#dharamsala india map | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mapmydestination123 · 8 months

Text

Title: Discovering the Tranquil Charms of McLeod Ganj: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

Introduction:

Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, McLeod Ganj, an extension of the vibrant city of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, offers a serene escape for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Once a favored summer destination during British India, McLeod Ganj has transformed into a cultural haven and a hotspot for expats embracing a Himalayan lifestyle. This blog is your comprehensive travel guide to unlock the wonders of McLeod Ganj and create a memorable checklist for your trip, including convenient options like outstation cab booking, one-way taxi services, and the best outstation cab service for a seamless journey-Map My Destination.

Originally known as a summer retreat for British officers, Dharamsala earned its name "rest house." The arrival of the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj transformed it into a Tibetan refugee center and a Buddhist pilgrimage destination. The town's backdrop boasts beautiful monasteries, waterfalls, lakes, and charming cafes against the mighty Dhauladhar Himalayas.

Things to Do in McLeod Ganj:

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA):

Founded in 1959, TIPA stands as one of Asia's premier art centers, offering training in dance, music, and theater. Its rich collection of Tibetan folk art and cultural significance make it a must-visit.

Bagalamukhi Temple:

Located amidst the Dhauladhar ranges, this temple is dedicated to ten goddesses of Shaktism. The vibrant yellow surroundings, belief in wish fulfillment, and serene ambiance make it a unique and powerful spiritual experience.

Bhagsu Falls:

Set against the Dhauladhar ranges, Bhagsu Falls is a captivating destination. Visit the Bhagsunath Temple nearby and enjoy the pools formed by the waterfall from July to October.

Dalai Lama Temple:

The heart of Buddhism in McLeod Ganj, this temple is the residence for monks and a place of worship for deities like Buddha and Avalokiteshwara. A small museum offers insights into Tibetan culture.

Namgyal Monastery:

Situated 2 km from McLeod Ganj, this monastery, also known as the 14th Dalai Lama monastery, offers a sacred space for meditation. Tourists are welcomed to join meditation practices in the peaceful surroundings.

Triund Trek:

Embark on the Triund trek for breathtaking views of the deodar forest, Himalayan peaks, and charming villages. Witness the sunrise and sunset from Triund hill, approximately 9 km from McLeod Ganj.

Minkiani Pass:

Situated at an altitude of 4343 ft., Minkiani Pass offers splendid views of the Dhauladhar mountain range. The steep route rewards hikers with mesmerizing landscapes.

Jwalaji Temple:

Located 10 km from McLeod Ganj, Jwalaji Temple is dedicated to Goddess Jwala Devi. Devotees visit to witness the perpetually burning Holy Flames, representing the goddess's power.

Dal Lake:

Surrounded by deodar trees, Dal Lake is a picturesque spot for a peaceful getaway. Located close to Tota Rani village, it offers a serene environment for a small picnic.

Dharamkot:

Adjacent to McLeod Ganj, Dharamkot offers panoramic views of the Dhauladhar range. A spiritual retreat and the annual festival fair add vibrancy to this village.

How to Reach McLeod Ganj:

If you're planning to travel to McLeod Ganj, you have several transportation options. For outstation cab booking, consider taking an overnight AC Volvo bus from major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, or Manali. The McLeod Ganj bus station is well-connected to the main town, making it a convenient choice.

For those preferring air travel, the nearest airport is Gaggal Airport (Kangra Airport), located approximately 15 kilometers away. Alternatively, you can fly into Dharamshala airport, also in Gaggal. After landing, you can easily arrange one way taxi service or use local transportation to reach McLeod Ganj.

If you opt for the train journey, the nearest major railway station is Pathankot Railway Station, about 90 kilometers away. From Pathankot, you can hire a taxi or take a bus for your journey to McLeod Ganj, providing a convenient option for car booking for outstation.

For those who enjoy driving, McLeod Ganj is well-connected by road. You can either hire a taxi or drive from nearby cities and towns, making it an excellent choice for best outstation cab service.

Upon reaching McLeod Ganj, local transport options such as taxis and auto-rickshaws are readily available for your convenience. The town is small enough to explore on foot, and many attractions, including the Bhagsu Nag Temple and the Dalai Lama's residence, are within a reasonable distance. So, whether you're in need of best one way taxi or seeking one side taxi service, McLeod Ganj provides a range of transportation options to make your journey comfortable and enjoyable.

Local Transport:

Once you arrive in McLeod Ganj, the town is relatively small and can be explored on foot. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are also available for local transportation. Additionally, many tourist attractions, such as the Bhagsu Nag Temple and the Dalai Lama's residence, are within a reasonable distance from the main town and can be reached easily.

Where to Stay:

McLeod Ganj offers a range of accommodations, from guesthouses to homestays and resorts. Some notable options include Ram Yoga House, providing a mountain-view balcony, and numerous budget-friendly choices.

Laid-back Cafes:

Explore the vibrant streets with Tibetan massage parlors, tattoo studios, handicrafts, paintings, and flea markets. Indulge in local wines, such as plum wine and apple wine. Experience the unique ambiance of cafes like Black Tent Café, Jimmy's Italian Kitchen, and Mcllo Beer Bar.

