Dharamshala is a town in Himachal falling in the Kangra Valley it is surrounded by the towering deodar forest. The ambience and the ability of the city is to unwind you completely from the hum drum of common life. The vision of the snow capped Dhauladar Mountains from the Dharamshala town is nothing short of a magical spell. This sight allures you and reverberates your physical senses. The town is a little different from other hill towns of Himachal the Dharamshala has a strong presence of the Buddhist connections. The prayer flags, the monks wearing the saffron robes. The city in fact breathes Buddhism specially the Tibetan Buddhism. The fine sprawling green tea gardens with their typical aroma lend another spectacle to the city of Dharamshala. The city can be broadly categorized into two areas the upper Dharamshala and the lower Dharamshala. The lower Dharamashala is the commercial centre or the down town of Dharamshala city, all things of day to day use are readily available in the kotwali bazaar. The city courts and the administrative offers are all located in the lower Dharamshala.
This area doesn’t have much for the tourists but a walk across the lower dharamshala gives you a feel of the normal culture and life style of the people of Dharamshala the same may not be possible in tourist areas and the monuments. The upper Dharamshala is famous specifically for Tsuglagkhang complex this is the abode of the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual Guru or the leader of the Tibetan Buddhist who as a result of the 1960’s invasion of Tibet by the Chinese came and settled in India. Mc leodganj the area where these people settled became famous. Mc leodganj is not only the house of the Dalai Lama but it is the seat of the Govt of Tibet in exile, Dalai lama apart from being the spiritual leader leads the Govt of Tibet in exile. The way to the Dalai Lama’s residence is lined up with shops selling souvenirs all related with the Tibetan art and craft. If you are interested in Tibetan food then there are multiple shops selling authentic Tibetan dishes like momos and thenthu. Mc leodganj is situated at an high altitude of 2082 metres above sea level.. This place is a sort of a pilgrimage centre for the Tibetan Buddhist they come here to have an auspicious sighting of the Dalai Lama.
The area in and around is certainly famous for the wondrous mother nature there are many sightseeing places around Dharamshala.
1. Bhagsu falls :- The mighty Bhagsu falls originate from the Dhauladhar mountains located at proximity from the city of Dharamshala, the village of Bhagsunath is just 2 kms from the water falls. The white waters of Bhagsu appear falling like a sheet of white silk, There is a pool underneath the waterfall which is used by the tourist to enjoy a bath though the water is usually very cold.
2. There is a temple very near to the Bhagsu falls dedicated to Lord Bhagsunath. The waterfalls gushes with its full force mainly during the monsoon season the time when the mountains experience a plenty rain activity. There are no specific other activities available at this waterfall. You can silently admire the amazing nature of the Himalayas while you sip a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
3. Namgyal Monestry – Confirming to the old Tibetan Buddhist school this monastery was founded way back in 1575 by the third Dalai Lama and it was originally not situated at Dharamshala but the political situation of 1959 led the transfer of this ancient monastery and its monks to Dalhousie in India, currently there are around 200 Buddhist monks learning and following the school of Buddhism at Namgyal Monestry. If you are interested in the Tibetan Buddhism then this place is for you. You can see the monks leading the typical life and style of Tibetan Buddhism learning meditation as prescribed by the great masters at Namgyal monestry.
Kangra Museum: - A museum where ticket is levied for visiting is an amazing place to admire the Kangra school of paintings. The kings of Kangra were great patron of art and craft, specially they patronized a school of painting known largely as the the Kangra school of painting. The kangra valley was under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit singh he had appointed the Katoch royal family as the rulers of Kangra later they became the vassals of British as the British occupied this area after the Anglo Sikh wars in 1940’s. The royal family is from the Gaddi people of Himalayas. You can enjoy the manuscripts, paintings, other art forms which can be visualized at the galleries of the Kangra museum.
Dal Lake Dharamshala: - This water body looks very similar to the Dal Lake of Srinagar so it has been named accordingly. This Is an ideal picnic spot where a beautiful lake is surrounded by the thick forest of deodar and pine . You can get engrossed and enjoy yourself with a boat ride at Dal lake Dharamshala. This is an ideal spot to enjoy quality time with your family and host a picnic.
Kangra fort: - The katoch rulers of Dharamshala ruled under the flag of maharaja Ranjit singh later in the late 40’s when the British took over they became vassals of the British state. The Gaddi pahari dynasty of Katoch have been ruling this area since long. They have been also enumerated in the epic Mahabharata. This is probably one of the oldest fort in India and Himachal. Passing through series of gates and high fortified walls the insides of this fort have a long story to tell, the stories of aggression, the stories of valour, stories of mishaps all are worth a hearing. One of the gate displays the symbol of katoch dynasty along with an effigy of Ambika mata and the elephant god Ganesha. The fort is based on a small hill with high ramparts and the basic structures of a standing fort.
