Dharamshala is a popular hill station in Himachal Pradesh that attracts a large number of tourists annually. It is the principal township of the Kangra district and was formerly known as Bhagsu. This hill station boasts of a thick cover of oak and conifer trees along with snow-capped mountains on three sides. Dharamshala and the surrounding regions were a part of the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra for nearly two millennia. With the coming of the British Rule in India, Dharamshala became a part of the province of Punjab. Dharamshala travel guide unravels the city as we see it today. Dharamshala first came into being with the settlement of the 1st Gurkha Rifles near the site of a Hindu sanctuary on the slopes of Dhauladhar Hills. The name ‘Dharamshala’ was first used from this time onwards, due to the presence of the sanctuary. But the Gurkhas referred to this region as Bhagsu since they worshipped at the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunag. The town was also a popular summer vacation spot for the British.
Dharamshala is divided into two parts, upper Dharamshala and lower Dharamshala and both these regions have scenic landscapes, bungalows, churches, monasteries, and cantonment that are surrounded by the mighty Dhauladhar Mountains.
Dharamshala shot to fame when His Holiness the present Dalai Lama established Tibetan government-in-exile here. The famous Tibetan spiritual leader is based 3 km up the hill in McLeod Ganj. Kotwal bazaar and the skirting markets make up lower Dharamshala, upper Dharamshala has McLeod Ganj surrounded by pine, cedar and oak forests. While Lower Dharamshala remains a commercial center with the city feels, Upper Dharamshala is the abode of tranquility and religious heritage of the spiritual Tibetan people. A high population of Tibetans has earned it the nickname of ‘Little Lhasa’. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries adorn McLeodganj, each an architectural marvel. Dharamshala tour guide will help you explore this stunningly beautiful place filled with scenic views.
Dharamshala (McLeod Ganj) became a paradise for travelers who wanted to experience Tibetan culture, enjoy a mélange of cuisines, meet the Dalai Lama, learn meditation or yoga, and escape from the mundane city life. The sacred mountain region of Dharamshala is one of the most serene places you’ll ever visit in India. With monastery bells chiming positivity and the Buddhist lamas chanting for prosperity, the air in Dharamshala smells of peace. Tibetan Monasteries has made Dharamshala one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.
The picturesque surroundings of Dharamshala and the presence of great Buddhism culture make this hill stations one of the best in India. Dharamshala has the largest Buddha temple outside Tibet. A New Year festival called the Losar festival is celebrated by Tibetans ushering in New Year. Dharamshala and its surroundings are famous for the loving and kind nature of its people, its verdant coniferous forest, paragliding options, site seeing, trekking and mountaineering and cultural events of locals and Tibetans.
