Dharamshala Tourism, Dharamshala Hotels, Tourism in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India

Dharamshala or Dharamsala came into being in 1849, when it was selected as a site to accommodate a native regiment that was being raised in the town. Dharamshala originally formed a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra was fully occupied by its garrison and there was insufficient space for the civil station , a search for an alternate location was made. The ideal location for the cantonment was found at the slopes of the Dhauladhar, upon which stood an old Hindu sanctuary or ‘Dharamshala’ the name adopted for the town.

Dharamshala stands at the foot of Dhauladhar and has a magnificent view of snowy peaks, deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills. The snow line is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamshala than any other hill station in India. Dharamshala now really has become international, with a number of Tibetan settlements and the residence of Noble Laureate the ‘Dalai Lama’. Dharamshala is devided into two distinct parts : lower Dharamsala the civil and business area with Courts and Kotwali bazar and upper Dharamshala composed of places like Mcleod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj.

Dharamshala is easily accessible from Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh and from other important places of Himachal. Tourism in Dharamsala offers two very beautiful lakes around Dharamshala i.e. Dal Lake and Kareri Lake. Both the lakes are situated amidst the beautiful surroundings. The area around Dal Lake is a natural paradise. Dal Lake falls on the road to Naddi, one of the finest places in Dharamsala. Another road branches off from Dal Lake road to Strawberry Hills, a very fine place to explore around Dal Lake.

There is a beautiful temple of Mata Kunal Pathari near Dharamshala town. Located near the beautiful tea gardens, Kunal Pathari Temple offers good view of the Dhauladhar Range. It is a very ideal place for having a memorable walk. Tourism in Dharamhsala offers some very beautiful places to explore around i.e. War Memorial, Mcleodganj, Bhagsunag Fall, St. John's Church in the wilderness, Dharamkot, Triund and Naddi. All these places greets the tourists with refreshing winds and offer a memorable experience. There is a wildlife sanctuary named Pong Lake Sanctuary near Dharamshala and a mini zoo named Gopalpur Zoo near Dharamshala.

Dharamshala with its grand view of majestic Dhauladhar Mountain Range and beautiful surroundings has always been one of the favorite places of tourists not only from India but from abroad too. A huge number of tourists visit Dharamshala every year. Dharamshala is one of the must visiting places of himachal.

War Memorial :
The place is ideally located in the pine forest and offers a very enjoyable walk through pine forest. Near War Memorial is the beautiful GPG College Dharamshala made during the British Era. There is also a cafe just close to War Memorial serving fast food and baverages. Set amidst beautiful surroundings, this memorial was built in 1972, near the entry point to Dharamshala in Civil Lines. The war memorial was built to commemorate the memory of soldiers and officiers of Kangra district who fought valiantly for the defence of Motherland in INDO-CHINA(1962) and INDO-PAK wars(1947-48,1965 & 1971) and during some peace operations under United Nations Auspicies.

Mcleodganj :
The arrival of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, along with thousands of refugees to Dharamsala in 1959 made the life here more active. A number of tibetan settlements with religious education and other rehabilitation centres mushroomed all over the Mcleadganj. As Dharamsala became the headquarter of the Tibetan Government in exile, headed by Dalai Lama, it gained prominence all over the world and prominent personalities started arriving here. Mcleadganj emerged as a major Buddhist centre. The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) is just 1 kilometer from Mcleodganj and preserves a number of musical, dance and theatrical traditions of Tibet.

Bhagsunag Fall :
( 11 km. from Dharamsala town ) Known for its old temple, a fresh water spring, water falls and slate quarries. Bhagsunag can be approached by road. The Bhagsu fall is one of the main attractions of Mcleodganj. You can take a dip in the chilly water of fall. There are some trek routes to Triund near the fall. The fall forms a small stream. Above the waterfall, the mountain side has a lot of slate quarries. It is a perfect site for picnics and recreation.

St. John's Church :
8 km. from Dharamsala town ) The church lies in the forest between Mcleod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj. It has a monument dedicated to Lord Elgin, one of the viceroys of India, who died at Chauntra ( Mandi district ) and was buried here in 1863 A.D. The Church has lovely spotted glass windows and there is a Christian cemetery around it. It is ideally situated in the majestic 'Deodar' forest.

