Fast Facts
Location: North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh
Attractions: War Memorial, Kotwali Bazaar, Kangra Art
Museum, St. John's Church, Dal Lake, McLeodganj etc.
Best Time To Visit: October to April
Introducing Dharamsala
Dharamsala
is a small town and a municipal council in Kangra district of Himachal
Pradesh. Situated in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley, Dharamsala is
better known as the home in exile of the Dalai Lama (in McLeodganj).
Dharamsala is divided into two parts namely Upper Dharamsala or McLeod Ganj
(retains a British colonial atmosphere) and Lower Dharamsala (busy
commercial centre). Although there is a difference of 9 km between
Dharamsala and McLeodganj but the latter is considered the real heart of
Dharamsala. With prayer flags fluttering and prayer wheels off the sidewalk,
McLeodganj is also called the 'Little Lhasa', spreading the message of peace
and harmony. One of Himachal's most charming destinations, Dharamshala is
free of the noise and crowd of most India cities. The lofty snow clad
Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas provides a picturesque backdrop to the
hill station of Dharamsala. Bestowed with thick pine and deodar forests,
numerous shimmering streams, pleasant soothing air, spectacular
surroundings, the nearby snowline, Dharamasala offers everything that a
tourist expects from a hill resort. Besides, the ancient temples like
Jawalamukhi, Brijeshwari and Chamunda situated in and around the town add
more to your vacationing experience.
How to Reach Dharamsala
By Air: Gaggal airport at a distance of 13 kms is the
nearest airport. Jagson airlines operate flights to Dharamsala from Delhi
and other cities of North India. From the airport you can hire a taxi to
Dharamsala, Kangra, Palampur and other towns in the valley.
By Train: Nearest railhead is Kangra Mandir railway
station at a distance of 22 kms. However the most convenient railhead in
Pathankot railway station in Punjab that is 85 kms away. Panthankot is
connected to Delhi and several other cities of India by super-fast and
express trains. Frequent bus services is available for Dharamsala, with the
journey taking anywhere between three to four hours.
By Road : Dharamsala is connected by
good roads with other important destinations of Himachal Pradesh and
neigbouring states. Direct buses are available from Delhi (510 km) via
Chandigarh - Nangal - Una - Kangra. Distances of some of the important
destinations from Dharamsala are : Delhi (510 km), Chandigarh (235 km),
Manali (270 km), Shimla (252 km), Kangra (18 km) and Pathankot (90 km).
Local Transport : Hire taxis or auto-rickshaws to move in
and around Dharamsala.
Places Where You Can Stay
Plenty of accommodation options are available in Dharamsala that includes
HPTDC's hotels, private hotels, guest houses, PWD and forest rest houses.
All the hotels in Dharamsala are equipped with contemporary facilities and
provide a comfortable stay to guests.
Deluxe Hotels : Asia Health Resorts, Grace Cottage, Anand
Palace, Surya Resort, Spring Valley Resort.
Heritage Hotels : WelcomHeritage Grace Cottage (Kotwali
Bazaar), White Haven Estate (Chilgarhi).
Standard Hotels : Hotel Dhauladhar (Kotwali Bazaar), Hotel
Bhagsu (McLeodganj), Hotel Kashmir House (Khara Danda Road), Chonor House
(McLeodganj), Hotel Tibet (McLeodganj), Yatri Niwas, Clouds End Villa, Him
Queen (McLeodganj), Banjara Camp (Bhagsu Valley) etc.
Tourist Attractions in Dharamsala
War Memorial : War Memorial is situated at the start of
the town. The memorial has been built to commemorate the post independence
war heroes of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Set amidst the landscaped lawns
and pine grove, the war memorial is one of the major attractions of
Dharamsala.
Kotwali Bazaar, Kangra Art Museum : Kotwali Bazaar is the
main shopping centre of Dharamsala where you will find a variety of items.
Some of the notable items found at Kotwali Bazaar include shamianas,
pandals, coins, jewellery etc. At Kangra Art Museum you will find Kangra
valley's arts, crafts and rich past, displaying artifacts dating back to the
5th century. The museum has a gallery of Kangra's popular miniature
paintings and a good collection of sculptures, pottery and anthropological
items, manuscripts, dresses used by local royalty, old carved doors, jails
and lintels. A section of the gallery houses the work of contemporary
artists, sculptors and photographers. Just below the art gallery is the
library.
Tourist
Attractions Around Dharamsala
St. John's Church : St. John's
Church lies 7 km upward from Dharamsala, between Forsythganj and Mcleodganj.
The church has been built with dressed stone and having beautiful stained
glass window, popularly called the church of St. John in Wilderness. A
memorial of Lord Elgin, the then British Viceroy of India has been erected
here, who died in Dharamsala in 1863. Besides the memorial, there is a old
graveyard on the grassy slopes of the church.
