Our Blog

Share

Kalachakra 2017 initiation: 10 tips for pilgrims traveling to Bodh Gaya. by Tashi

Tips for Kalachakra 2017

09 December 2015

Where will the Kalachakra 2017 takes place?  The 34th Kalachakra 2017 initiation  will be held in Bodh Gaya, the holy Indian town where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.  This is the fifth Kalachakra initiation to be held in Bodh Gaya. His Holiness the Dalai Lama would preside over the proceedings. The dates will be from  3rd to 14th January 2017 Thousands of devotees from all around the world are expected to congregate at this town during those 12 days. Nearly 300,000 visitors attend the previous Kalachakra initiation held in Ladakh in 2014. The experience would most certainly be overwhelming for a first-timer, especially for an outsider who is unfamiliar with the hustle and bustle of India. Here are a list of things to know to get yourself well-equipped to attend the ceremony: How do I get a visa? In its efforts to boost tourism, the Government of India introduced the e-tourist visa scheme for foreign nationals who visit the country for a short duration. Interested individuals can apply for a visa online and have to carry a printout of the e-Tourist visa at the time of travel. For detailed information about Indian e-Tourist visa, please click here. Do I have to register for Kalachakra 2017? Yes. Pilgrims are required to register for Kalachakra 2017. Foreign nationals, Tibetans and Indians are required to submit photocopies of their passports or identity cards to obtain a pass for the Kalachakra teaching. Interested individuals are requested to visit the official Kalachakra page when it come online regularly for more information about the procedure. You may also register through your travel agent or Dharma center. Do I have to pay for registration for Kalachakra 2017? There is no registration fee for Kalachakra teaching and the teachings are open to everyone. How is the weather like? The weather in January in Bodh Gaya is pleasant with average temperatures ranging from 18 – 22 degree Celsius. The nights might get a bit cold with temperatures dipping below 10 degrees once in a while. The monsoon season lasts from June to September and one doesn’t have to worry about rains during January. In fact, January is one of the best month to visit Bodh Gaya. What are my stay options? Thanks to the regular influx of tourists from all corners of the world every year, Bodh Gaya has very good accommodation facilities. Ranging from two star to five star, a variety of hotels that suit the budgets and requirements […]

Read more

One week in the heart of the Himalayas by Gokul

13 July 2015

Omalaya provides a glimpse of what it feels like to spend a week of your life in the mystical Himalayas. Through a short video that was shot in Dharamshala, Rishikesh and Triund, we provide you a precursor of what is in store for you should you choose to visit the Himalayas. Dharamshala is the home to his Holiness the Dalai Lama and his impact on this hill town is quite profound. The Tsuglakhang temple, the Kalachakra temple and the Namgyal monastery are all important symbols of Tibetan Buddhism. People from all around the world visit this picturesque town in search of spirituality, to pursue Tibetan studies or just to visit his Holiness. The scene next shifts to the quiet and scenic Triund. A three hour trek away from the hustle and bustle of Dharamshala, Triund offers a magnificent view of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. At Triund, one can see the snow-capped peaks that rise high above and touch the sky. As we descend down, we reach the holy towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar where the mountains meet the plains. The two towns are renowned for their Hindu temples, ashrams, yoga & meditation centres and most importantly the Ganga Arti. Of course, the Himalayas extend to more than 2000 kilometres in length and no video could do enough justice if it attempts to capture the beauty of this natural wonder in its totality. However, our video does provide you a flavor of the majestic mountains. We operate our very own journeys across Northern India, particularly in the Himalayan region. Our trips are guided by experts To know more about the journeys we offer, please click here. For more videos from Omalaya, kindly visit our Youtube page.

