Welcome to Dharamsala !!
Dharamsala is a city in the upper reaches of the
Kangra Valley and is
surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of stately Deodars. The town is
divided into three parts—Upper Dharamsala called
McLeod Ganj, the middle
Kotwali
Bazar and the lower
Kaccheri area.
Dharamsala is the closest one can get to Tibet while still in India. This quaint
hill station is home to His Holiness,
the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political
head of the
Tibetan Buddhists. Once a British hill station,
Dharamsala received
an influx of Tibetan refugees after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. Today,
Dharamsala is a popular destination for Indian and foreign tourists, particularly
those seeking spiritual salvation.
Dharamshala is located at 32.2167°N 76.32°E, with an average elevation of 1457 metres
(4780 feet). The area covered by
Dharamshala is almost 29 km².
Dharamsala has a monsoon-influenced Alpine climate. Summer starts in early April
and peaks in early June, when temperatures can reach 35oC. From July to September, in the
monsoon season, up to 2000 mm (79 inches) of rain can fall, making
Dharamsala one of
the wettest places in the state. The monsoon ends in late September and is followed by autumn.
Autumn lasts till late November, with temperatures averaging around 14-15oC. Winter starts
in December and goes on till late February. Snow and sleet is common during the winter.
Winter is followed by a short, pleasant spring till April.
The best time to visit Dharamshala
are the autumn and spring months.
Attractions - In & Around Dharamsala :
War Memorial :
At the very start of town, landscaped lawns fill a pine grove where a monument has been raised to commemorate the post independence war heroes of Himachal Pradesh. Kangra Art Museum.
Kotwali Bazar :
This treasure love of the Kangra valley's arts, crafts and rich past displays artifacts that date back to the 5th century. It includes gallery of Kangra's famous miniature paintings and a representative collection of sculptures, pottery and anthropological items. 'Shamianas' and dresses used by local royalty, old carved doors, jails, lintels and pandals are also on display. Coins, jewellery and manuscripts are included. A section houses the work of contemporary artists, sculptors and photographers. The library is just below this.
Dal Lake :
11 km from Dharamshala and surrounded by deodar trees, the lake fills a mountain bowl, On the motor - road, this is an enchanting and serene picnic spot.
St. John's Church :
8 km from Dharamshala, between Forsythganj and McLeodganj is the charming dressed- stone church of St. John in the wildness. Under the shade of deodar branches, a memorial has been erected over the body of the British viceroy, Lord Elgin who died at Dharamshala in 1863. There is a wall tended old graveyard on these grassy slopes.
McLeodganj :
Often called the' Little Lhasa' at 1770 m, this is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan government-in-exile has been here for over three decades. The impressive monastery has larger than life images of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokteshwara. The large Tibetan community and the presence of traditional architectural designs drawn from Tibet have enhanced the area. A host of Tibetan handicrafts, curios and garments are available on sale and every Sunday, a flea-market appears.
Bhagsunath :
Close to fresh water springs, this ancient temple is 11 km from Dharamshala. It is a popular picnic spot and the famous slate quarries are close by.
Kunal Pathri :
A 3 km level walk from the Kotwali Bazaar leads up to this rock temple.
Dharmkot :
On the crest of a hill this attractive picnic spot presents a panoramic view of the Kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. This is 11 km from Dharamshala.
Triund :
Based at the root of the Dhauladhar ranges,Triund is at a height of 2827m and is 17 km from Dharamshala. The snowline starts at llaqua 5 km from here. This is a popular picnic spot and trek route, with spectacular views of the mountains and valleys. There is a lovely forest rest house here.
Kareri :
22 km from Kotwali Baazar, amidst sylvan surroundings, there is a rest house here. Surrounded by open meadows and thick woods,the Kareri lake is 13 km ahead.
Chinmaya Tapovan :
10 km from Dharamshala on the banks of the rivulet Bindu Saras, is an ashram complex established by the late Swami Chinmayananda, a noted exponent of the Gita. The complex includes a 9m high image of Lord Hanuman, a magnificent Ragunath Temple, a meditation hall, a school, and a health and recreation center.
Masrur :
13 km south of Kangra is this large, monolithic temple, similar to the temples of Ellora. With rich ornamentation, this is the only shrine carved out of live rock in north India. Images of Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita are installed here.
Tilokpur :
41 km from Dharamshala,on the highway to Pathankot, there is a cave temple with a stalactite and stalagmite dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Sujanpur Tira :
80 km from Dharamshala, this historic town is famous for its wall paintings, temples and fort. Here, the festival of holiday a major event.
Andretta :
13 km from Palampur, the famous artist S. Sobha Singh lived here for several years. A gallery houses some of his major works. Also, there is a pottery centre at Andretta.
Travel Information :
Best Time to Visit :
If you are a heat freak then Mid-April to Mid-July is the time for you.
If you like singing in the heavy rain then Mid-July to September is the time for you
If you like snowfall & adventure sports then December to February is the time for you
How to reach Dharamsala :
By Air: Dharamshala can be approached by air from Delhi. The nearest airport is at Gaggal,just l3 km away. Pathankot, the nearest railway station is 85 km away.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kangra, 17 Kms from Dharamsala connected to Pathankot through narrow gauge line.From Kangra you can get a bus easily every 15 minutes to Dharamsala which takes maximum of 25-35 minutes.And the nearest broad gauge railway station is Pathankot which about 95 Km from Dharamsala.
By Road: Taxis for Dharamshala are available at both places from Pathankot the drive takes about three hours. Or you can drive from Delhi (526 km) via Chandigarh, Kiratpur and Bilaspur - this should take around 8 hours. From Delhi and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Dharamshala.
