Visits to Tantric Buddhist Temple and Norbulingka Tibetan Arts Center

I am behind in my posts so I am adding here some photos of Dharamshala even though I am now in Ujjain, India.

I visited Gyoto Tantric Buddhist Monastery near Dharamshala last week. I don't know too much about it but I took a quick walk around and took some lovely photos.

Inside the temple was an image of His Holiness the Dalai Lama seated ceremonially on a chair and dias.

Lots of color and beautiful artwork everywhere.

It was quite a big complex including a school for Buddhist monks and large living quarters.

Next was a visit to Norbulingka Tibetan Arts Center. This huge complex is built in layers going up the hillside and is devoted to preserving all manner of Tibetan Arts : woodcarving and wood art painting, Thangka Buddhist painting, textile creation etc etc. The gardens were my favorite part. Here are a few photo highlights. The artisans live and work on the premises and support themselves with the sale of their artistic creations.

Here is a Thangka artist showing me his rendition of the Kala Chakra Mandala created by the Dalai Lama. The Kala Chakra represents time and universal principles of life.

Pools and beautiful gardens were around every corner.

The complex is built in layers and at the topmost point there is a beautiful Buddhist temple.

Statue of Buddha in the temple.

Lovely and colorful stupa in the garden. 

 There was a great museum of hand carved figures and dioramas depicting all the various areas of Tibet, Tibetan customs and lifestyle. Here is one diorama showing monks in front of the great religious and political complex of Lhasa -the former home and headquarters of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama for centuries was the religious and political leader of former Tibet.