When the Chinese occupation of Tibet erupted into violence in 1959, forcing His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his government to flee the country, the Indian government offered them a new home in Dharamsala, an abandoned colonial hill station nestled in the foothills of the western Himalayas. Thankful for the refuge, the Tibetans accepted, and in the nearby village of McLeod Ganj (named after a colonial Governor), they rebuilt their government and culture-in-exile.

While Tibet may be exotic, "Little Lhasa," as Dharamsala/ McLeod Ganj is called, is where all the action is. Most travelers don?t waste too much time in Dharamsala itself -? a bustling city without much to offer -? but head up the road to McLeod Ganj, where the air, and the atmosphere, is purer. H.H. the Dalai Lama lives here (you can see him!), and so do thousands of exiled monks, nuns, children and families.

Thus, McLeod Ganj is the real heart of Tibet, offering travelers a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant Tibetan culture firsthand without the persecution and difficulties of Tibet, itself.

In addition to spectacular Himalayan trekking in the Dhauladhar Range, travelers have easy access to temples, monasteries, schools and libraries, as well as occasions to study Tibetan Buddhism, attend services at the Dalai Lama?s temple, see performances at the Tibetan Institute for the Performing Arts, teach English to monks, volunteer with women and schoolchildren and even take a meditation or Tibetan cooking class!