A Mystic Month in McLeod Ganj
A month in Mcleod ganj, dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
“Any psychologist will tell you that healing comes from honest confrontation with our injury or with our past. Whatever that thing is that has hurt us or traumatized us until we face it head-on, we will have issues moving forward in a healthy way.” ”
“Did I want to run away? Was I that weak that I was unable to face the realities of life? Wasn’t I strong enough to gulp down my tears and suck up the pain?”
The answer is, “STOP. It wasn’t about strength. It wasn't about courage. It wasn’t about reality.”
Bullshit. It wasn’t about anything related to deep philosophical crap. It was as simple as admitting these 3 words to myself, “I MISS HIM”.
The void that was created because of his loss was undefinable. I had to do something about it. So, I did the right thing. I set out on a Himalayan Odessey to Mcleodganj.
Meditating and taking lessons from Geshe La brought me closer to this realization of a collateral beauty that exists in the Power of Loss. Loss makes your fragile, breaks you down and you cannot think about anything other than the misery of death. But, right where you see the crack, a light comes in. The Light of Healing & Realization that all you can keep back is memories.
You need to let the person go. As hard as it gets. What we try to do usually? We try to hug the departed person so hard, so hard that neither you can breathe nor can he. This kind of hug will suffocate both. Letting your hands loose and setting yourself free from life long suffocation will do good to both, the one who departed and the one who was left behind.
Slowly from day 1 to day 30, I tried to answer the questions that were bothering me while undertaking simple acts of self-healing. My Nun mentors and friends @ Dolmaling Nunnery Norzum Ani, Tenzin Bhutti Ani, Dechen Ani, Tashi Ani, Phutshok Wangmo Ani will always have a special place in my life❤️. Also, I cannot miss out without Dolkar Lhamo and TenzinDee my memories of traveling around McLoed Ganj might not have been so wonderful. I miss all of you. Lots of love! I cannot help but sleep smiling that these wonderful people entered my life at a place I was fighting loneliness.
How I spent my 30 days in this retreat is a story of its own. But, all I know is that it was worth it. No place makes me feel as close to myself as this one. But, let me tell you how you can undertake a similar journey.
👇🏽 Itinerary 👇🏽
Let me bring to you the magic of SubUrbia ✨
Pre-book your stay by sending email infoindia@tnp.org
Pre-book your bus tickets - Pre-book bus from Majnu Ka Tilla to McLeodganj on MakeMyTrip
Day 1 - Catch a train/flight to New Delhi
Day 2 - Reach New Delhi - Ride on a Cycle Rickshaw toward Ama Cafe Majnu ka Tilla - Enjoy breakfast at AMA Cafe - After breakfast walk around the Majnu Ka Tilla market to have experince Tibetan Refugee culture - Pre-book bus from Majnu Ka Tilla to McLeodganj on MakeMyTrip ( If there is differnce of 6-8 hours till the next bus, take affordable stay at Ama Rabsel House )- Board your bus!
Day 3 - Get Down in Lower Dharamsala- take a Taxi to Dolmaling Nunnery (Disclaimer: Uber/Lyft/Ola does not work in this city. Also, please bargain with the Taxi driver) Tada!!!! You have reached the most beautiful place! The nuns will brief you beforehand about what to do when you arrive.- Settle into your minimalistic guest house.
Week 1
Wake up 4:00 am - Help make breakfast for 250 nuns
6:00 to 7:00 am - Attend Morning Prayer and Chanting
10:00 am - Get ready and leave for Upper Dharamsala
10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Travel Around Mcleodganj City
6:00 - Get back to. Nunnery
6:00 to 7:30 - Self make dinner
7:30 - Attend evening prayer chanting
8:30 - Nap Time
Week 2
Wake up at 6:00 am - Meditate in the Debate Ground
7:00 am to 8:00 am - Attend morning Prayer and Chanting
10:00 am to 1:00 pm - Go to Library and Read a book on Tibetan Buddhism
After lunch - Travel nearby and Visit Local Tibetan families and listen to their real stories about Tibetan Freedom struggle
3:30 to 5:30 - Attend Tibetan Debate Battle
6:30 - Attend lamp lighting prayer
7:30 - Dinner Time
9:00 - Naptime
Week 3
Wake up at 5:00 am - Learn how to milk cows in Dolmaling Cowshed
6:00 to 7:00 - Freshen up and have breakfast at Dolmaling Cafe
9:00 am - Reach Norbulingka Institute for Wood carving, Thangka Painting or Applique Art
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Walk around Nunnery talking to Nuns
7:00 to 8:30 - Learn to make Momos with a Local
9:00 - Nap Time
Learning traditional Tibetan Art Work at Norbulingka Art Institute
Week 4 ( Keep this week pretty unplanned and experince new things everyday)
6:00am - 7:00 am - Meditation
7:00 am -to 8:00 am - Have Satwik breakfast (No spice, No sauce, No Junk, No Meat) at Nunnery
10:00 am - Go to Mcleodganj Dalai Lama Temple for Circleambulation ( It is a beautiful experience)
1:00 - Have lunch at Iliterati Cafe
3:00 -Walk around Mcleodganj
7:00 - Come back to Nunnery
7:00 to 7:30 - Have Satwik Dinner
7:30 - Attend Evening Prayer and Chanting
9:00 - Nap Time
Circumambulating around The Dalai Lama Temple, Mcleod Ganj
Follow my travels on Instagram : @shivanis_multiverse and SIGN UP below !
