Rishikesh

It was here in Rishikesh that The Beatles joined Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968 and wrote 48 songs, most of which would become popularly known as The White Album. Today the Maharishi’s ashram is closed, but many more have sprung …

Planned Chaos in Chandigarh

Rolling into Chandigarh I had high expectations. A couchsurfer invited me to come and stay and I thought it a great opportunity to see this city famed for its urban planning, much like Islamabad in Pakistan.

When Pakistan split from …

Hill Station Shimla

A bit over 2,000 meters in elevation, Shimla sits a bit higher and colder than my recent stops. This city was the summer capital for the British Raj officials because of its dip in temp compared to the sweltering plains …

Tibetan Government in Exile

Back into colder mountain weather, my anticipated next stop is Dharamsala and the home of the Tibetan Government in Exile. I spent most of my time just above the village proper in McLeod Ganj, also called Upper Dharamsala. Administration buildings, …

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Across the Pakistan border and into India lies the city of Amritsar with it’s Golden Temple. The site is the focus place of the Sikhs. The Sikhs are an interesting religious group that contains elements of both Hinduism and …