Conscious Journeys to Dharamsala, India
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Losar in Dharamsala, India: How would like you to experience the traditional Tibetan Losar (New Year) with Tibetans? Please join Conscious Journeys for an unforgettable 16-day program to Dharamsala from Feb.21st to March 9th, 2009.
Program Description
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala is the cultural and intellectual capital of the Tibetan exile community. Conscious Journeys to Dharamsala offers a unique opportunity to experience the lives of Tibetan refugees living in exile while connecting with the people, culture and land of India. Highlights of this trip include celebrating Tibetan Losar; visiting Tibetan refugee camps, monasteries, schools, and historical places; seeking audiences with important Tibetan Lamas; and deepening your inner journey. The trip will start with a visit to the Taj Mahal.
How it Works
Once you are confirmed to participate (after sending the trip application and security deposit) in Conscious Journeys to Dharamsala, TVP will assist you to book your flight to Delhi and help arrange your Indian visa. You will pay for your own airfare and visa fee. The program costs cover airport transfers, hotels, ground transportation, food, interpreters, all permits & fees, travel insurance, and guides. TVP will walk you through all trip logistics including: gear, recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, and health and safety information.
Voluntary Fundraising
Unlike other Conscious Journeys trips to Tibet, the program to Dharamsala does not require participants to raise funds. However, TVP would like to request help in raising money and awareness on a voluntary basis. The money you raise will be used to support cultural preservation and sustainable development programs for Tibet. If you are interested helping with fundraising effort, please contact TVP for fundraising materials (sample letters, etc.) and guidance.
Program
Cost: |
$3,295 per person based on 10 -12 participants |
$3,495 per person based on 6 - 9 participants |
Our trip is budgeted for a full or nearly full sign-up. To avoid having to cancel the trip due to a lack of participants, we will charge more for smaller groups, to cover the fixed costs of the trip. All costs are in U.S. dollars.
| Trip Payment Schedule |
Cancellation Fee Schedule* |
At time of reservation - $500 |
Minimum fee: None |
120 days prior to departure - $1500 |
46- 90 days prior to departure: 50% land cost |
60 days prior to departure - Balance |
45 days or less: 100% land cost |
Tax-Deduction: 30% of the land cost is tax-deductible. In the event of a trip cancellation, the cancellation fee simply becomes a donation to Tibetan Village Project and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Note: tax deduction applies only in the United States as it where TVP has 501(c)3 Status.
How Much Should I Budget for the whole trip?
- $3,295 for program cost
- $1150 for airfare between Denver, CO to Delhi. Airfare from Melbourne to Delhi is A$1140 + Taxes, (approx A$450).
- $120 for visa
- $300 pocket money, offerings, gifts to bring back, etc
$4,865 Total is an ideal budget depending on your own need. Click here to print the trip application.
Draft Itinerary for 18 Days
Day 1: Leave home for Delhi on Feb. 20th
Day 2: Arrive in New Delhi in the afternoon of February 21st, transfer to hotel and rest.
Day 3: Drive to Taj Mahal from Dehli, which could take up to 3.5 hours. We will stay at a local guest house near the Taj Mahal on Feb. 22nd.
Day 4: Drive back to Delhi and catch an overnight bus to Dharamsala. The sleeper-class bus usually leaves around 7pm, and arrives in Dharamsala in the early morning.
Day 5: Rest and prepare for Losar in Dharamsala on February 24th. An invited guest speaker will discuss the Tibetan Diaspora after the dinner.
Day 6: First day of Losar in Dharamsala - participate in ritual ceremony at His Holiness’s main temple and seek audiences with important Tibetan Lamas in the morning and festivity with Tibetans in afternoon.
Day 7: Second day of Losar in Dharamsala – Possible audience with His Holiness the Karmapa in Gyuto Monastery in the morning and a visit to Norbulingka in the afternoon. We will stop by the Tibetan Transit School for the evening festivity
Day 8: Third day of Losar in Dharamsala – Prayer flag-raising and Lhasang (incense burning) ceremony in the morning. We will attend a Tibetan dance performance in the evening at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (Feb 27th).
Day 9: Drive to Tashichung Tibetan camp (about 4 hours drive) and walk, mingle, or rest in the afternoon. We will be staying overnight at the monastery’s guest house on Feb. 28th.
Day 10: Drive to Bir Tibetan Refugee Camp and check-in with individual host (two participants per family). You will have the option of staying at a guest house instead of a home-stay. We will visit Suja Tibetan Children’s Village in the afternoon. (March 1st).
Day 11: Meditation in the morning and hiking to upper Bir where Tibetan prayer flags will be raised in the afternoon (March 2nd). Evening volunteering opportunity such as cooking will be available at a Tibetan senior care center and monastery.
Day 12: Visit Chungtara Tibetan Children’s Village in the morning and drop off some school supplies. We will drive to Tso Pema in the evening and it is about a 3-hour drive from Bir to Tso Pema. We will stay at the guest house of Drikung Kyagu Monastery (March 3rd). (Tso Pema 'Lotus Lake' in Rewalsar, India, is where Guru Rinpoche performed the miracle of transforming the funeral pyre into a lake, after the King of Zahor attempted to burn him and Princess Mandarava alive).
Day 13: Spend the day at Tso Pema to visit the sacred lake, caves, monasteries and nunneries, and mingle with locals (March 4th).
Day 14: Drive back to Dharamsala. It will take about five hours on March 5th as we will stop at various scenic and interesting spots along the way.
Day 15: A free day of your own (resting and shopping on March 6th). We will take the overnight bus to Delhi (leaves around 7pm from Dharamsala) for those who have a flight to catch on March 6th.
Day 16: Remaining participants will take flight back home from Delhi on March 7th. Participants will have the option of staying longer in India on their own for the Dalai Lama’s teaching in Dharamsala that is scheduled from March 11th to March 21st.
Be prepared to participate with an open heart, an open mind, and a good sense of humor!