Dal Lake : Just 11 kms from Dharamsala is the pretty Dal
Lake. A scenic and serene picnic spot, Dal Lake is fringed by forests of
Deodar. Dal Lake also makes an a good base for trekkers. A colourful fair is
held here every September.
McLeodganj : McLeodganj also called the 'Little Lahasa' is
situated 9 km up from Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamsala. Set at an altitude of
1,770 mts above sea level, McLeodganj is the residence of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. Here you will see the
monastery which larger than-life images of Lord Buddha, Padmasabhava and
Avalokteshwara. Charm of McLeodganj has been enhanced by the presence of a
large Tibetan community and the traditional architectural designs drawn from
Tibet. Visit the market to buy a variety of Tibetan handicrafts, curious and
garments. From the second Saturday of April every year, the Tibetan
Institute of Performing arts organises a 10-day festival here.
Bhagsunath Temple / Waterfall : Just two kms from
Mcleodganj is the temple of Bhagsunath having a fresh water spring. Move
further 0.5 km to see the beautiful Bhagsunath waterfall which will sooth
your eyes and mind.
Kunal Pathri : Kunal Pathri, a small
rock temple is located 3 km away from Kotwali bazaar. The temple is
dedicated to a local goddess.
Dharmkot : A picnic spot, Dharmkot is situated on the
crest of hill, 3 km away from Mcleodganj and 11 kms from Dharamsala. From
here you will get the spectacular view of Kangra Valley, Pong Dam and
Dhauladhar ranges.
Triund : Triund is situated 17 km away from Dharamsala, at
a height of 2,975 mtr. Mcleodganj to Triund is a 9 km gradual trek which
passes through Dharamkot and Rakkar villages. Triund is a famous picnic and
trekking spot at the feet of the snow clad Dhauladhar range. Route guidance,
maps, equipment etc. may be hired from the Regional Mountaineering Centre
located 500 mts upward from Mcleodganj. A beautiful forest rest house is
also situated at Triund. The snow line starts at Illaqa (3,350 mt) - 5 km
ahead of Triund.
Kangra: Kangra is 18 kms from Dharamshala and also one of
the popular destinations of Himachal Pradesh. The town was the first seat of
Raja Sansar Chand II (1775 - 1823 AD). Some of the popular attractions of
the town are Fort of Nagarkot, Bajreshwari Devi Temple, Old Jain Temple and
Gupt Ganga.
Kareri : Kareri is located at a distance of 22 km from
Kotwali Bazaar, amidst picturesque surroundings. A 13 km trek from
Mcleodganj passing through Dal Lake, Satobri and Ghera lead to Kareri. A
small village Kareri overlooks the flat and fertile lands of Himachal
Pradesh and Punjab. Kareri has a lovely forest rest house, surrounded by
lust green surroundings. 13 km further is the Kareri Lake which has
beautiful high altitude meadows, extensive pasture lands and undulating
slopes. You can experience the pleasure of cold bath in the icy waters of
Kareri Lake.
Chinmaya Tapovan : Chinmaya Tapovan is 9 km from
Dharamsala. A tranquil Ashram complex, Chinmaya Tapovan was founded in 1978
by the Gita-Swami Chinmayananda. Chinmaya Tapovan has a 9 mtr high image of
Lord Hanuman, a massive Rama Temple, a mediation hall, a school and a health
and recreational centre.
Palampur : Situated at a distance of 35 km from
Dharamsala, Palampur town is famous for its tea gardens, Bundla valley,
pleasant walks and trails.
Andretta: Andretta is 13 kms away from Palampur and it is
the place where the noted artist Sardar Sobha Singh created most of his
famous works like Sohni Mahiwal, Heer Ranjha and a number of religious
paintings. Further Andretta became popular due to Ms Norah Richards, the
famous writer and dramatist who stay in the town.
Trilokpur : Trilokpur lies 41 km away from Dharamsala on
Pathankot road. At Trilokpur there is a cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It is known for its stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Other Attractions
Adventure Activities: Dharamsala and the area around
provide an ideal base for a variety of adventure sports. Himachal's
Mountaineering Institute has a branch at Dharamsala, which offer
mountaineering equipments and training courses as well. The Dhauladhar
ranges located close to Dharamsala offer a huge variety of trekking options
and rock climbing.
Fishing: Fishing or angling remains a favourite leisure
activity of those who visit Dharamsala. Visit the 20 km stretch of the river
Beas between Nadaun and the Pong Dam to enjoy the fishing.
Shopping in Dharamsala
Shopping in Dharamsala is a delightful experience for tourists. Among the
variety of items, the local handicrafts of Dharamsala are very popular.
Visit the town's famous Kotwali Bazaar for local handicrafts, Tibetan
handicrafts, carpets and several other items.
