The sun-kissed snowy mountains of the Dhauladhar range add to the mesmerising beauty of the mountainous cities of McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala. At nearly seven thousand feet above the sea level, serenity is all-encompassing. Placards of India's sports minister Anurag Thakur welcoming all for the cricket World Cup can be seen at almost every intersection, but they are hardly affecting the overall vibe of the city.

Seeing people going about their lives in a nonchalant manner right beside the gorgeous Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, makes it hard to believe that a global tournament like the World Cup is taking place inside the venue. It's not that the people here don't have any interest in cricket. They very much do, and they also watch the matches. But they don't go overboard about cricket.

For example, Sudev Singh, a local taxi driver, remembers by heart who will play when at the Dharamshala ground. He even named a few players of the Bangladesh team. The TV sets in roadside shops are also tuned in on the sports channel. But there is no excessive obsession.

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A few other basic differences were also easy to notice. In Bangladesh, movement on roads besides the stadium gets restricted even during a normal international match. Life almost comes to a standstill. Here, it's not at all like that. There are no barricades anywhere.

The sun-kissed mountains in Dharamshala. Photo: Ekush Tapader

That's why the World Cup had no effect on the day-to-day activities of even the schools right beside the stadium. However, once the final bell got rung, the students stored their backpacks on top of a hill and entered the stadium using their ID cards.

Cricket here is not an essential part of life. But no one is ignoring cricket either. Here, cricket is not a matter of life and death, it's just another source of entertainment. Just like a musical event.

What makes Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj stand out is its nature. For some unknown reason, religious leaders are often found in places blessed with unfettered natural beauty. Maybe they require nature's asylum to be one with the divine. The high number of convents, pagodas and temples in the region gives an idea of the nature of the region.

The region is serene, but it's also full of life. The presence of one personality can help everyone better understand the calm but lively nature of this city. Most people would end up flinching their eyebrows, wondering who he is if they hear his actual name, 'Tenzin Gyatso'. To realise who he is, they need to hear his title – The Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama lives in this city. His influence in this region can be understood from just one scenario.

In Dharamshala, the roads get blocked off for the Dalai Lama. His followers stand in line with devotion to catch a glimpse of him. On Sunday morning, I was fortunate to witness such a scene and also got to see the Dalai Lama with my own eyes.

I saw a number of Westerners also offer their devotion to the Tibetan Buddhist religious leader. The Dalai Lama waved his hands in return to the waiting crowd before disappearing into the wind in a flash with his security protocol. The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin has been living in Dharamshala for 64 years, thousands of kilometres away from his hometown, and is the main reason behind the city's popularity.

The Dalai Lama had to take refuge in Himachal Pradesh after China took over Tibet in 1958. A large number of Tibetan refugees have been living in this region since then. Their presence can be felt at every corner of this mountainous area. That's why, it's impossible for cricket to become the sole source of attraction in this region. Here, cricket is celebrated but in a measured way.