Post by sparklingblue on Dec 13, 2003 18:06:39 GMT -5
Facelift for Dalai Lama's adopted home
www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EL13Df02.html
By James Chang
DHARAMSALA, India - Every year, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world travel to this picturesque north Indian hill station to glimpse the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader. But for weary travelers, the rock-strewn roads, heavy traffic jams and choking exhaust fumes are far from spiritually uplifting: they are a reminder of the rugged realities of life in Himalayan India.
Poor infrastructure is hardly befitting the international repute of this hill station where India's colonial rulers escaped the scorching heat of the plains and sought respite in the shadows of the Himalayas.
That's about to change. With the pick up in the Indian economy and growing awareness among authorities that this historic outpost deserves better, the town is set to get a facelift.
"We want to make the McLeod Ganj worthy of the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," declared Vijay Singh Mankotia, minister of tourism and civil aviation of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
The state "feels blessed" that the exalted spiritual leader has chosen Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, its upper region, as his residence, Singh said in the keynote speech this week at the International Himalayan Festival.
The three-day celebration, held every year beginning on December 10, commemorates the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the 14th Dalai Lama in 1989.
State officials are backing their words with deeds. They have decided to give McLeod Ganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala, special status and pledged to upgrade roads, remove rocks, fill potholes and build parking lots to ease traffic and pollution.
The town has come a long way since 1959 when the Dalai Lama set up his government in exile after fleeing Tibet as the Chinese Army moved into the region. Located in the lap of the breathtaking Dhauladhar range, which stands 5,200 meters above sea level, McLeod Ganj, at nearly 1,800m, has become quite trendy.
For foreign travelers, the town with its bohemian feeling and well-stocked bookshops evokes an old university town hidden away in the Himalayas.
In order to highlight Tibetan culture and politics, the state's Ministry of Tourism will earmark Rs30 million (US$660,000) to build an international conference hall in Dharamsala, said Singh, the tourism minister. He predicted that the festival would become one of the most important celebrations in the state.
Already workmen have repaired the muddy, gravel-filled roads connecting the Theckchen Choling Monastery, the Dalai Lama's main spiritual retreat and headquarters, with the main town of McLeod Ganj.
"The better roads have dramatically improved the quality of life here," said Karma, who owns a bookshop in McLeod Ganj. "The road used to be not even good for pedestrians," he said.
While the state boasts other tourist spots such as Manali, Dalhousie and the state capital of Shimla, Dharamsala has clearly outflanked them of late as a destination for travelers.
High-profile visitors have included the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of York, the first ladies of France and Peru, supermodel Christy Turlington, actors Pierce Brosnan, Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, Goldie Hawn, Jet Lee, Harrison Ford and Sunil Dutt, and Indian tycoon Anil Ambani.
(Copyright 2003 Asia Times Online Co, Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact content@atimes.com for information on our sales and syndication policies.)
www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EL13Df02.html
By James Chang
DHARAMSALA, India - Every year, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world travel to this picturesque north Indian hill station to glimpse the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader. But for weary travelers, the rock-strewn roads, heavy traffic jams and choking exhaust fumes are far from spiritually uplifting: they are a reminder of the rugged realities of life in Himalayan India.
Poor infrastructure is hardly befitting the international repute of this hill station where India's colonial rulers escaped the scorching heat of the plains and sought respite in the shadows of the Himalayas.
That's about to change. With the pick up in the Indian economy and growing awareness among authorities that this historic outpost deserves better, the town is set to get a facelift.
"We want to make the McLeod Ganj worthy of the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," declared Vijay Singh Mankotia, minister of tourism and civil aviation of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
The state "feels blessed" that the exalted spiritual leader has chosen Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, its upper region, as his residence, Singh said in the keynote speech this week at the International Himalayan Festival.
The three-day celebration, held every year beginning on December 10, commemorates the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the 14th Dalai Lama in 1989.
State officials are backing their words with deeds. They have decided to give McLeod Ganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala, special status and pledged to upgrade roads, remove rocks, fill potholes and build parking lots to ease traffic and pollution.
The town has come a long way since 1959 when the Dalai Lama set up his government in exile after fleeing Tibet as the Chinese Army moved into the region. Located in the lap of the breathtaking Dhauladhar range, which stands 5,200 meters above sea level, McLeod Ganj, at nearly 1,800m, has become quite trendy.
For foreign travelers, the town with its bohemian feeling and well-stocked bookshops evokes an old university town hidden away in the Himalayas.
In order to highlight Tibetan culture and politics, the state's Ministry of Tourism will earmark Rs30 million (US$660,000) to build an international conference hall in Dharamsala, said Singh, the tourism minister. He predicted that the festival would become one of the most important celebrations in the state.
Already workmen have repaired the muddy, gravel-filled roads connecting the Theckchen Choling Monastery, the Dalai Lama's main spiritual retreat and headquarters, with the main town of McLeod Ganj.
"The better roads have dramatically improved the quality of life here," said Karma, who owns a bookshop in McLeod Ganj. "The road used to be not even good for pedestrians," he said.
While the state boasts other tourist spots such as Manali, Dalhousie and the state capital of Shimla, Dharamsala has clearly outflanked them of late as a destination for travelers.
High-profile visitors have included the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of York, the first ladies of France and Peru, supermodel Christy Turlington, actors Pierce Brosnan, Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, Goldie Hawn, Jet Lee, Harrison Ford and Sunil Dutt, and Indian tycoon Anil Ambani.
(Copyright 2003 Asia Times Online Co, Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact content@atimes.com for information on our sales and syndication policies.)