Travel

Norbulingka Institute, Dharamshala – for Preserving Tibetan Arts & Culture

- By Anamika Mishra

Norbulingka Institute is located in Sidhpur, very close to Dharamshala, is a perfect place to understand and take a deep dive into Tibetan arts and culture.

This was founded in 1995 by Kelsing and Kem Yeshi, a French-American anthropologist with an intention to preserve Tibetan arts and culture and make people understand about it in depth.

This institute is a more like a live-museum with lots of greenery and beautiful landscape within the premises. From the monastery to live handy-crafters, doll museum, artists, guesthouses, restaurants and souvenir shop. Yes, there are artists doing live paintings and you can buy it too. From paintings, clothes to religious items and home furnishings, you can buy everything Tibetan.

What I really liked about this place is its vibes. The place is green and calm, with ponds having fishes, little praying nooks. Every corner of this place has a story to tell.

I also liked the idea of workshops in Norbulingka. Visitors can participate in the live-workshops to get a hands-on experience.

They have 2 restaurants where you can try traditional Tibetan cuisines.

For staying in their guesthouses, I would suggest you to contact them first and check availability as the rooms are often booked because cost is not that high and suitable for backpackers, explorers and learners.

There is an entry fees in Norbulingka Institute: Rs.20 per person for Tibetans, Rs.50 for others

Also, timings for visitors is 9 AM TO 5.30 PM, all days of the week.

You cannot take outside food inside it and you have to weak mask, it is mandatory.

It is also advised to put your phone on silent/vibration more because many people are there to meditate and read and therefore, your ringtone might disturb them.

Norbulingka Institute, DharamshalaNorbulingka Institute, Dharamshala — Norbulingka Institute, Dharamshala

All in all, if you are planning a visit to Dharamshala, then you must visit Norbulingka Institute, at least for the sake of its beautiful premises and calm vibes. Some people read about this place or talk to tourist guides and upon knowing that it is just a museum and an institute, they skip it. But I will strongly suggest you to visit it. It takes about half an hour drive from Dharamshala to reach here, and totally worth.