An Overview :
Dharamsala is a charming little hill station town located in the northern
Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Situated at an height of 4000 meters of
the Kangra valley, Dharamsala is one of the major hill stations developed in
the seventeenth century by the British. Literally Dharamsala means the Holy
Refuge, as it is the place where a large number of Tibetan people migrated
here after the annexation of Tibet by China in 1959. Since then it became a
major spiritual centre for Tibetan people and the Buddhist community. Its a
salubrious climate with a magnificent backdrop of the Dhauladhar ranges
makes it one of the popular hill stations in India.
Climate of Dharamsala :
As located on the Himalayas, the climate of Dharamsala is pleasant during
summer and very cold in winters. The summer months from May to October is
pleasant and is the ideal time to visit the hill station. During winters the
temperature can drop below the freezing point and heavy woolen clothes are
required. It is better to avoid the monsoons, as there is landslides.
Tourist Attractions in Dharamsala :
The hill station of Dharamsala offers various tourist attractions that are
worth visiting. Some of the major ones are :
» Macleodganj - It is main place for Tibetan
settlement and the residence for Dalai Lama. It is popular for its colourful
Tibetan bazaars and delicious cuisines showing all aspects of Tibetan
culture. It also has the school of Tibetan studies and an Institute of
Performing Art. It is now one of the major centre for Tibetan Culture.
»
Namgyal Monastery - This was founded by the third Dalai Lama, Sonam
Gyatso in 1575 and later called the Namgyal monastery or the victorious
monastery. It is now an important centre for Tibetan studies in Dharamsala.
» The Kangra Art Museum - It has a large collection
of miniature paintings from the Kangra School of Art. It also has a
collection of jewellery, woodcarving objects and traditional embroidered
Kangra costumes.
» Library of Tibetan Works and Archives - Located
at the central administrative compound of the southern end of McLeod Ganj,
the library has a good collection of original Tibetan manuscripts including
some ancient texts and photographs.
Accommodation in Dharamsala:
As a popular hill station in India, excellent accommodation options are
available in various hotels and hill resorts. Hotels of all categories
offers luxurious accommodation with all kinds of facilities. Most of the
hotels are strategically located in the most picturesque locations offering
excellent views of the mountain range. Some of the major ones are : Anupam
Resort, Nishad Resort, Grace Cottage, Snow Hermitage Resorts, Asia Health
Resort etc. Also Himachal Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation(HPTDC) run
hotels and PWD and forest rest houses are available at a very reasonable
price.
Getting to Dharamsala :
» By Air - Dharamsala does not have an airport of
its own. Gaggal Airport is the nearest one and at a distance of 13 km.
» By Rail - The nearest railhead is at Pathankot,
which is connected to all the major north Indian cities by regular train
services.
» By Road - The hill station is well connected to
all parts of Himachal Pradesh by a good motorable road network. The NH1
links it with Pathankot and Jalandhar.