Best Season to Visit:

The tourist season is from March to June and mid-September to November. For a quieter experience, consider visiting just before the peak season starts and avoiding weekends.

Conclusion:-Map My Destination

McLeod Ganj with our top-notch outstation cab booking services. Experience the convenience of one-way taxi service and hassle-free car booking for outstation adventures. Our commitment to providing the best outstation cab service ensures a comfortable and enjoyable ride as you traverse the mesmerizing Himalayan landscape.

The spiritual charm of McLeodGanj by visiting its enchanting monasteries, where tranquility and cultural richness converge. Our reliable one-way taxi service allows you to soak in the serenity of the surroundings without worrying about the return journey.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/map-my-destination/

#taxi #best taxi service #travel #outstation cabs near me #cab service near me #userfriendlyapp

0 notes

blogindiatour · 7 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://www.indiatourblog.com/dharamsala-mcleodganj/

Dharamsala - The little Lhasa in India

Dharamsala At A look:

Dharamsala is famed because the holy residence of the Dalai Lama and homes the Tibetan monk in exile. The town is distinctively separated as top and lower divisions with one-of-a-kind altitudes. The lower division is the Dharamsala city itself whereas the upper department is popularly known as Mcleodganj.

Dharamshala

This is located at the top hilly stretch of land of Kangra Valley that is located simply towards the picturesque scene of Dhauladhar ranges. Being a Tibetan hub, Dharamsala is considered to be one of the first-rate locations to study and explore Buddhism and Tibetan Subculture.

Hotels in Dharamsala:

There are many reasonably-priced and luxury Inns to be had in Dharamsala for accommodation. Maximum of the travelers prefer to stay in the Mcleodganj location as that has Maximum of the awesome locations in Dharamshala. Some Motels are also available close to the Bhagsu Nath Temple and they’re relatively cheaper too.

For Whom:

For non secular people, humans on the lookout for meditation and peace. Also, for the avid trekkers as Dharamsala opens the manner for some of treks.

Restaurants and Local Food in Dharamsala:

Possible find a variety of Eating places and cafes here which serve decent Meals. Being ruled by using the Tibetan Subculture one will in most cases discover Tibetan delicacies being served. Do try the momos, thukpas and different Tibetan dishes. Another specialty of this area is honey ginger lemon tea that’s a totally refreshing drink. quite a few cafes Also serve English breakfast with Pancakes, Omlettes and Sandwiches. one of the high-quality establishments here are the Inexperienced Eating place and the Herbal Tea Save. There are some pubs here as properly which serve imported alcohol at the side of Food with song in the background. Momos are a forte right here. distinct forms of momos regionally called as Tingmo, Tibetan type samosa recognised to be Baklebs and a meal of soup and noodles Thukpas are Most commonplace.

Commuting Inside Dharamsala:

Commuting Within Dharamshala isn’t always hard although. Taxis and Buses are to be had without problems. Buses are cheaper choice for journeying. There are taxi stands available right here. After you attain Mcleodganj, it can be explored walking. Taking walks from Mcleodganj to Bhagsu may not be very tough either.

One day Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at the Gaggal airport, attain your inn in a cab. Take a look at-in at the lodge. Leave for Neighborhood sightseeing after Some relaxation. Go to the Buddhist Monasteries in Dharamsala. Visit the well-known Tsuglagkhang monastery and Namgyal monastery in McleodGanj and spend a while in peace and tranquility. Day 2: Visit the Dharamsala cricket ground, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Affiliation Stadium, abbreviated because the HPCA Stadium, is a picturesque cricket stadium placed inside the city of Dharamsala District Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Dharamshala Stadium

And revel in the surreal view of the Dhauladhar degrees. Then, head to Visit the well-known Dal lake of Dharamsala. Afterwards, Visit the Kangra Castle which is located just 20 km faraway from Dharamsala. Day 3: Go to the BhagsuNag waterfall and temple in Mcleodganj. Then, experience the quick trek of 2-three hours to Triund in Mcleodganj and returned to the hotel.

The Little Lhasa of India:

To lots of you, who’re unaware, Dharamsala is the house to Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader who runs his government in exile from Dharamsala. Now, what better vicinity on the earth than this little city set at the foothills of Dhauladhar ranges to enjoy the rich and regal Tibetan Way of life.

Dalai Lama

inside the year 1959, Dalai Lama got here to India with his fans and settled, instead beautified the city of Dharamsala, remodeling it into the little Lhasa. Dharamsala, for decades, has been a centre of meditation and peace, with hundreds of humans from around the world coming right here to seek Nirvana.

What’s Terrific?

A Notable location for meditation and studying approximately Buddhism and Tibetan Lifestyle. Extremely good view of Dhauladhar stages. High-quality weather all around the 12 months.

What’s not so Super?

It has emerge as over-crowded with massive quantity of vacationers speeding to Dharamshala.

