Himachal Pradesh As A State
Occupying an area of 55,658 sq km, Himachal Pradesh is located in the north west India. Bordering it in the north and north west is the state of Jammu and Kashmir while the south of the state are the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The south east and south west region is occupied by Punjab and Uttaranchal respectively. Lastly, to its east lies Tibet. The beautiful hill station of Shimla is the state capital.

Predominantly a mountainous state, Himachal Pradesh has been referred as the Dev Bhoomi in the ancient scriptures. Today, it is a huge drawer of tourists because of the plethora of attractions it offers in form of sightseeing and fun activities. However, the most important amongst these are the terrific natural beauty of the area - verdant green valleys surrounded by snow clad peaks, roaring rivers, gurgling streams, serene lakes and dense forests of deodar and oak. Spiritual calm in such surroundings is always forthcoming.


Significance of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh
Buddhism was introduced in Himachal Pradesh in 3rd Century BC by the great Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. He ordered the construction of numerous stupas in the state. One of these stupas that existed in the Kullu valley also finds a mention in the accounts of the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang.

Today, even though the majority of population is Hindu, yet the Buddhist influence is strong in the state. The primary reason for this is the presence of His Highness, the Holy Dalai Lama (14th), Tenzing Gyatso. Way back in the 1960s, when the Chinese invasion took place in Tibet, the exiled Dalai Lama, along with his 85,000 Tibetan followers took shelter in a former British cantonment, Mc Leodganj. His effort have not only ensured the progression of Tibetan culture in the state but he has also become a focus of entire Tibet Buddhism for the last four decades. His Holy Highness imparts teachings on the philosophy of Buddhism both by himself on regualr basis and also on the request of various Buddhist devotees from Taiwan and Korea. Because of this, the Buddhist movement has regained its lost momentum.

Apart from Mc Leodganj in the upper Dharamshala, the Lahual and Spiti valley also have a strong Buddhist presence. These areas have a number of gompas and monasteries that stand in a rugged terrain preserving the Buddhist art and culture with steadfastness.


Major Buddhist Places in Himachal Pradesh

• Mc Leodganj : Situated in the upper Dharamshala in the state is Mc Leodganj, a thriving centre of Tibetan Buddhist faith. It has been the abode of the exiled Dalai Lama of Tibet for four decades now. It is here that he conducts his teachings and the complex Kalchkra ceremony.
  
  
• Rewalsar : This place commands respect among the Buddhist devotees because of the belief that it was from here that Guru Padmasambhava set out on his journey to Tibet in order to propogate dharma. He is known by the name of Guru Rimpoche, the Precious master and is responsible for spreading mahayana Buddhism in Tibet. The Rewalsar Lake is believed to be inhabited by the spirit of Padmasambhava. Two Tibetan monasteries also stand on the opposite end f the lake.
  
  
• Lahaul Spiti : The valley of Lahaul and Spiti are home to a number of famous Buddhist monasteries and Gompas. Tourists from all over the world come here to pay a visit to these Buddhist monuments.
  
  
• Kinnaur : One of the less visited districts of Himachal Pradesh, Kinnaur lies close to the Indo Tibet border. Its proximity to Tibet, the people of Kinnaur are heavily influenced by the Tibetan lifestyle. Hinuds are in majority but Buddhists too form a considerable population, primarily in the northern and centrak region. Almost all the village have a gompa or a temple. Some of the famous Buddhist places include the village of Morang, Puh, Nako and Chango.
  
  
  

Major Buddhist Monuments In The State

• Tabo Monastery : At an altitude of 3050 m in the valley of Spiti, the Tabo monastery complex covers an area of 6300 sq m. It was established by a distinguished scholar Richen Zangpo in the 996 AD, as an advanced centre of learning. The significance of this monastery is immense since it happens to be the most important one after the the Tholing Gompa in Tibet in the entire Himalayan region. There are total of nine shrines in the complex, out of which the most important one is The Temple of the Enlightened Gods (Tug-Lha-khang). Within this temple, there is a four fold figure of Vairocana and paintings that depict the life of Gautam Buddha at various stages of his life.
  
  
• Kye Monastery : The Kye Monastery dates back to 1000 AD and has faced many attempts to destroy it. However, today, it still stands and is recognised as a one of the prime religious training centres for Lamas. The monastery consists of an image of Buddha in the dhyana position. Recently, in the year 2000 AD, the Kye monastery celebrated the grand Kalchakra Ceremony which saw the presence of the Holy Dalai Lama. The monastery is located 12 km north of Kaza and is the oldest and the biggest monastery of the valley perched 4116 m above Kye village.
  
  
• Guru Ghantal Monastery : This monastery, located on the right bank of the river Chandra on a hill above the Tupchiling village, is the oldest one in Lahaul area. The monastery was founded by Guru Padmasambhava some 800 years back. It houses an idol of Guru Padmasambhava along with images of Brajeshwari devi and several other lamas. The idols of this monastery are different from that of other monastery because they are made up of wood instead of clay. Previously, a festival by the name of Ghantal was celebrated in the monastery wherein visiting lamas and Thakurs feasted for one complete day. This festival is no more celebrated.
  
  
• Shashur Monastery : Shashur Monastery was established by Lama Deva Gyatsho of Zanskar in the 17th century AD. He was the missionary of the king of Bhutan, Nawang Namgyal and hence the lamas of this monastery are the follower of the Drugpa sect or the red hat sect ( which was founded by the king). The monastery houses the big thanka paintings, over fifteen feet, as well as wall paintings that depicts the 84 siddhas of Buddhism.
  
  The location of the monastery amidst beautiful blue pine trees is attractive. Infact, the name sha-shur itself means in the blue pines in the local language. In the month of June/July, the performance of Chham attracts loads of tourists to Shashur Monatery.
  
  
  
  
• Dhankar Monastery : Located 25 km east of Kaza, the Dhankar Monastery is important for the Buddhists of the eastern part of the central Spiti. The presiding deity of the monastery is the statue of "Vairochana" (Dhayan Buddha) consisting of 4 complete figures seated back to back. The monastery also safeguards Buddhist scriptures in Bhoti language as well as relics in the shape of paintings and sculptures.

Other Major Attractions in Himachal Pradesh

• Shimla : The erstwhile summer capital of the British in India, Shimla is today the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The natural beauty of Shimla is heartening with its snowcapped peaks, apples, pine forests, and flowers. The Mall is at the centre of atttraction in Shimla. Other attractions of this pretty hill station include waterfall, state museum and library and Hindu temples.
  
  
• Manali : The most significant town in the Kullu valley, Manali is around 274 km away from Shimla. With towering Pir Panjal, Bara Banghal ranges and Beas river contributing to enhance the beauty of the place, Manali is every nature lover's delight. Moreover, there are also options for those who love to get a bit adventurous.
  
  
• Palampur : Palampur is at a distance of around 38 km from Dharamshala in the Kangra valley. Palampur's attraction mainly lies in its tea plantation. The vast stretch of greenery exudes a refreshing beauty. The tea grown here is marketed by the name of Kangra Tea in both national and international destination. There is also an important monastery Tashijong located in the close vicinity of the town (just 12 km away). This monastery was constructed after the Dalai Lama came and settled in India and has carpets, Buddhist tangkha paintings and other Tibetan craft up for sale.