Norbulingka Institute – Preserving Tibetan Culture

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general

Norbulingka Institute promotes the traditional arts and literary studies of Tibet and comprises the following sections: The Centre for Arts, the Academy of Tibetan Culture and the Literary and Cultural Research Centre.

the site

The Institute is situated in the valley below Dharamsala, 6kms from the offices of the Central Tibetan Administration. It is built according to traditional Tibetan style, following a ground plan based on the proportions of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Set amidst beautiful gardens, surrounded by the green fields of the Kangra Valley, Norbulingka Institute stands against a backdrop of the towering Dhauladhar mountains of the outer Himalayan range.

the people

There are more then BOO people working, studying and living at Norbulingka: artists, craftsmen with their apprentices, scholars, students and administrators and their families. They come from all backgrounds and areas of Tibet. Some were born in India, but most are refugees who arrived from Tibet in the last few years.

the community

Norbulingka Institute provides people newly arrived from Tibet with on the job training in such fields as administration, production, marketing and computer skills, besides apprenticeships in traditional artistic domains. We incorporate their emerging skills into the infrastructure needed to run the Institute, and encourage self—reliance and a positive work ethic. These principles, based on Buddhist values, were prevalent in old Tibet, but have been overwhelmed by the upheavals that have taken place there over the last few decades.

the deden tsuglagkhang temple

The visual focal point and spiritual centre of Norbulingka Institute is the main temple. One thousand, one hundred and seventy-three images of the Buddha decorate the forty four foot high temple hall. Other paintings depict the twelve deeds of the Buddha, the fourteen incarnations of the Dalai Lama, and a host of saints, sages, and great teachers. The gilded copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, made by Norbulingka Institute statue making master Pemba Dorje, is the largest of its kind in exile. Sculpted clay images decorate the arch behind the golden statue. Altogether, the temple is a masterpiece. It is a tribute to the many artists who worked for more than a year, sometimes long into the night, to bring it to completion.

losel doll museum

Few people are aware of the richness and diversity of Tibetan costume. Since l984, the Losel team of monks has endeavoured to make it known to the rest of the world. They have created more than one hundred and sixty dolls as a result of careful research. Tibetans in exile have no national museum and many of these costumes no longer exist in Tibet. The Losel doll collection, therefore, represents a valuable resource that displays exact replicas of the original costumes.

norling guest house

The Norling Guest House ensures the visitors modern comfort in a rich Tibetan decor. Eight double rooms and two suites are on two levels, the upper set around an atrium lush with tropical potted plants. The large and comfortable rooms, furnished in elegant teak look out on to the beautiful gardens that surround the building.

chonor house

Chonor House is Norbulingka”s guesthouse in McLeod Ganj, Upper Dharamsala, the centre of the Tibetan community in exile. It is conveniently located near the Thekehen Choling Temple with eleven well-appointed rooms, each of which has been uniquely decorated according to a different Tibetan theme. Set amidst tall cedars, Chonor House is peacefully removed from the hustle and bustle of the town.

the library

The Norbulingka Library is situated on the second floor of the temple and serves the needs of students, researchers and visitors. It presently contains volumes in Tibetan, Chinese and in English. Efforts are afoot to raise funds necessary to increase the number of reference works, both in English and Tibetan.