#dalai lama #dharamsala airport #dharamsala flights #dharamsala hotels #dharamsala india map #dharamsala stadium #dharamsala temperature #dharamsala tourism #dharamsala weather #little lhasa #little lhasa of india #Mountains

1 note · View note

harpianews · 3 years

Text

Route map to a world record

India equalled the world record for most consecutive T20I wins with their 12th successive victory as they defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third and final match in Dharamsala to make it a hattrick of 3-0 sweeps at home. They are now tied with Afghanistan and Romania, and only the latter’s streak is ongoing. Shreyas Iyer’s form remained the standout of the series as he took charge of…

View On WordPress

#cricket #current #harpianews #ind vs sl #India #Indian Express #latest #news #sl vs ind #sports #sports news #Sri Lanka

0 notes

allknow-how · 6 years

Text

My Guide: the BEST Itinerary for India

I get e-mails from readers who are planning to backpack India and they want the details: who to fly with, how to get their visa, should they use a travel agent, & an itinerary for India (where should they go and in what order). I’ve noticed that since I posted the only packing list you need for India, I don’t get questions about packing anymore. I’m assuming that is because it helped people.

I am finally answering these FAQs about India! Some of your questions don’t have simple answers! I’m doing very detailed posts about a handful of the topics. The first up is, “Where should I go, and in what order? I want to save money.” First, I’ll explain what options I took in my India itinerary. Then I’ll discuss the pros and cons of the following suit. I’ll follow up with other route options that I considered or plan to take soon.

Tips for Traveling to and in India If you’re serious about having the trip of a lifetime, check out my India Guide ebook which is a complete guide to India and has 6 years of travel experience expertly organized to plan your trip from A to Z. Read more about the book here. For the best budget flights, I always use Kiwi. They search the low-cost carriers! I mean you can easily fly all over India for $200! You absolutely need a visa for India! I use and recommend iVisa for everyone coming. Check here to get a quote for your specific country. If you need a guide, here are my posts for US Citizens and for UK Citizens. I also, ALWAYS recommend getting travel insurance. World Nomads covers everything from emergency care to lost luggage. You can get a quick quote here. Here’s my full post on what exactly it covers and doesn’t. Whether or not to book ahead… I have written a lot about how to book and where to stay in India. If you’re on a budget, check out my hostel guide to India here. Otherwise, I love using Agoda to compare different hotels. If you want to do a tour to check out a lot of these at once, there is one that does it ALL and it’s the ultimate India tour from G Adventures, the only tour group I recommend in India that covers the whole country. I have a list of the best itineraries I suggest for group tours in India as well. I trust G Adventures for these tours. They have international standards and my close friends have taken these tours and loved them. The Best Itinerary For India (3 Months) Rajasthan First, I flew into Mumbai.

From there I went to by train to Rajasthan. This is where Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pushkar, and Jaipur are. If you’d rather, check Kiwi to see how cheap flights are to Rajasthan instead.

You need about 3-4 weeks for this state. I didn’t feel the need to see Gujarat and felt like I’d seen enough of this area to head north. I traveled this state by bus.

Himachal Pradesh Next, I went to Delhi to regroup, meet a friend and got my butt up to the mountains. I was mainly in Himachal Pradesh and the surrounding states. These include Shimla, Sarahan, Kullu, Manali, back to Kullu, Dharamsala, McLeod Ganj, Amritsar, and Rishikesh.

Next, another break back in Delhi, which is a hub that seems impossible to miss. Agra + Varanasi Then I went to Agra, which is where you’ll go if you want to visit the Taj Mahal. Next, I went to Varanasi.

Goa + Hampi After Varanasi, I took a train back to Delhi to catch a cheaper flight to Goa and Hampi. If you will be spending a week or more in Goa (which I highly suggest) then do check out my $25 e-book. The Insider’s Guide to Goa is 170-pages long and will guarantee you have the best time in Goa, meet other travels, and chill at all the coolest places. Click here to purchase.

Kerala I was meant to go to Kerala and go on the backwaters but meeting Ben in Goa kind of stopped my trip there, although we did go to Hampi together. With this route, it would be really easy to head south by train to Kerala. From there, you can fly back to Mumbai and catch a flight home. OR you could fly to Kerala from Delhi, and do Goa after, then back to Mumbai to fly home. The second option there would prevent you from taking

The second option there would prevent you from taking the second flight. Summary of my Itinerary for India If you look at a map you’ll see that I covered most of the NorthWest and a nice chunk of the far North. You would think I missed the main bits of India, and in a sense I did.

This is the thing: The places I went are tourist friendly. I’m not saying they’re like when you hop Thai islands and get stickers like a child. What I mean is that they are places you’ll like visiting. Tourists pick these cities for a reason.

No matter how “touristy” someone says a city is in India, this is STILL India. In my opinion, it’s not touristy at all, even in Goa.

Is there a “Tourist Trail” to follow? If you go into many other areas, you’ll find they aren’t ready for tourism. Although that may be what you’re looking for, I think you’ll be disappointed. It won’t be like a book you read where some girl found a local village and met people who changed her life… most likely, seeing as though India has almost 1.3 BILLION people, you will end up in a bustling town with nowhere to stay and people trying to rip you off because they haven’t seen a tourist.

Most likely, seeing as though India has almost 1.3 BILLION people, you will end up in a bustling town with nowhere to stay and people trying to rip you off because they haven’t seen a tourist.

If you are coming to India to “find yourself” or see the spiritual side that India is popular for, you probably won’t find it in the cities, unless you take mass amounts of Xanax. Westerners go to the same places Indians have for centuries because they are awesome.