View

Guide to the great Monkey year teaching 2016-ladakh by Gokul

Monkey year teaching

26 May 2015

The Drikung Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism has a spiritual  tradition where each monk year in Tibetan lunar  calendar is make by grand teaching attended by hundred of people and The Great Drikung Phowa (Transferance of Consciousness) teaching by H.H Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche is well known through out Tibet,ladakh,Himalaya and beyond. The next year, according to Tibetan lunar calendar, is dedicated to the monkey. In August 2016, an intense teaching programme has been planned to mark the Monkey year.  The Monkey year teachings are dedicated to the sacred place of Tsari, an important meditation center for the Drikung Kagyu order. It is also believed that Guru Padmasambhava, a revered Buddhist God, appeared here seated on the blossom of a lotus flower. His appearance happened in the seventh month of the monkey year of the Tibetan Lunar calendar. The teaching is also held in memory of the birth anniversary of Lord Jigetn Sumgaon, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu tradition.  From Aug 5 to Aug 12, 2016, the Shachukul Monastery Teaching Committe will organize the teachings in order to commomerate the Monkey year. Conducted by H.H Drikung Skyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the teachings will be held at the Shachkul monastery in Ladakh, India. It is only the second time that the teaching is held here. A large number of devotees and high Lamas of the Drikung Kagyu lineage are expected to attend the teachings. Below is the detailed teaching schedule: August 5: Inauguration ceremony; Ritual consecration of the newly made silk borcade Thangka August 6: Birthday celebration of H.H Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche; Teaching and Empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni August 7: ‘Go Green Go Organic’ Project Committee’s programme and cultural show August 8 – 10: The Drikung Great Bodhichitta (The mindset of full awakening) teaching and transmission August 11: The Great Drikung Phowa (Transferance of Consciousness) teaching August 12: Empowerment of Guru Padma Lingpa; Long life offering to H.H Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche We will  be organising special tour to attend the great monkey year teaching in Shachukul near Pangong lake, ladakh and write to us at info@omalayatravel.com

Read more

A Monday morning visit to the Tibetan Children’s Village School in Dharamshala by Julianne

12 May 2015

The Tibetan Children’s Village School located in upper Dharamsala was started with a mission to provide a solid educational foundation to Tibetan children and develop a strong sense of cultural identity in them. Today as many as 1500 children study in this school.  The school is often frequented by his Holiness the Dalai Lama, who regularly motivates his students to lead a better life. It is quite evident that his Holiness is very fond of the children for he celebrated his 80th birthday along with this friend Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu in this school on April 23, 2015. To watch his birthday celebrations, please click here. Omalaya decided to pay a visit to the school on a Monday morning to get a first-hand experience of a typical day in school.  What we witnessed was in fact eye-opening. Right from kindergarten, children are being taught traditional Tibetan prayers, meditation sessions and yoga exercises to improve their overall physical and mental well-being. During the meditation sessions, the teacher goes around and ensures that the students meditate in the right manner. One or two naughty kids even open their eyes behind her back! *wink wink* During the yoga sessions, the children were made to go through a comprehensive full-body exercise that involved flexing the muscles of their hands, heads, shoulders, eyes, legs and back. Such a curriculum that focuses on the overall development of the children is most certainly holistic and visionary in nature. For the Omalaya team, it was a heartening experience indeed. For more videos from Omalaya, kindly visit our Youtube page.

View

Omalaya teaches you how to make Momos by Maryama

11 May 2015

A momo is a dumpling that traces its origins to Nepal and Tibet. Today it is a popular dish not just in Tibet and Nepal but also in India. While it is a staple diet in Nepal, it is seen more as a quick snack in India. Although, in recent times, many variants have spawned to cater to the local cuisine, the recipe for making a momo remains pretty much the same. Watch this short video to learn how to make momos. The detailed recipe for making momos is given below: A momo consists of two parts – the outer covering and the inner filling. To make the outer covering: To make the outer covering, mix wheat flour, salt and a spoon of oil in a bowl. Add water in little quantities and slowly but firmly knead the dough. Set aside the dough in a closed container for nearly half an hour. Take a small portion of the dough and roll it till it becomes a small circle of 5-7 centimetres in diameter. To make the inner filling: When it comes to preparing the inner filling, the choices are virtually unlimited. One can choose from  plain vegetables to chicken or mutton or a combination of meat and vegetables. Chop the required filling to very small pieces and fry for a few minutes in an oil-pan. Add garlic, pepper and onion to enhance the taste of the filling. Once it is appropriately fried, take a small quantity of the filling and cover it with the dough. Steam boil the raw momo for 20 minutes and Voila! You have fresh momos ready 🙂 For more videos from Omalaya, kindly visit our Youtube page.

View

Check out our latest
Articles, Videos, Events,
Recipes and more!

Scroll To Top