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Queen Of The Hills
Set
against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar mountains, Dharamsala is
perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of
Kangra Valley . The town is divided
into two distinct and widely separated sections, Upper and Lower
Dharamsala, which differ almost a thousand metres in height.
Today, Dharamsala has become the synonymous to the Tibetan government in
exile and the home of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. Even if the Tibetan
community dominates the town, still it has retained the colonial lifestyle
and British fervour.
Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees
and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool
healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive.
Dharamsala is a busy bazaar town and has established itself as the
travellers base camp, who come to explore the nearby mountains. The
Kotwali Bazaar provides the entire colour and characteristic of a small
town, which is mixed with the simple life style.
The colourful temple and Gompas, which reflect the culture of Tibet, adds
attraction for the visitor. The Kangra museum gives an overview of the
rich past of the region and on the other hand there are institutes that
have been established to preserve the Tibetan art, cultures and
traditions.
MUSEUMS
Kangra Art Museum:
This treasure trove of the Kangra valley's arts, crafts, and rich
past, displays artifacts that date back to the 5th century. The museum
also includes a gallery of Kangra's famous miniature paintings and a
representative collection of sculptures, pottery, and anthropological
items. more...
War Memorial: Set
amidst the pine groves is a war memorial, built on the entry point of the
to Dharamsala to commemorate the post independence war heroes of Himachal
Pradesh. A web of narrow paths and landscaped lawns lead towards this
monument. more...
LAKES
Dal Lake: Surrounded by high and green Deodar trees is the lake,
which fills a mountain bowl. Situated 11-kms away from the town, this lake
is easily approachable by road and makes an enchanting and serene picnic
spot.
CHURCHES
St. John's
Church: One of the most poignant memories of the British Raj is
the church of St. John, situated in the wilderness. This charmingly
dressed stone church is located just 8-km from Dharamsala on the way to
McLeod Ganj. Under the shade of Doedar branches, a memorial has been made
over the body of the British Viceroy, Lord Elgin who died at Dharamsala in
1863. more...
HOT SPRINGS
Tatwani & Machhrial: There are hot springs situated at
Tatwani, 25-km from Dharamsala but on the way, at Machhrial, is a
waterfall twice as big as the one near the Bhagsunath temple.
OTHERS
The Shrine of Bhagsunath: Just 11-km from the town center of
Dharamsala is the ancient temple of Bhagsunath. There are many fresh water
springs close to the temple, which are considered sacred by the Hindus.
Kunal Pathri: These are the rock temples from which the place
derives its name. Kunal pathri is a 3 kms flat walk from Kotwali Bazaar.
Dharmkot: Just 11-km away from Dharamsala, located on the crest of
a hill lie this attractive picnic spot, which presents a panoramic view of
the Kangra valley and Dauladhar ranges.
Norbulinka Institute: Just four kms from Dharamsala, Norbulinka
was established to preserve and teach the ancient Tibetan arts. The shady
paths, wooden bridges, small streams tiny water falls make this place look
like heaven. Here one can watch the wooden carvings and the tangka
paintings, golsithing and embroidery being done. The nunnery close to the
institute is a place where women are taught the advanced levels of
Buddhist philosophy.
Chinmaya Tapovan: Just 10-km from the town is the tranquil ashram
complex set up by the great exponent of the Gita--Swami Chinmayananda.
Situated on the banks of Bindu Saras, the ashram includes a 9m high image
of Hanuman, a Ram temple, a meditation hall, a school and a health &
recreation center.
Andretta: Situated just 13-kms away from Palampur, lies this
dwelling place of artist S.Sobha Singh. It houses a gallery of some of his
major works and a pottery center.
CITIES
McLeodganj:
Originally
home of the semi-nomadic Gaddi tribe, McLeodganj is today the residence of
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. This mid 19th century place was developed as
a British Garrison. The place was developed as an important administrative
point for the whole Kangra valley. Today the place has developed as
headquarters of the exiled Tibetan Government. The impressive monastery
has larger than life size images of Buddha, Padmasambhava and
Avaloketeshwara. more...
Masrur: Fifteen richly carved monolithic rock temples sculpted in
the splendid style of the Kailash temple at Ellora and dating back to the
8th century are to be found at Masrur, just 15 km south of Kangra. Images
of Ram Sita and Lakhsman can be found in the sanctum of the main temple.
Kareri: Set amidst a sylvan surrounding is a rest house, located
in the cool depths of the pine grove. Surrounded by green open meadows and
forests of tall oak & pine at a height of 3250m is situated the
picturesque Kareri Lake, which is just 13-km from the rest house and 22-
kms from Dharamsala.
Triund: Triund is a popular picnic spot at an height of 2827 m.
The area is on the foothills of Dhauladhar range and is 17-kms from
Dharamsala. The snow line starts at Ilaqua, which is five kms from Triund.
