BYLAKUPPE
Tamil Nadu
Did you know, that there is a mini Tibet, tucked 2000 kms away from the real one, down in south India?
What began as two Tibetan refugee settlements started by Lugsum Samdupling in 1961, and Dickyi Larsoe in 1969, have evolved into a quiet, peaceful town that is home to thousands of Tibetans living in exile and a center for Tibetan Buddhism in South India.
With a beautiful blend of spirituality, nature and some scenic landscape, Bylakuppe is an ideal place to get a glimpse into the modern Tibetan culture.
With long rows of multi-colored Tibetan prayer flags, signboards in the Tibetan script, English and Kannada and distinctive houses with tiled roofs and well kept gardens, this town certainly has its own mystique and charm. The monastery buildings, whose remarkably different forms line the horizon, add to this singularity.
During festival time, the town center, the Golden Temple, becomes an open stage where masked dancers whirl in colorful attires to the sound of gongs and enormous ceremonial trumpets.
The most incredible thing to remember when visiting here is, that the Tibetans who relocated here way back in the day, had no material possessions with them when they arrived… but have transformed the entire area and themselves into something to be truly proud of!
Nickname: Mini Tibet
Kannada, Tibetan, English
Namdroling Monastery, Ingalakere, Rangaswamy Temple, Rangaswamy Betta (hill), Buddhist Monasteries, Schools and Settlements
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Read more here: TripAdvisor | Lonely Planet | Wikipedia
1 Comment
[…] Today we drove from Coorg in Karnataka, to Ooty in Tamil Nadu where Mahesh has a home. We drove through coffee estates and jungles and had the pleasure of stopping over at Bylekuppe. […]