Against the
backdrop of the Dhauladhar
mountains, perched on high slopes in the upper
reaches of Kangra Valley,
Dharamsala is divided into two distinct and
widely separated (about 3000 ft) sections,
Lower Dharamshala (having civil offices,
business establishments with courts and Kotwali
Bazar) and Upper Dharamshala (composed of
historical places like McLeod Ganj
and Forsythe Ganj
). The
snow line is more easily accessible here than at any other
hill resort.
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More about
Dharamsala
Climate
The climate is very
pleasant during summers but
in winters the temperature can drop
below freezing point and heavy woollen
clothes are recommended. The best time to
visit is during summers and to
avoid the monsoon months too, as
there is a danger of landslides.
Language
The main languages are Hindi,
Punjabi, Pahari (a local dialect) and
English (in tourist
spots).
Dharamsala serves as the travellers
base camp for exploring the nearby
mountains, making it a busy
bazaar town. It has retained the
colonial lifestyle and British fervour and
additionally with its colourful temple
and Gompas
, it attracts the visitor.
Dharamsala today has become synonymous to
the Tibetan government in
exile and home to the Tibetan
leader Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama re-established
the beautiful Namgyal monastery next
to his residence in Dharamshala where the Namgyal
monks train, learn and meditate on
Buddhist philosophies
.
There are also
the temples of Jwala mukhi
(dedicated to the Goddess of Light, an eternally burning and
shining blue flame is the only deity here) and
Kangra (restored to its pristine
glory despite historic mughal
invasions) which are very famous.
Other places of interest in and around
Dharamsala include Maharana Pratap
Sagar (the Pong Dam
Reservoir and wildlife sanctuary
covering an area of 30,000 hectares houses wildlife,
migratory birds and 27 species of
fish), Norbulinka
Institute (promotes Tibetan art and culture and also
has Japanese influence), Chamunda Devi
Temple, Tsug-Lag-Khang
(Central Cathedral), St. John'S Church In Wilderness,
Nurpur Fort, Dal Lake, Dehra
Gopipur (base for fishing areas like Pong
Dam, Pattan, Kurn and Nadaun),
Dharamkot (picnic spot),
Karanje Shiva Temple, Masroor &
Kunal Pathri rock temples, Lord Elgin's Memorial,
Moodabidri, Namgyal Monastery,
Venur (famous for the
Gomateswara statue),
Trilokpur, The Tibetan Institute
Of Performing Arts (Tipa), War Memorial, hot springs
at Taptpani and
waterfall at
Machhrial
.
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