Dharamkot :
( 14 km. from Dharamshala town ) It is situated on the crest of a hill, this favourite picnic spot affords a panoramic view of the kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. One can reach Dharamkot by a simple trek from Bhagsu. Various small restaurant type of shops are situated in the path for a quick relaxation and bevarages. The scenery from Dharamkot is simply breathtaking and you also meet the Gaddi folks.

Triund :
( 17 km. from Dharamshala town, at an altitude of 2,827 metres. The snowline starts just 5 km. from Triund (from a place named Ilaqa) and affords a breathtaking view of the snows above and the valley below. It is a popular picnic and trekking spot. Those who want to do a return trek in one day are advised to start early. Is is the famous trek route for local people as well as for tourists.

Naddi :
A high point beyond the Dal Lake, Naddi village affords a magnificent view of Dhauladhar mountain range to the north and the vast expanse of lush Kangra valley to the south. Naddi is situated far away from the hustle and bustle of the Macleodganj market and provides complete peace of mind. It is surely the best place to spend some quality time amidst the heart of Dhauladhar mountains.

Kunal Pathri :
( 3 km. ) from Dharamsala ( Kotwali Bazar ). A level walk from Kotwali Bazar leads upto the rock temple of the local goddess. Temple is related to a legend dating back to centuries. Located near the beautiful tea gardens, Kunal Pathari Temple offers good view of the Dhauladhar Range. Because of high altitude, Kunal Pathari area greets the visitors with refreshing winds. It is a very ideal place for having a memorable walk and the blessings of the mother goddess.

Chamunda Devi Temple :
It is 15 km. from Kangra. This temple is situated on the right bank of the 'Baner' stream with the Dhauladhar as a backdrop, this has an idol of goddess Chamunda, who, it is said, was given the boon to fulfil the desires of those who worshipped her. On the back of the temple is a cave niche where a stone 'Lingam' under a boulder represents Nandi Keshwar ( Shiva ). It is one of the most famous temples of district Kangra visited a large number of visitors from near and far. It is also suitably located near Dharamsala or Dharamshala.

Dal Lake :
11 km from Dharamsala. Surrounded by deodar trees, this is on the motor road to Naddi. Held sacred, this has a small Shiva temple on its banks. The banks of the lake are enlivened every September by a fair attended - amongst others- by a large number of migrant Gaddi folk. Though small in area, this lake has a charm of its own solely due to its surrounding forest and hills. Taking a dip in the lake is considered sacred. Devotees believe that a bath in the lake fulfills any boon asked from Lord Shiva at that time.

Kareri Lake :
This lake is 35 km from Dharamsala. It is a very beautiful lake surrounded by thick woods. The beauty of the lake is further enhanced by the visually stunning backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountains. Ideal for a day long picnic. This is a heaven for trekkers in the area.

Maharana Pratap Sagar Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 335 meters to 435 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 1780 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from 5 to 44°C.
Area : 30,729 hectares ( 307.29 sq. km. ).
Location : near Dehra-Gopipur.
Approaches : easily approachable from many places.

Forder name is Pong Lake Sanctuary. In 1983, the Sagar was declared a wildlife sanctuary and over 220 species of birds belonging to 54 families have been sighted over the waters and the fringing mud-banks - these include black-headed gulls, plovers, terns, ducks, water-fowl and egrets. Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake is the only place in India other than Bharatpur (Rajasthan) where the rare red necked grabe has been found. The sanctuary is close to several places of Hindu Pilgrimage - Jawalamukhi, Chamunda Devi, Chintpurni, Brajeshwari Devi, Mahakalesar, Bagalamata and Naina Devi. The seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Mcleodganj and the Namgyal Monastery are a short drive away. The other budhist monasteries at hand are Tahijong and Bir.

Flora
The sanctuary is a wetland. Forest Types include dry deciduous scrub, dry bamboo and Himalayan pine forest.

Fauna ( Mammals )
Indian wild Bear, barking Deer, red Indian Fox, Indian hare, Hedgehag,longeared, Jackal, common Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Mongoose, Nilgai, Indian Porcupine and Sambar.

Reptiles
Indian Cobra, Book's Gecko, common Indian monitor and Indian Python.

Fish
Tor Putitora ( Mahasheer ), Wallago Attu ( Mallip ) and Ophiocaphalus.