The beautiful town in the west of Mysore in Karnataka leaves one mesmerised with its architecture, food and ethnic attire. In fact, it resembles Tibet sans snow-capped mountains, finds out Mithila Jariwala
Unknown to and unexplored by many in India and overseas, Bylakuppe is a beautiful town painted with colour and vibrance, friendliness and spirituality.
Bylakuppe is located in the west of the Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The nearest town is Kushalnagar in Kodagu, Karnataka.
Bylakuppe is the largest Tibetan settlement in India, and is dotted with a number of inspiring monasteries and temples.
I have never been to Tibet, but it feels like little Tibet. I fell in love with the architecture. I love the Tibetan food. I can eat momos and thukpa at any time. In fact, I can live on it.
As you enter the town, you will feel that you are in Tibet. The feeling is beyond explanation. If you like exploring virgin places and different cultures, you've got to love this place. It is a blend of vibrant culture, beautiful Tibetan architecture, scrumptious Tibetan food, ethnic attire, gorgeous landscapes and much more. It is a very small place, there is so much to explore, observe and learn. It is also a wonderful place for one to meditate and attain peace of mind. The place is also very safe for tourists to travel and walk around. My friend and I actually hitchhiked on a tractor after dark to find our accommodation, and we felt extremely safe. Also, it was offered to us at a very reasonable rate. The people are very hospitable and always ready to help. We had difficulty finding accommodation, since all the guest houses were full due to the visit of a Lama, so they put us up in a library. We had the whole library to ourselves. To us, it was a very interesting and adventurous experience.
Ochre and burgundy are the most powerful hues in the town. One can notice the eye-catching, shimmering gold architecture from a distance. As you enter, you can see the monks in their burgundy robes, walking around and carrying out their chores. They welcome you with smiling faces. The sounds of drums and pipes fill the air amid holy chants. The only thing missing are the snow- capped mountains.
While the Tibetans in Bylakuppe have accustomed themselves to the weather and ways of south India, they retain their language, culture, medicine, and commitment to Buddhism. They also retain their characteristic sense of ease, generosity and humour. But, at the same time, they speak the local language and consider themselves as one of us.
The people always smile at tourists, never have restrictions even for the ignorant and instill their monasteries with warmth and amity that is very obviously noticed by everyone who spends a few moments inside them. It is difficult not to admire these monasteries.
The colours only get brighter and merrier on the monasteries and inside. The gold mixes seamlessly with the curls of turquoise and the crimson. The dragons seem to emerge from the intricate wooden carvings.
Flags of myriad hues flutter with the evening wind
The pupils take their place in front of the golden deities. Tea is served and the chants begin. The drums soon make their thunderous presence felt while the pipes sustain the din.
My journey to Bylakuppe was very brief. I went with another photographer friend of mine. We spent our time talking to the local people, in the monasteries and eating momos. At night, we wandered around and went to the university. It was one of my best trips ever.
But, if you want to experience the real feeling of being in Bylakuppe, you need to spend some more time there. I would call it a photographer’s paradise.
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