Shimla

Shimla – Melocklimatic resort and capital of Himachal Pradesh. Population – 199 229 people (2008). Located at an altitude of about 2000 m.

In colonial times, Shimla’s city was «summer» Capital of British India. The government ran here from Rassed Delhi for the whole summer.

Every year here come to relax from the heat of millions of Hindus. Skiing, engaged by rafting and go fishing, admire mountain species and bathe in waterfalls.

Main landmark in Shimla – Lake and the city of Revalsar, Located in the mountains 24 kilometers in the south-east of Mandy. The lake is the object of pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhov. It is especially honored by Tibetan Buddhists and several Tibetan monasteries are erected on its shore.

The reason for the importance of the lake is based on the legend that the Great Teacher of Padmasambhava (on Tibetan – Guru Rinpoche), it was from here that he began his way to Tibet in the eighth century of our era. His coming on the roof of the world affected the entire subsequent history of Tibet. Thanks to his mythical feats, perfumes and deities were conquered, which prevents the development of Buddhism in Tibet and Buddhism later became the dominant religion. Numerous legends are connected with the name of Padmasambhava, he is the author of numerous teachings and texts. Many of them were left to them in secret places, a hundred years later were found, and caused the basis of new lines for the transmission of exercises in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. There is an opinion that Padmasambhava was the Buddha himself, born from the lotus flower, and appeared to give higher knowledge of Buddhism, called the Vajrayan or diamond chariot. That is why Lake Revalsar attracts such a number of Buddhist pilgrims.

The lake is surrounded from all sides by the mountains, on top of one of which there is a cave, where I spent some time in the meditation of Padmasambhava. The approach to the cave is decorated with countless prayer flags and knocked out on the rocks of mantras, inside the cave installed a rather impressive statue of the teacher himself and electricity was supplied. Tibetan monks care for the cave.

It is held here Festival TsO PEMA, Dedicated to the precious teacher. The significance of this festival is especially increasing in the year of the monkey once at twelve years, when the Dalai Lama himself arrives here to make a special Puja (type of service), pass the bark, ritual bypass around the lake, and climb to the mountain cave, where, according to the legend of Padmasambhava, he was in privacy before traveling to Tibet. Hindu temples are also built around the lake.