Norbulingka Institute, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh India

 The `Norbulingka Institute' is particularly concered to make excellent works of art and preserved Tibetan culture which is threa-tned today with destruction and become a minority on its home-land'remarked Mr. Gyaltsen Tsering who is looking after the public Relations & Project work of the institution. In fact, Tibetan had struggled hard to preserve their culture heritage, identity, religion and institutions inspite of uprooting long back from their own land-Tibet.

Close to the Gyato Monastery, where 14 years old 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinely Dorje has been staying after escaping from a monastery at Lhasa in Tibet, an ideal place for experiencing the highs of Tibetan culture Norbulingka Institue is situated at Sidhpur near Dharmsala town. Introduction of Tibetan cultural traits can be seen in different religious and cultural institution in the different towns of Himachal Pardesh but Norbulingka institute preserving rich Tibetan culture is one of them with unique type of distinguishing features. This institute is registered trust functioning under the Chairmanship of spiritual leader His Holiness Dalai Lama. It is purely built according to traditional Tibetan style and placed amidst the surroundings of beautiful gardens and green fields of Kangra hills at the backdrop of majestic Dhauladhar mountains of the outer Himalayan range.

Norbulingka institute's visual focal point is its main temple where 1,173 images of Buddha decorate the 44 foot high temple hall. The temple is the master spiritual centre which took more than a year for its completion. The gilded 14 foot copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is the largest of its kind ever made in exile. A subsequent six and eight foot statue of Guhyasamaja and Kalchakra images respectively are works that have also never before been attempted in exile. The statues are magnificently curved showing elaborate figure composition with Buddha occupying the chief position.

Other worth seen paintings dipict twelve deeds of Buddha, fourteen incarnations of the Dalai Lama temple. Its ground plan based on the proportions of Avalokiteshvara, the pattern god and Bodhisattva of compassion, which invoked against the danger's that threaten mankind. "Avalokiteshvara' is represented in many forms and the most common being the images with four arms" told an old monk sitting in the temple. The skilled masters provide training to the Tibetan students in literary studies, variety of crafts skill and thus promotes Tibetan traditional art told Mr. Gyaltsen.

Norbulingka is dedicated to handing down tradition and restoring standards by providing training, education and employment for Tibetans. It supports an environment in which Tibetan community and family values can flourish. It reconciles the traditional creatively and respectfully with the modern, and seeks to create an international awareness of Tibetan values and their expression in art and literature.