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The High snow clad Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas from a magnificent
backup to the hill resort of Dharamsala is the principal township of
Kangra district and overlooks the wide spread f the plains. With dense
pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, cool healthy air, attractive
surroundings and the nearby
 snowline.
Dharamshala has everything for a perfect holiday.
Getting there:
Dharamshala can be approached by air from Delhi. The nearest airport is at
Gaggal, just 13km away. Pathankot the nearest broad gauge railway station
is 85 km away and the toy train station is just 17km at Kangra. Taxis,
Buses for Dharamshala are available at both places. From Pathankot the
drive takes about tree hours. Or you can drive from Delhi (526km) via
Chandigarh, Kirtpur and Bilaspur. This should take around 12 hours. From
Delhi and Shimla luxury buses ply to Dharamshala.
Sightseeing:
War Memorial : Situated in Dharamshala town. The memorial is situated near the entry
point to Dharamshala commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly
for the honor and defence of the mother land. 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 beverages.
Kunal Pathri : A 3 km level walk from the Kowali Bazaar leads up to this rock temple.
St. John's Church : 8 km from Dharamsala between forsythganj and Mcleodganj is the charming
dressed stone church of St. john in the Wilderness. Under the Shade of
deodar braches. A memorial has been erected over the body of the British
viceroy. Lord Elgin who died at Dharamsala in 1863. There is a well tended
old graveyard on these grassy slopes.
Dal Lake : 11 km from Dharamshala and surrounded by deodar trees, the lake fills
mountain coming from Tibet. The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts is
just a km away and it organizes a ten day festival from the second
Saturday of April.
Hags : Close to fresh water springs, this ancient temple is 11 km from Dharamsala.
It is a popular picnic spot and the famous slate quarries are close by.
Mcleodganj : A road leading up through the crowded bazaar is a steep 10 kms climb up to
the northern edge of Mcleodganj, the upper town. This winding road takes
nearly 40 minutes by bus, or about 20 minutes by a shared taxi. The
alternative is a short cut along a steep trail, that leads to the southern
end of Mcleodganj past the Dalai Lama's residence.
Climate
As Dharamsala is located in the Himalayas, the climate is very pleasant
during the summers but in winters the cold is very bad. Temperature can
drop below the freezing point during the winters and heavy woollen clothes
are required. During the summers the weather is mild and light woolens and
cottons are recommended. The best time to visit the place is during the
summers when the cold has shed its biting teeth and there is plenty of
Sunshine. But avoid coming here during the monsoon months, as there is a
danger of landslides. |
