Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)
EasternBuddhistmonasterySouth Asia1959 CE - present
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Location
Modern Name
Dharamsala
Country
India
Region
South Asia
Coordinates
32.2190, 76.3234
Era
1959 CE - present
Site Type
Monastery
About
The seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and residence of the 14th Dalai Lama since 1960, centered on the Tsuglagkhang complex (Namgyal Monastery and Tibet Museum).
Significance
The spiritual and political capital of the Tibetan diaspora; a living center for Tibetan Buddhism, culture, and scholarship outside Tibet.
History & Historical Arc
McLeod Ganj was a British hill station; the Dalai Lama established his exile government here in 1960 after fleeing Chine…
Archaeological Notes
The site is modern in its current form but houses the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA), preserving 80,000+ m…
Key Features & Structures
- Tsuglagkhang (Main Tibetan Temple)
- Namgyal Monastery
Visitor Information
Open year-round; audiences with the Dalai Lama require advance application. Teaching sessions are often open to the publ…
Related Figures
14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso)Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje
In the Bible
Source References
- Dalai Lama, 'Freedom in Exile' (1990)
- Library of Tibetan Works and Archives catalog