Westerners go to the same places Indians have for centuries because they are awesome.

The path I took is a pretty common tourist trail mainly because it allows you to see the desert, ride a camel, play in the Himalayas, visit the Dalai Lama’s new home, visit Rishikesh the birthplace of yoga, see the Taj Mahal, watch the cremations on the Ganges, and beach it up in Goa.

The biggest tourist trail of all is the “Golden Triangle”: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur which is what most international tours to India will take you on if you have a week or two. The next major India tour would probably be a Rajasthan tour which usually adds on to the Golden Triangle tour. When I started on that path, I was unaware it was the tourist trail, I just realized it was the only route that made sense. No one does it in the same order though, and I found it hard to find travel buddies. I did have to do a total180 and take my itinerary backward because of seasonal changes.

When you are in Italy and you pick a random town to go to, you find beauty and nice cafes…. I hate to tell you it just isn’t the same in India. If you have limited time, you should take a moment and think about what you want to do, see, and experience. Next, figure out where you can do those things. Place dots on a map; do a little planning. Take a hard look at it to see which route makes for the best!

Yoga in India If you are interested in taking courses but want to pay safely and not get ripped off, you can use bookyogaretreats.com for retreats and bookyogateachertraining.com for YTT. These are owned by the same team and they only list the best of the best on there. There are reviews for other yogis who have been there so you can dive in and do some serious research. I recommend sorting by the “top recommended”.

The top places for yoga in India are Rishikesh, Dharamshala, and Goa.

What did you miss that you still want to do? There is much more I want to see. My bucket list for India is never-ending. As a tourist, you get a six-month visa usually. This just isn’t enough time to see what India has to offer. I am so happy with what I saw in my time there, which was three months, and I didn’t leave with any feelings of longing for other cities I missed.

Fast-forward to now I’ve been living in India and traveling to loads of places, not on the so called tourist trail. I can tell you for sure that if I had to re-do my path I wouldn’t change a thing. I didn’t come to India as a backpacker to eat at the Hard Rock Café in Bangalore with all the expats (although I love it now!), I came to see exactly what I saw.

The main places I missed were:

Calcutta, which was fine because I’d had enough big city, The North East, which I’ve now visited Pondicherry (the French colony) Kerala backwaters (now been here as well) The southern-most tip of Tamil Nadu where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabi Sea meet. This is also where Gandhi’s ashes were scattered. I missed the rural areas but later wandered around Karnataka for a month. There are much more, but those were ones on my list of places I was interested in. If you follow the itinerary I set, and don’t fall in love in Goa, you’ll have time to go to Kerala. You could fly from Delhi down and check out Kovalam, Varkala, Kochi, and then bus up to Goa.

You could fly from Delhi down and check out Kovalam, Varkala, Kochi, and then bus up to Goa.

Keep in mind, that this was a three-month trip. If you go for six months, add Calcutta, Sikkim, and Pondicherry. There are so many famous temples, like the Kama Sutra one, that I missed, but I still have time. Take some time to read about India before you come and see what you want to do. Once you have that, you’ll easily make an itinerary that will leave you satisfied at the end of your journey.

I have my original list of places I wanted to see on my three-month trip, and even almost two years since I left on that backpacking trip and living in India, I still have yet to even finish 75% of it.

0 notes

newstfionline · 7 years

Text

Inside China’s secret ‘magic weapon’ for worldwide influence

By James Kynge in London, Lucy Hornby in Beijing and Jamil Anderlini in Hong Kong, Financial Times, Oct. 25, 2017

On the Google map of Beijing there is an empty quarter, an urban block next to the Communist party’s leadership compound in which few of the buildings are named. At street level, the aura of anonymity is confirmed. Uniformed guards stand by grand entrances checking official cars as they come and go. But there are no identifying signs; the sole information divulged is on brass plaques that bear the street name and building numbers.

The largest of these nameless compounds is 135 Fuyou Street, the offices of the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist party, known as United Front for short. This is the headquarters of China’s push for global “soft power”, a multi-faceted but largely confidential mission that Xi Jinping, China’s president who on Wednesday was confirmed in place until at least 2022, has elevated into one of the paramount objectives of his administration.

The building, which stretches for some 200m at street level, signifies the scale of China’s ambition. Winning “hearts and minds” at home and abroad through United Front work is crucial to realising the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese people”, Mr Xi has said. Yet the type of power exercised by the cadres who work behind the neoclassical façade of 135 Fuyou Street is often anything but soft.

A Financial Times investigation into United Front operations in several countries shows a movement directed from the pinnacle of Chinese power to charm, co-opt or attack well-defined groups and individuals. Its broad aims are to win support for China’s political agenda, accumulate influence overseas and gather key information.

United Front declined interview requests for this article and its website yields only sparse insights. However, a teaching manual for its cadres, obtained by the Financial Times, sets out at length and in detail the organisation’s global mission in language that is intended both to beguile and intimidate.

It exhorts cadres to be gracious and inclusive as they try to “unite all forces that can be united” around the world. But it also instructs them to be ruthless by building an “iron Great Wall” against “enemy forces abroad” who are intent on splitting China’s territory or hobbling its development.

