A Brief Biography of Dalai Lama: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, at the hamlet of Taktser in north-eastern Tibet. At the age of two the child named Lhamo Dhondup was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.

Dalai Lama is a Mongolian title meaning "Ocean of Wisdom" and the Dalai Lamas are manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Chenrezig. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth to serve humanity.

Education in Tibet: His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. At 23 he sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Lharampa degree, the highest level geshe degree (a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy).

Leadership Responsibilities: In 1950 His Holiness the Dalai Lama was called upon to assume full political power after China's invasion of Tibet in 1949. In 1954 he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping. But finally, in 1959, with the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala, north India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Since the Chinese invasion, His Holiness has appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet. Three resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly, in 1959, 1961 and 1965.

The Buddhist Pilgrimage Namgyal Institute is located in Dharamshala Himachal Pradesh India.

Namgyal Monastery The Buddhist Pilgrimage: Namgyal Monastery is situated in Dharamshala district of Himachal Pradesh. It is also called Namgyal Dratsang in local language and was founded by Sonam Gyasto, the third Dalai Lama in 1575. The aim behind the monastery was to assist
Dalai Lama in his public religious activities and perform prayers for welfare of Tibet. The monastery had also been teaching the young Buddhist monks and Lamas. After Chinese invasion on Tibet, many Tibetan monks fled to India and Nepal. Those coming to India preferred staying at Dharamshala and adjoining areas. The residence of Dalai Lama was shifted to Mcleodganj, and it was the time when the site of original monastery was shifted outside the residence of Dalai Lama. The monastery complex consists of an institute, monastery and small temples.


Namgyal Institute: The Namgyal monastery aims at teaching the Lamas. The institute is one of its kinds in providing education which specializes in Tantra and Sutra. Getting admission in the institute is very tough. Men have to prove there mettle, by qualifying the difficult training. After the successful completion of training, young lamas are taken in. The process of study becomes tougher from this point onwards. The students have to spend for 13 years, following rigorous routine, and attaining knowledge. These 13 years lead to a Master of Sutra and Tantra degree, which is unique to Namgyal. The faculty here includes the leading spiritual leaders of Tibet, along with Dalai Lama. Another peculiar thing about the institute is that Dalai Lama himself teaches the students, thus providing them with the most blessed knowledge. This is passed only to the students studying in this institute.

About the Monastery: The Namgyal monastery is the private monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. No visitor is allowed to enter the temple premises, and is open only to Dalai Lama and his students. The original monastery has been used as the privately by the Dalai Lama since its inception. The monastery was earlier at Lhasa, in Tibet. After Dalai Lama left Tibet, a new monastery was constructed at his residence in Dharamshala on the same principles of the ancient one. In 1992, six monks were selected by Dalai Lama to visit New York and establish a new branch of Namgyal in Ithaca. The monastery houses three to five monks who come on an exchange from the parent monastery in Dharamsala.

About Monastery: Since 1959, Dharamsala, has become the Headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile, prompting many tourists to refer to it as "Little Lhasa". Dharamsala is choc-a-bloc with tourists, traders and seekers of knowledge. There is an almost regular traffic to His Holiness's Palace, and the surrounding Namgyal Monastery. Situated a little below the main town is the picturesque Dip Tse Chokling Monastery. A few hours drive and you are transported to the serenely verdant surroundings of the Norbulinka Palace. Other than monasteries, Dharamsala is also the centre for Tibetan culture, with the Mentsee khang, the Tibetan Institute of performing Arts, the Institute of Tibetology and a well stocked Tibetan library at Khangchen Kyishong; all within walking distance ! Come and discover an ancient culture in the midst of modernity!!. The Namgyal monastery is the private monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. No visitor is allowed to enter the temple premises, and is open only to Dalai Lama and his students. The original monastery has been used as the privately by the Dalai Lama since its inception. The monastery was earlier at Lhasa, in Tibet. After Dalai Lama left Tibet, a new monastery was constructed at his residence in Dharamshala on the same principles of the ancient one. In 1992, six monks were selected by Dalai Lama to visit New York and establish a new branch of Namgyal in Ithaca. The monastery houses three to five monks who come on an exchange from the parent monastery in Dharamsala.


Tse-Chok Ling gompa: The inauguration of this Buddhist monastery, Tse-Chok Ling gompa in McLeod Ganj, took place in 1987. The original gompa, built in the 18th century in Dip, Tibet, was destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution 1959, but reconstruction work in Tibet started in1992, by Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche, who is the 6th reincarnation of the founder of the monastery. This beautiful Gompa is at the bottom of a steep track, which leads off the lane past the Om Guest House. The main prayer hall has an image of Sakyamuni, and enormous goat- skin drums made by monks at the gompa. The gompa also features

How to Reach

By Road: Delhi to Dharamsala this access route leads via Delhi - Sonipat -Panipat- Karnal- Ambala-  Chandigarh - Una  -Pragpur - Dehra-  Jawalaji - Gaggal - Dharamsala

Air Route: The nearest Airport is at Gaggal, 13 Kms from Dharamshala and 8 Kms from Kangra Town. The schedule of Air Deccan Airlines flights are on regular basis from Gaggal to Pathankot to Delhi. For further enquiry contact Gaggal Airport on Phone :+91-1892-232374

Train Route: The nearest railway station is at Kangra, 17 Kms from Dharamshala connected to Pathankot through narrow gauge line. And the nearest broad gauge railway station is Pathankot which about 88 Km from Dharamshala, which is linked by direct trains to Amritsar, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. Regular bus service is available from Pathankot to Dharamsala. any other kind of transportation is easily available.

Climate The summer temperatures range between 22° C and 33° C, while the winter temperatures usually remain between 0° C and 15° C.
 

Best time to visit: March to June and September to November.