The breathtaking views of the mountains and the valleys makes Triund an
ideal picnic spot and trekking spot.
Trilokpur: On the way from Pathankot, 41-km from Dharamsala are
the unique cave temples with a stalactite and stalagmites dedicated to
Lord Shiva.
Sujanpur Tira: This place is famous for the wall paintings and the
temples. Sujanpur Tira also has fort, which is worth visiting. It is 8- km
from Dharamsala and in particular the festival of Holi is a major event
here and attracts many visitors to this area.
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TEMPLES
Jawalamukhi:
Dedicated to the "Goddess of Light", the temple is one of the
most popular Hindu temples in northern India. In this temple there is a
copper pipe through which natural gas comes out, the priest of the temple
lights this and the blue flame emanating is worshipped as the
manifestation of Goddess. The temple is topped by a golden spire, a gift
from the Emperor Akbar. The famous temple of Jwalamukhi is 30-km. from
Kangra and 56-km from Dharamshala. more...
Chamunda Devi:
Not so far from the town is the famous temple with the majestic
Dhaulandhars as a backdrop. It is an enchanting spot with glorious views
of the mountains, the Baner Khud, Pathiar and Lahala forests. more...
OTHERS
Nurpur: Named after Nurjehan the consort of the Mughal Emperor
Jehangir, it has an ancient fort and an exquisitely carved Krishna temple.
Nurpur is also famous for its fine Pashmina shawls and textiles.
Dharamsala is one of the most popular starting points for
treks and rock climbing
over the ridges of the Dhauladhar range. There are tailor-made treks in
the Kangra valley around Dharamsala and adjoining places. The trekking
season starts from May and goes on to October. The most frequented route
from Dharamsala to the Chamba valley, over the Indradhar Pass (4350m), is
arduous trek but the most novice trekkers can manage to complete it within
five days.
There are many easy walks of small treks around McLeodganj
and Dharamsala such as Toral Pass (4575m) that start from Tang Narwana
(1150m), which is 10-km from Dharamsala. A 2-km stroll takes one to
Bhagsu, then a little further a 3-km walk will bring the trekkers to
Dharamkot. If one wishes to go on a longer walk then he can walk 8-km to
Triund. The snow line of Ilaqa Got is just a 5-km walk.
The most difficult route is towards the north, a five to six day trek
across Bhimghasutri Pass (4580), covering near-vertical rocky ascents,
sharp cliffs and dangerous gorges. An easier four or five day trek from
Dharamsala crosses Bleni Pass (3710m) in the milder ranges of the
northwest, weaving through the alpine pastures, woods and passing through
few streams, before terminating at Dunali, on the Chamba road.
The area is rich in small rivers and streams, which give ample
opportunity for angle fishing. The 20-km stretch of the river Beas between
Nadaun and the Pong Dam offers ample of opportunities in angling for
Mahaseer.
Air: Dharamsala can be approached by air from
Delhi and the nearest
Airport is at Gaggla, just 13-km away from the town.
Rail: Pathankot is 85-km and is the nearest railhead for
Dharamsala. Trains from all over the country make a stop over at Pathankot
and from here it is a three-hour journey to Dharamsala.
Road: From Manali
too bus services are available to this place. One can drive from
Delhi via
Chandigarh ,
Kiratpur, Bilaspur and it's an 8-hours
journey. From Delhi
and Shimla ,
luxury buses ply to Dharamsala.
Dharamsala's accommodation options include HPTDC's hotels,
private hotels, guest houses, PWD and Forest rest houses, which are
located in and around the place and are available at resonable prices.
Dharamsala offers mainly the handicraft items, which are manufactured by the local artisans. The Kotwali Bazaar is one of the main shopping areas in the town. The main attraction of the town is Tibetan carpets. These carpets are delicately woven and are decorated with vivid colours. The Motifs on these carpets are either inspired from nature or from the monuments or carry a description of some folk story of the Tibetan cultural heritage. Over all, these carpets carry a totally different style and attraction from their counterparts in Kashmir or the Persian carpets. Further the local handicrafts are also available in the market. Tibetan Textile can be purchased from the office of Tibetan handicrafts. One can always bargain items like the traditional hat, the Chubas, the traditional wear for the Tibetan women, bags, trousers etc.
As Dharamsala is located in the Himalayas, the climate is very pleasant during the summers but in winters the cold is very bad. Temperature can drop below the freezing point during the winters and heavy woollen clothes are required. During the summers the weather is mild and light woolens and cottons are recommended. The best time to visit the place is during the summers when the cold has shed its biting teeth and there is plenty of Sunshine. But avoid coming here during the monsoon months, as there is a danger of landslides.
Dalhousie:
92-km
Mandi: 115-km
Kullu : 183-km
Shimla : 185-km
Manali : 223-km
Chandigarh :
225-km