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Night Life : |
Short of hanging out at the McLlo Restaurant or taking an evening stroll, there isn’t much in terms of nightlife. There are two video parlors near the center of town that show two films nightly on generator-powered VCRs and large screen TVs. Admission is cheap and, if you’ve been on the road for awhile, it’s a good opportunity to catch a new release film you may have missed. Films about Tibet are also shown.
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The schedules are posted out front each day and it’s important to arrive early for tickets, as the "theatres" are small and usually sell out.
Sometimes other restaurants and cafes have entertainment–music, poetry or other café-like things. Check the bulletin boards around town for what’s happening.
If you are heading out for a late night stroll or dinner make sure to carry an electric torch, the roads are not very well lit during the night.
ALTERNATIVES
There are many, many opportunities for alternative experiences in Dharamshala/McLeod Ganj–some formal, many informal. If you plan to volunteer or study for a longer period of time, it makes sense to contact the agencies and organizations ahead of time. Otherwise, you can just show up, see what’s available and sign on.
Volunteering
Teaching English
If you are a native English speaker (or even passable as one), it will only be a matter of a day or so before some young monk will approach you and ask you to be his teacher. These arrangements are very informal, but you will find that spending an hour or so of your day teaching diligent and dedicated students is highly rewarding.Plus, you will learn a great deal about Tibetan culture and Buddhism in the process.
More formal arrangements can be made through individual monasteries or nunneries and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. Inquire about longer-term positions teaching English to newly arrived refugees.
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
Central Tibetan Secretariat
Gangchen Kyishong
Dharamshala 176 215
India
Tel: 91-1892-22467
Fax: 91-1982-23723
ltwa@ndf.vsnl.net.in
Other Volunteer Opportunities
The Dharamshala Earthville Institute (DEVI) is located behind the Khana Nirvana Community Café on Temple Road and is a good place to check for volunteer opportunities, classes and other information. TCV, the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Women’s Association also have longer-term positions available in many areas. It is best to contact these organizations before your arrival.
Tibetan Children’s Village
Dharamshala Cantt. 176 216
India
Tel: 91-1892-21348/21354
tcv@del6.vsnl.net.in
Tibetan Youth Congress
P.O. McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala 176 219
India
Tel: 91-1892-21554
tyc@del2.vsnl.net.in
www.tibetanyouthcongress.org
Tibetan Women’s Association
Bhasunag Road,
P.O. McLeod Ganj — 176219
Dharamshala, Dist. Kangra (HP)
India
Tel: 91-1892-21527
Fax: 91-1892-21528
twa@del2.vsnl.net.in
twa@gov.tibet.net
The Dharamshala Earthville Institute (DEVI)
Temple Road
P.O. McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra
India
Tel: 91-1892-21733
Learning
Again, there are both formal and informal learning opportunities around the area. There are often weeklong meditation courses, cooking, and Reiki and massage classes advertised on the bulletin boards in town. Most of these are inexpensive and fun, as well as educational.
Check the Sivan-Ekant Guest House for daily yoga and meditation classes, and the Khana Nirvana Community Café and DEVI for classes in Tibetan Language.
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives offers courses in Buddhist philosophy, conducted by a lama and translated into English. The courses are offered on weekday mornings and cost 100Rs/month. But you can also attend one for free. More advanced classes are also held for longer-term students.
TIPA also offers courses in the Tibetan performing arts, but these must be arranged independently and require a longer-term commitment.
TIPA
P.O. McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala 176 219
India
Tel: 91-1892-21478
Fax: 91-1892-21033
tipa@ndf.vsnl.net.in
The Tushita Meditation Centre and the Dhamma Sikhara Vipassna Meditation Center offer daily or long-term courses in meditation and philosophy. The Vipassna center has a specific schedule of courses, so it is best to make arrangements ahead of time. The Tushita Center has a daily Basic Buddhism class open to the public and the others are reserved for those who are staying at the center.
Dhamma Sikhara Vipassna Meditation Center
McLeod Ganj
Dharmshala 176 219
Dist. Kangra
Himachal Pradesh
India
Tel: 91-1892-21309
info@sikhara.dhamma.org
For course schedule, see http://www.dhamma.org/schdhara.htm
Also, www.sikhara.dhamma.org Tushita Meditation Centre
McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala
Kangra District, HP 176 219
India
Tel: 91-1892-21866
Fax: 91-1892-21246
Weeklong and longer retreats are available.
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