“Enemy forces abroad do not want to see China rise and many of them see our country as a potential threat and rival, so they use a thousand ploys and a hundred strategies to frustrate and repress us,” according to the book, titled the “China United Front Course Book”.

“The United Front ... is a big magic weapon which can rid us of 10,000 problems in order to seize victory,” adds another passage in the book, which identifies its authors and editorial board as top-level United Front officials.

In a rare news conference this month, Zhang Yijiong, the executive vice-minister of United Front, said: “If the Chinese people want to be powerful and realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, then under the leadership of the Communist Party we need to fully and better understand the use of this ‘magic weapon’.” Sun Chunlan, the head of United Front, this week retained her position in the newly selected politburo.

The organisation’s structure exhibits the extraordinary breadth of its remit. Its nine bureaux cover almost all of the areas in which the Communist party perceives threats to its power. The third bureau, for instance, is responsible for work in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and among about 60m overseas Chinese in more than 180 countries. The second bureau handles religion. The seventh and ninth are responsible respectively for Tibet and Xinjiang--two restive frontier areas that are home to Tibetan and Uighur minority nationalities.

Merriden Varrall, director at the Lowy Institute, an Australian think-tank, says that under Mr Xi there has been a distinct toughening in China’s soft power focus. The former emphasis on reassuring others that China’s rise will be peaceful is giving way to a more forceful line. “There has been a definite shift in emphasis since Xi Jinping took over,” says Ms Varrall. “There is still a sense that reassuring others is important, but there is also a sense that China must dictate how it’s perceived and that the world is biased against China.”

What the nine bureaux do 1. Parties work bureau. The first bureau deals with China’s eight non-communist political parties and recommending their members for positions in the National People’s Congress [parliament] and other bodies. Though these parties have little or no power, they are seen as an important part of China’s political structure.

2. Minorities and religions bureau. China has 55 official national minorities. United Front is charged with building coalitions of shared interests to ensure that distinct identities do not evolve into separatism. It is also charged with ensuring that all practising religions in China regard the Communist party as their highest authority.

3. Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas liaison bureau. Maintaining loyalty to the Communist party in Hong Kong and Macau is an important United Front function. Taiwan work focuses on building coalitions with those who identify with mainland China while seeking to undermine those that support the island’s independence. Cultivating loyalty among more than 60m overseas Chinese is seen as crucial to burnishing China’s reputation abroad.

4. Cadre bureau. Little is known about the work of the fourth bureau, which focuses on cultivating cadres and operatives throughout the vast United Front system. The number of United Front officials and operatives is unclear, along with the organisation’s budget and spending patterns.

5. Economics bureau. Works to cultivate loyalty among people and areas that have been left behind by the country’s economic advance. It plays an active role in poverty alleviation, especially in “old revolutionary base” areas such as in north-east China.

6. Non-party members, non-party intellectuals. The sixth bureau is charged with cultivating support among intellectuals and other influential people who have no party affiliation in China.

7. Tibet China’s efforts to suppress separatism in Tibet and undermine the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India, is a key aspect of United Front Work. It also seeks to win hearts and minds around the world by stressing Beijing’s contributions to the economic development of Tibet and its preservation of the region’s cultural legacy.

8. New social classes work bureau. The emergence of China’s vast middle class since the 1990s has created an influential group of people who have capitalist reforms to thank for their wealth and may thus feel little fealty to the Communist party. This bureau is dedicated to fostering unity among this group.

9. Xinjiang. China’s vast north-west frontier region of Xinjiang is home to millions of Muslims that belong to minority nationalities such as Uighurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Tajiks. This bureau is charged with cultivating loyalty and suppressing separatism among these minority peoples.

The hard edge of United Front is evident in its current struggle over the future reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, the 82-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader who Beijing castigates as a separatist bent on prising Tibet from Chinese control.

Tradition dictates that after a Dalai Lama dies, the high priesthood of Tibetan Lamaism searches for his reincarnation using a series of portents that lead them to his reborn soul in a child. The leaders of Tibetan Buddhism live in exile with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, northern India, raising the prospect that a reincarnation may be found somewhere beyond China’s borders.

Beijing is alarmed. The last thing it wants is for the man it has called a “splittist” and a “wolf in monk’s clothing” to be reincarnated in territory it does not control. United Front is charged with crafting a solution. The plan so far, officials said, is for the Communist party--which is officially atheist--to oversee a reincarnation search themselves within Chinese territory. Partly to this end, it has helped create a database of more than 1,300 officially approved “living Buddhas” inside Tibet who will be called on when the time comes to endorse Beijing’s choice.

“The reincarnation of all living Buddhas has to be approved by the Chinese central government,” says Renqingluobu, an ethnic Tibetan official and a leader of the Association for International Culture Exchange of Tibet, a United Front affiliate.

“If [the Dalai Lama] decides to find the reincarnation in a certain place outside of Tibet, then Tibetans will wonder what sort of reincarnation is this and the masses will think that religion must be false, empty and imaginary after all,” said Mr Renqingluobu on a recent visit to London.

