Dharamshala is a quaint hill station and home to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and the spiritual and political head of the Tibetan Buddhists. The beautiful hill city Dharamshala established in 1849, when a search for a civil location other than military regiment started. The search ended and an ideal location was traced at the slopes of the Dhauladhar, where an old Hindu sanctuary was situated. The name Dharamshala is the synonym of Hindu Sanctuary. Dharamshala has a lovely view of snow peaks, lush green forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills. The snow peaks are easily accessible. It is possible to make a same day trek to a snow-point for an early morning starters. At present Dharamshala is inhabited by Tibetan settlements and residence of His Holiness the ‘Dalai Lama’. Dharamshala is a popular destination for foreign tourists, for its mesmerizing beauty and spiritual salvation. It is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of Deodars. Dharamshala is a starting point to a number of trekking trails. It is an ideal destination for rock climbing enthusiasts.
MCLEODGANJ
Mcleodganj houses the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile and sometimes known as “Little Lhasa”. Mcleodganj is one of the two districts at upper Dharamshala. It got prominence as a major tourist attraction and emerged as a premier Buddhist center when Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama arrived along with thousands of followers to Dharamshala in 1959. There are Tibetan settlements with religious education and other centres in Mcleodganj.
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Dharamshala, Mcleodganj Sight Seeing Places
Dalai Lama Temple: It is situated at a short walking distance; hardly 10 minutes walk from the main square in Mcleodganj. The Dalai Lama Temple also known as Namgyal Monastery is the nerve centre. Since the activities of the temple starts early in the morning hence early morning visit is the best time to see monks praying and rotating the heavy prayer wheels. The temple overlooks the residence of the Dalai Lama.
St. John’s Church: It is situated 8 Kms from Dharamshala. A short and leisurely walk of 20 minutes from Mcleodganj’s main square can take you to this church. It is an Anglican church that is located in the forest near Forsyth Gunj. The British Viceroy Lord Elgin founded it in 1852. It is constructed as per Neo-Gothic architectural style. St. John Church is known for its peaceful environs and Belgian stained glass windows. It is one of the peaceful areas in McLeodganj surrounded by deodar trees and green environs.
War Memorial: It is situated in Dharamshala. The memorial is situated near the entry point to Dharamshala, commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly for the honor and defense of the motherland. The place is ideally located in the pine forest.
Bhagsu Falls: It is situated 11 Kms from Dharamshala known for its old temple, fresh water spring and waterfalls. It is a serene village situated near the Mcleodganj city center. It has breathtaking waterfall known as Bhagsu falls. There is Bhagsunath Temple and a small charming pool. It is an enchanting location close to the nature.
Bhagsunath Temple: Bhagsunath Temple and waterfalls are popular places of tourist interest in Mcleodganj and situated at walking distance. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has great historical significance. Bhagsu waterfall is located at a distance of around 2 Kms from the temple. It is an attractive tourist spot located at the outskirts of Mcleodganj. The temple attracts local devotees in large numbers for its healing powers and faith.
Dharamkot: Dharamkot village in Mcleodganj is a famous tourist spot. Mcleodganj is a peaceful place admired by international tourists. It is surrounded by lush green deodar trees, beautiful landscapes and situated 14 Kms from Dharamshala. You can reach Dharamkot by a simple trek from Bhagsu. The scenery from Dharamkot is simply breathtaking. This is an eco-friendly picnic spot renowned for its natural beauty.
Triund: It is situated 17 Kms away from Dharamshala town, at an altitude of 2,827 metres. It is a famous tourist attraction located at the outskirts of Bhagsunath. This is an ideal campsite. It is pollution free eco-friendly tourist spot and the famous trek route.
Triund Trek: It is a beautiful 9 Km trek from Mcleodganj. The trek will take you across Rakkar and Dharamkot villages, wildlife of the region and Galu Devi temple on your way.
Dal Lake: It is situated around 4 Kms. from Mcleodganj and 14 km from Lower Dharamsala and lies amidst hills and deodar trees. It is the starting point of trekking in the region and situated next to the Tibetan children’s village. It is an artificial lake encircled by fir trees. You can enjoy boating on the lake and visit a nearby temple.
Kunal Pathari Temple: It situated 3 Kms away from Dharamshala. A level walk from Kotwali Bazar leads up to the rock temple of the local goddess.
Kareri Lake: Kareri Lake is surrounded by green meadows, oak and pine trees, making it an idyllic place to visit. It is situated 22 Kms at an altitude of 2,166 metres.
Naddi: This scenic picnic spot is located 5 km northwest of McLeodganj. Naddi offers a spectacular view of the Kangra valley. You can trek to Kareri Lake, Triund, and Guna Devi from here. It is a popular tourist destination for nature lovers.
Masrur: The major attraction of this place is the fifteen exquisitely carved monolithic 8th century rock temples.
Chamunda Temple: This temple is located around 15 km from Dharamshala on the bank of river Baner on the Mandi-Pathankot highway.
