Dharamsala Travel Guide

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Picturesque Dharamsala, one of the major Buddhist centres in India, lies in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. Known for its pristine beauty, Dharamshala reflects the colonial influence by the means of its monuments, markets and lifestyle. Dharamsala is a main hill station in the Kangra Valley - a fertile, undulating valley, lying between the gentle Shivalik hills and the foothills of the mighty Dhauladhars, noted for the beauty of its scenery. Lush terraces, wooded hills, tea gardens and sparkling streams are in plenty in the range.

Dharamshala was established by the British in 1849, as a cantonment. The place was selected to form a base for the armymen of local origin. Lord Elgin, a British viceroy of India, loved this place so much that he wished to be buried here after his death. His body rests in peace in the yard of St. Johns Church. A major turn in history of Dharamshala came in 1959, the year of Chinese invasion in Tibet. Thousands of natives of Tibet fled from there land, but there leader, His Holiness Dalai Lama, didn't gave up his hopes and made Mcleodganj, a suburb of Dharamshala, as his base to continue the struggle for independent Tibet. Today there are more than 3000 Tibetans living in Mcleodganj and nearby places. Dalali Lama has made his residence in Mcleodganj. There are few monasteries, institutes and art centres, which not only promote Tibetan culture, but also provide jobs to the Tibetas in exile.



How to Reach
Air
The nearest airport is at Gaggal, which is situated at a distance of 13 km from Dharamsala connecting to Delhi, Kullu and Shimla. Jagson airlines flies at regular interval to Gaggal airport, however it totally depends on the weather condition. A private taxi can be hired from the airport to reach Dharamsala.

Rail
The nearest railway station is Kangra Mandir, located at a distance of 22 km from Dharamsala. But the main broad-gauge railhead is at Pathankot (90 km). It is a twelve-hour trip from Delhi to Pathankot and then a four-hour bus or three-hour taxi ride to Dharamsala.

Road
National Highway no.1 connects Dharamsala to Pathankot and Jalandhar. Dharamsala is also well connected by road to other places in Himachal Pradesh. Apart from this there are three main routes to Dharamsala: Delhi - Chandigarh - Dharamsala (510 km), Shimla -Manali - Palampur - Dharamsala Route (130 km) and Pathankot - Gaggal - Palampur route(105 km)

Internal Transport
To move in and around the city, one has to hire private taxi. Generally the rates are fixed by the taxi union and does not require further bargaining.

Accommodation
Staying is not a problem in Dharamsala, there are number of low and high budget hotels available. Hotel Tibet is one of the best hotels in Dharamsala offering Tibetan-style cuisine. Hotel Bhagsu in McLeod Gunj is run by the Himachal Travel Department. If you are planning a long and quite stay, you can rent houses from the local Indians around Tushita Meditation Centre.

Places of Interest
McLeodganj
McLeodganj is located at a distance of 9 km above Dharamshala. It is a charming Tibetan settlement with bustling markets that sell carpets, handicrafts and delicious Tibetan food. A giant prayer wheel ornaments a main street and in the monastery, a serene statue of the Lord Buddha presides over the gentle chanting of the monks.

Norbulinka Institute (4 km)
Norbulinka institute was set up to preserve and teach the ancient Tibetan arts. The institute is famous for its wooden carvings and tangka paintings. The nunnery close to the institute is a place where women are taught the advanced levels of Buddhist philosophy.

War Memorial
War memorial, at the entry point of Dharamshala is erected in memory of the brave soldiers, who gave there life to protect India in various post-independence wars. There are some good cafes near War memorial, which serve good Tibetan and Indian fast foods.

Bhagsunath (11 km)
Known for the waterfall and small shrine, Bhagsunath is located in the vicinity of Dharamsala. Tourists can take a long sunny walk from the McLeodganj market to the Bhagsunath temple and waterfall.

Triund
Triund is a popular picnic and a trekking spot. Located at 17 km from Dharamshala, at an altitude of 2827 mts, it is a major trekking route in the area. One can start early morning to cover entire stretch. The snowline starts 5 kms from Triund and offers a breathtaking view of the snows above and the valley below.

Dharamkot ( 11 km)
A favorite viewing point, Dharamkot gives panoramic views of the Kangra valley and the Dhauladhar peaks. Tourist throng to Dharamkot for a picturesque view of the valley.

Dal Lake (11 km)
Dal Lake is a famous picnic spot located near Dharamsala. This is an enchanting and serene picnic spot surrounded by deodar trees. A famous tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, Dal Lake offers a base for the trekkers.

Excursion From Dharamsala
Kangra
Kangra is a little town, situated 17 kms from Dharamshala. Kangra is well known for its temples and adventure activities. The town has some important temples like Jwalamukhi (Jwaladevi) Temple, Chamunda Devi Temple, Brajeshwari Devi Temple and a fort, called Kangra fort. Kangra used to be a major centre of art in Himachal Pradesh, before an earthquake destroyed the city in 1905. Kangra was rebuilt in 1920, and now the remenants of past structures tells the glorious past of Kangra.

Nurpur (66 km)
It is named after Nurjehan the close associate of the Mughal emperor Jehangir, Nurpur attracts tourists for its fort and Krishna (Hindu deity) temple. The place is also famous for its fine pashmina shawls and textiles. This famous excursion site is located at a distance of 66 km from Dharamsala.

Palampur (40 km)
A small town of Palampur, Neughal Khad is famous for the tea - gardens which exists here from the British era. A large number of tourists across the world flock to Palampur for a perfect holiday.

Kareri (22 km)
Located at a distance of 22 km from Dharamsala, Kareri is a famous excursion site, surrounded by the sky touching pine tress. Amidst the cool depths of pine groove, there exists a government rest house where tourists can relax and restore their energy. Another beautiful spot lies at a distance of 13 km from Kareri, known as Kareri Lake. This lovely spot is set amidst green meadows and forests of tall oak and pine.

Tatwani & Machhrial (25 km)
Another beautiful excursion site located in the vicinity of Dharamsala. Machhrial is known for its waterfall and hot springs.

Chamunda Devi Temple (15 km)
Overlooked by the majestic Dhauladhar range, the temple of Chamunda Devi located in Dharamsala It is an attractive spot that gives glorious views of the mountains and forests.

Adventure Activities
Trekking & Rock Climbing
Dharamsala is known for the treks and rock climbing activities. There are number of tailor-made treks in Dharamsala and adjoining places. The most famous trek is from Dharamsala to the Chamba Valley, over the Indradhar pass that covers the height of 4350m. It is rated as the toughest trek and requires at max five days to complete it. In the category of easy treks, the treks between Mcleodganj and Dharamsala is considered to be the easiest. This is a 10 km treks covering areas like Bhagsu, Dharamkot and Triund. The best season for the trekking is between may and October.

Angling & Fishing
The nearby area of Dharamsala comprises of many small rivers and streams, that gives ample opportunity for angle fishing. The 20-km long stretch of river Beas between Nadaun and the Pong Dam offers abundance of opportunities in angling.

Shopping In Dharamsala
One can buy Tibetan rugs and handicraft products from the shop of the Tibetan Handicraft Centre and TCV Handicraft Centre in McLeod Gunj. Orders for Tibetan wood and metal craft products can be made at the Tibetan Art Gallery, located in the Hotel Tibet building complex. Besides, there are various tiny shops offering Tibetan trinkets and imitations of Tibetan antiques.