The Tibetan government-in-exile criticises the “preposterous” plan, adding in a statement from Dharamsala: “If the Chinese truly believe that the 14th Dalai Lama [the current one] is a ‘leading separatist who is bent on destroying the unity of the motherland’, what is the point of looking for another one?”

Venturing into the realm of the metaphysical may appear counter-intuitive for atheist United Front operatives, but all of China’s national religious organisations come under the auspices of United Front work. These include the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Three-Self (Protestant) Patriotic Movement.

This portfolio means that United Front also leads China’s delicate talks to repair fractious relations with the Vatican, according to diplomats. The main sticking point is Beijing’s insistence that all religions in China must regard the Communist party as their highest authority--a position which in Catholicism is occupied by the Pope.

The two sides have been manoeuvring, mostly in secret, for more than a decade to find common ground. There have been signs of progress in recent years, with both sides agreeing to recognise the appointment of five new Chinese bishops in 2015 and 2016.

Nevertheless, officially at least, United Front remains resistant. “We must absolutely not allow any foreign religious group or individual to interfere in our country’s religions,” the United Front book says.

#China #Chinese Communist Party #Dalai Lama and reincarnation #United Front Work Department #religion in China

0 notes

ntrending · 7 years

Text

Inside China’s secret ‘magic weapon’ for worldwide influence

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/inside-chinas-secret-magic-weapon-for-worldwide-influence/

Inside China’s secret ‘magic weapon’ for worldwide influence

Receive 4 weeks of unlimited digital access to the Financial Times for just $1.

“The United Front . . . is a big magic weapon which can rid us of 10,000 problems in order to seize victory,” adds another passage in the book, which identifies its authors and editorial board as top-level United Front officials.

The organisation’s structure exhibits the extraordinary breadth of its remit. Its nine bureaux cover almost all of the areas in which the Communist party perceives threats to its power. The third bureau, for instance, is responsible for work in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and among about 60m overseas Chinese in more than 180 countries. The second bureau handles religion. The seventh and ninth are responsible respectively for Tibet and Xinjiang — two restive frontier areas that are home to Tibetan and Uighur minority nationalities.

Beijing is alarmed. The last thing it wants is for the man it has called a “splittist” and a “wolf in monk’s clothing” to be reincarnated in territory it does not control. United Front is charged with crafting a solution. The plan so far, officials said, is for the Communist party — which is officially atheist — to oversee a reincarnation search themselves within Chinese territory. Partly to this end, it has helped create a database of more than 1,300 officially approved “living Buddhas” inside Tibet who will be called on when the time comes to endorse Beijing’s choice.

This portfolio means that United Front also leads China’s delicate talks to repair fractious relations with the Vatican, according to diplomats. The main sticking point is Beijing’s insistence that all religions in China must regard the Communist party as their highest authority — a position which in Catholicism is occupied by the Pope.

Nevertheless, officially at least, United Front remains resistant. ��We must absolutely not allow any foreign religious group or individual to interfere in our country’s religions,” the United Front book says.

For Beijing, growing social diversity after nearly four decades of economic reform has emphasised United Front’s value in maintaining loyalty and support beyond the mainstream Communist faithful. Successive leaders have lauded United Front but none more so than Mr Xi, who made several moves in 2014 and 2015 to upgrade the status and power of the organisation.

Mr Xi has expanded the scope of United Front work, adding the ninth bureau for work in Xinjiang, meaning that the organisation now oversees China’s fierce struggle against separatism in the region. He also decreed the establishment of a Leading Small Group dedicated to United Front activity, signifying a direct line of command from the politburo to United Front.

But perhaps Mr Xi’s most important step to date has been to designate United Front as a movement for the “whole party”. This has meant a sharp increase since 2015 in the number of United Front assignees to posts at the top levels of party and state. Another consequence has been that almost all Chinese embassies now include staff formally tasked with United Front work, according to officials who declined to be identified.

This has given a boost to United Front efforts to woo overseas Chinese. Even though more than 80 per cent of around 60m overseas Chinese have taken on the citizenship of more than 180 host countries, they are still regarded as fertile ground by Beijing. “The unity of Chinese at home requires the unity of the sons and daughters of Chinese abroad,” says the teaching manual.

It recommends a number of ways in which United Front operatives should win support from overseas Chinese. Some are emotional, stressing “flesh and blood” ties to the motherland. Others are ideological, focusing on a common participation in the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese people”. But mainly they are material, providing funding or other resources to selected overseas Chinese groups and individuals deemed valuable to Beijing’s cause.

One UK-based Chinese academic who has attended several United Front events describes how the experience begins with an invitation to a banquet or reception, usually from one of a host of “friendship associations” that work under the United Front banner, to celebrate dates in the Chinese calendar. Patriotic speeches set the mood as outstanding students — particularly scientists — are wooed to return to China with “sweeteners” in the form of scholarships and stipends, she adds. These stipends are funded by a number of United Front subsidiary organisations such as the China Overseas-Educated Scholars Development Foundation, according to foundation documents.

The largesse, however, may come with obligations. In Australia, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association acts to serve the political ends of the local Chinese embassy, according to Alex Joske and Wu Lebao, students at Australian National University. In one example, when Premier Li Keqiang visited Canberra this year, the CSSA fielded hundreds of Chinese students to drown out anti-China protesters on the street, Mr Joske and Mr Wu wrote in a blog.

