is known as the Lingkhor. Buddhists of course go round clock-wise, unlike Bonnists (animists predating Buddhism in Tibet). I vary my direction.