Shangri La

The northernmost region of India has always been a mystical area people have been drawn to. The Himalayas are not the easiest to get to and this is what has preserved much of its charm. People tend to journey there to find peace and I was no different as I ventured there last week. One of my stops was Dharmsala, the home of many Tibetan exiles and the Dali Lama. In 1960 India was gracious enough to permit to Tibetans to settle in this area which is often called “Little Lhasa”.

It was interesting to learn more about the Tibetan culture and spend time with a diverse array of Tibetans and travelers. If you ever come to India I highly recommend spending time there, it is a special place. After a few days in Dharmsala I headed out for a three day trek which was one of the most challenging and fulfilling I have ever done. The cotton candy clouds, blankets of wildflowers, breathtaking vistas, entertaining guides and fellow trekkers made for an unforgettable experience. I must confess I have never been sorer than after this trek and I hobbled around for the next three days all the while grinning as the juice was worth the squeeze…

I ended my travel with a brief stop in Shimla which was the summer dwelling for British Raj while inhabiting India. It is also a popular honeymoon destination for India newlyweds and home to many entertaining monkeys. I enjoyed seeing the British crafted city and imagining what it used to be like back in the day but it paled in comparison to the tranquil space of Dharmsala.