To be clear, by no means do all Chinese students in Australia or elsewhere in the west see themselves as agents for soft power. However, Chinese and Australian academics have noted that pro-Beijing militancy is on the rise.

Feng Chongyi, professor at the University of Technology Sydney, says the influence exerted by Beijing over Chinese associations in Australia has grown appreciably since the late 1990s. “My assessment is that they control almost all the community associations and the majority of the Chinese-language media, and now they are entering the university sector,” says Prof Feng.

Away from such grassroots operations, a bigger prize is political influence in the west. The teaching manual notes approvingly the success of overseas Chinese candidates in elections in Toronto, Canada. In 2003, six were elected from 25 candidates but by 2006 the number jumped to 10 elected from among 44 candidates, it says.

“We should aim to work with those individuals and groups that are at a relatively high level, operate within the mainstream of society and have prospects for advancement,” it says.

At times, however, the quest for political influence can go awry. New Zealand’s national intelligence agency has investigated a China-born member of parliament, Jian Yang, in connection with a decade and a half he spent at leading Chinese military colleges.

A United Front operative since 1994, Mr Yang spent more than 10 years training and teaching at elite facilities including China’s top linguistics academy for military intelligence officers, the Financial Times learnt. Between 2014 and 2016 he served on the New Zealand government’s select committee for foreign affairs, defence and trade.

Anne-Marie Brady, a professor at New Zealand’s University of Canterbury, has said China’s growing political influence should be taken seriously. Noting that Canberra is planning to introduce a law against foreign interference activities, she also called for Wellington to launch a commission to investigate Chinese political lobbying.

In 2010 the director of Canada’s national intelligence agency warned that several Canadian provincial cabinet ministers and government employees were “agents of influence” for foreign countries, particularly China. In recent months, Australia has said it is concerned about Chinese intelligence operations and covert campaigns influencing the country’s politics.

But over time, such setbacks may prove temporary hiccups in the projection of China’s brand of hard-boiled soft power around the world.

“In the beginning the Chinese government talked about culture — Peking opera, acrobatics — as soft power,” says Li Xiguang, a head of Tsinghua University’s International Center for Communication Studies. “When Xi Jinping came to power, he was totally different from previous leaders. He said China should have full self-confidence in our culture, development road, political system and theory.”

Mr Xi’s elevation of United Front’s importance and power suggests that Beijing may be unwilling to tone down its efforts.

More from the Financial Times: Madrid presses constitutional nuclear button Catalonia’s parliament declares independence China’s graft tsar draws political career to close

Share & Written By CNBC

#Top News

0 notes

thesufiwithin · 7 years

Text

TOP 11 ADVENTURE THINGS to do Himachal Pradesh Tourism Places

For sheer geographical diversity, few places in the world are as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh, Low rolling hi or climb on to touch the core of the Himalayan mountains. Here lie peaks that are several thousand metres high and never lose their perennial snow, past these, forbidding heights, lie the visually stunning cold desert of the Trans Himalaya Rivers howling through deep gorges and placid mountain lakes, thick forests and acres of green mountainsides draped with snow and green Alpine all form a part of this immense spectrum. The possibilities for a whole range of adventure activities are also enormous, There are day hikes by the thousands, and the trek routes follow trails that last a couple of days or can extend over a few weeks.

There is skiing. heliskiing and ice-skating. There is the thrill of paragliding and the test of stamina with mountain-cyc You can go camping and fishing and play golf or take a safari by car, jeep or on a motorcycle.

There are mountaineering and rock climbing. All you need is a reasonable level of fitness. Equipment, training and instructors are available. And then, All this comes at a fraction of what it would cost you elsewhere in the world. Sedentary or strenuous, for the expert or beginner, Himachal Pradesh has a niche of adventure for everyone.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Places

1.Golf At Naldehra Himachal Pradesh Tourism: just 23 km's away with a beautiful view. beyond Shimla is one of the oldest golf courses in India. Named after the daughter of Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India, it is a par 68,9 hole course Annandale, in Shimla has a 9 hole course. There is another at the exquisite glade of Khajjiar 22 km's from Dalhousie and 24kms. from Chamba.

2.Kheer Ganga Trekking Himachal Pradesh Tourism: The main trekking areas in HP are the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges between Shimla and Kullu Valley. There are also treks out of Kullu and in the Trans-Himalayan regions of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti. Most trekking areas are between 1500- 6000 mt's. With well over 270 defined trails, the variation in terrain is enormous low scrublands, paths through paddy fields, trails strewn with pine needles, woods of oaks and flowering rhododendron, forests of Himalayan cedar & deodar all dotted with small pastoral hamlets, an old Forest dak bungalows' and SEB and PWD rest houses. Training facilities accommodation is are available a Manali Mountaineering Institute and also at centres of Dharamsala and Bharmour with agencies conducting treks and providing guides, equipment, porters, pack animals and maps Indeed, trekking through can prove to be a nice way of seeing the wonder of Himachal Pradesh. A must visit place kheer Ganga trekking.

3.Heli skiing Manali Himachal Pradesh Tourism: Heli skiing in Manali For high mountain thrills perhaps nothing can surpass the magic of heli-skiing. Under a deep blue sky, you are carried by helicopter to a snow-draped peak. It is a thrilling experience as you rapidly zoom down the slopes and realising that there is nothing except the sky and the snow when icy winds slap your face. It is available in the area found by the Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pan, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass near the resort town of Manali.

4.Kufri skiing Himachal Pradesh Tourism: one of the oldest, near Shimla the Mahasu ridge; the Markhanda ranges 64 kms. from Shimla with a beginners run, an advanced slope and a slalom run and also offering ski courses instruction and equipment on hire; the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali offers a variety of courses; the winter and summer skiing in the Solang area near Manali are a few among them.

Camping is the best way to enjoy the wonders of nature with your own gear or opting for any of the several camps offering accommodation, hikes, fishing, catering, nature tours and rafting. at Sarchu in Himachal Tourism has camps Kinnaur, Lahaul, tents at Sangla and Kalpa in and at Kazain Spiti. of India The Youth Hostel Accommodation run camps at Dalhousie, Kullu-Manali; private sector run camps at Baspa Sangla valley, at Kalpa in Kinnaur, at Tabo in Spiti, at Al Hilal Taragarh and Dharamsala in Kangra, at Shoja near Kullu, and at Mashobra and baldeyan near Shimla. Ice-skating The Shimla

5.Shimla Ice Skating Himachal Pradesh Tourism: The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. It normally begins in early December and carries on to February. Clear skies and low temperatures provide two sessions with every day, morning and evening. Memberships are available for the seasons, shorter terms and even for single sessions. Fancy dress carnivals gymkhanas ice hockey and dances enliven every season.

6.Bir Billing Paragliding Himachal Pradesh Tourism: This sport is a mix of skydiving and hang gliding and is perhaps the closest man has ever come to sailing the skies as free as a bird. The bald peak of Billing, above the Buddhist monastery of Bir in Kangra, Buddha Dhar near Bilaspur, in the Kullu Valley and Intkali in the Pabbar Valley near Rohra are places where para-gliding is done regularly. The Adventure Sports Hostel at Dharamsala and an Aero Sports Complex at Bir billing paragliding provide training and conduct events.

7.Mahseer Angling Himachal Pradesh Tourism: paradise for fishing in Himachal. Himachal Fishing has several sports for both trout and mahseer as well as other fishes.The best sports fishes both Brown and Rainbow Trout are found in the stream of Himachal. Upstream of Rohru in Pabbar Valley, Chirgaon, Seema, Mandil, Sandasu, Tikri, Dhamvari all within 5 to 25 km's, from Rohru, Kinnaur's Baspa river in the Sangla Valley, Uhl river near Barot-Luhandi, the Puran hatchery, Tikkar and Kamand, upper reaches of river Beas in the Kullu Valley and its tributaries like Sarvani, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan-The areas around, Patlikuhl, Katrain, Raison and Largi all are excellent for the sport.

The Kangra valley, reservoir Pong Dam, Nadaun along the river Beas, Chamba Pattan near garlic amar harsi pattan, and Lam Bagoan, and many more offer mahasar.Fishing fees are nominal. The trout fishing is from 31st March to 31st est months for mahasar are those that have an 'r' in their spelling-Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sept, Oct. No and Dec.

8.Kangra Water and River Sports Himachal Pradesh Tourism: The Pong Dam Reservoir in Kangra in collaboration with the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports provide year-long activities like swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking on the waters of the Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, the Chamera Lake near Dalhousie and the Pandoh Lake on the Mandi-Kullu National Highway. white water river rafting is presently being hung on the Sutlej close to Shimla. The break game enjoys a reprieve amid winter and in parts of the storms.

9.Kinnaur Mountain Cycling Himachal Pradesh Tourism: Get yourself for high adventure with an expedition on cycles. The whole of Himachal is your playground. The visit can be combined with outdoors camping for several weeks. The lower level regions of the state-Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur-offer tender courses. or you can stretch your mind, muscle and stamina to reach out to the Trans-Himalayan tracts of Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. For the lighter regions, the summer and autumn months are suggested.

10.Lahaul Vehicle Safaris Himachal Pradesh Tourism: You can explore the variety of Himachal Pradesh by jeep, car or motorcycle. By jeep, the Trans-Himalayan tracks can steadily unfold their natural and man-made wonders, cross the Rohtang pass, move through arid Lahaul to Leh and Ladakh or from Shimla-through picturesque Kinnaur, Kinnaur to Lahaul, haunting beauty landscape of Spiti drive over the Kunzam pass to enter Lahaul. All you have to do is buy a route map, plan your trip and are on your way.

11.Kheer ganga trekking Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Himachal Pradesh Tourism: The territory around Manali, directly frames the legend of mountaineering in Himachal Pradesh. The Chandra Bhag ranges, the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar extents area specialists center.. The Beas Kund region and lower reaches of the Hanuman Tibba, the Manali and Skitidar peaks around the source of the river Beas and the Deo Tibba are suggested areas for beginners. The Chandra Bhag ranges, the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar extents area specialists centre. The Manali Institute offers Courses.

0 notes