Dharamsala came into existence in 1849, it was selected as a site to accommodate a native regiment that was being raised in the town.
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Dharamsala originally formed a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra Valley 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 'Dharamsala' the name adopted for the town.
Dharamsala has been connected with Hinduism and Buddhism for a long time, with many monasteries having been established there in the past, built by Tibetan immigrants in the 8th century, however, these monasteries are believed to have declined, with traditional Hindu building styles experiencing a revival. The local Gaddi people are now almost all Hindu, and for the most part worship many gods and goddesses, principally Durga and Shiva.
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In 1848, the area was annexed by the British, and a year later, a military garrison was established in the town. Dharamsala eventually became the administrative capital of Kangra District in 1852.The second Viceroy of India died here in 1863 and is buried in the cemetery of St. John in the Wilderness. It became a popular hill station for the British working in or near Delhi, offering a cool respite during the hot summer months.
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However, the town was virtually destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1905, which killed an estimated 20,000 people. Not only the town was devastated, but the nearby town Kangra was also ruined. After this, the British moved their summer headquarters to Shimla (also written Simla) which, though not far away, is off the main fault line and, therefore, less likely to experience a serious earthquake. Dharamsala still experiences frequent minor earthquakes. |
When the Dalai Lama left Tibet, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered to permit him and his followers to establish a "government-in-exile" in Dharamsala in 1960. Since then, many Tibetan exiles have settled in the town, numbering several thousand. Most of these exiles live in Upper Dharamsala, or McLeod Ganj, where they established monasteries, temples and schools. The town is sometimes known as "Little Lhasa", after the Tibetan capital city, and has become an important tourist destination with many hotels and restaurants, creating a resurgence in tourism and commerce.
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Since 2002, Dharamsala has hosted a Miss Tibet beauty contest. there. The winter capital Dharamsala has its secretariat at Sidhbari and the government would run for 2 months from there. |
Dharamsala is located at 32.2167° N 76.32° E[1], with an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet). The area covered by Dharamsala is almost 29 km².
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Dharamsala is in the Kangra valley, in the Dhauladhar mountains, and became the capital of the Kangra District in 1852. It can be accessible from Pathankot which is 120 km away. The nearest railway connection to Dharamsala is Kangra. The nearest airport is Gaggal at Kangra which is just 15km from Dharamsala . There is a daily flight from Dharamsala to Delhi. |
The town is divided between McLeod Ganj or Upper Dharamsala (which retains a British colonial atmosphere), and Lower Dharamsala (the commercial centre). Upper Dharamsala (elevation about 1,700 m or 5,580 ft) is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Lower Dharmsala by road and is some 460 m (1,510 ft) higher.
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During the months of December and January, snow and sleet is common. Summer temperatures range from 22 °C to 38 °C. It is very cold in winter as Dhauladar range of hills, at over 15000 feet, is close by and covered with thick snow during winter and sometimes in Autumn and Spring. The natural features surrounding the town include rich forests of Pine and Deodars. Rice, wheat and tea are grown around Dharamsala. |
By Air : Nearest airport is Amritsar at 200 km.
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By Rail :Pathankot - 90 km is connected to major cities in India.
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By Road : Chandigarh- 239 km, Delhi- 514 km, Dalhousie- 55 km, Jammu-197 km, Kangra- 18 km, Kullu- 214 km, Manali -253 km, Palampur- 35 km, Shimla- 322 km |
| Tourist Places In Darmashala |
| Bhagsunag Falls |
The water fall in Bhagsunag was another walk that we enjoyed. It’s a steep walk for about 1.5 km and frankly not a good idea after the rain, so we decided to walk down and sit in the stream. It was 1 hour of absolute bliss and peace where the sound of the water made everything else fade away and the rays of the sun escaping the clouds made it look so beautiful that all I wanted was, for us to take it back home.
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| Dal Lake |
The lake lies amidst hills and stately fir trees 11kms. from Lower Dharamshala connected by motorable road. Surrounded by deodar trees, this is on the motor road to Talnu. 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.It is the starting point of excursions and trekking and is located next to the Tibetan Children's village.
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| Jwalamukhi Temple |
The famous temple of Jwalamukhi is 35 km. from Kangra and 56 kms from Dharamshala. Dedicated to the "GODDESS OF LIGHT", the temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples in northern India. There is no idol of any kind the flame is considered as a manifestation of the goddess. An eternally burning and shining blue flame emanates from the rock sanctum and is fed by the priests with the offerings of devotees. The golden tower (dome) of the temple was a gift from the Emperor Akbar. Two important fairs are held here during the Navratras in earlier April and mid October. Hotel accommodation, Dharamshala, rest houses and HPTDC hotels with modern facilities are available for visitors to the shrine. (Please also visit the exclusive web site for the temple namely.
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| Dip Tse |
Dip Tse - Chok Ling Gompa, this beautiful little gompa lies at the bottom of a steep track which leads off the laneway past the Om Guest House. The main prayer hall houses an image of Shakyamuni, as well as two enormous drums covered in goat skin and painted around the rim, which were made by monks at the gompa. Also here are some superb butter sculptures, which are made during Losar. Fine and detailed sand mandalas are also made here.
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| McLeod Gang |
A number of residential buildings, restaurants, antique and curio shops, together with famous Tibetan institutions have lent importance to McLeod Ganj. The Budha temple is situated opposite to the present abode of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and is worth a visit. The Tibetan Institute of performing Arts(TIPA) is 1km. walk from McLeod Ganj and preserves a number of musical dance and theatrical traditions of Tibet. It holds an annual 10-day folk opera commencing on the second Saturday of April. There is also a Tibetan handicraft centre situated at McLeod Ganj and a Sunday market is organized at about 10 minutes walk from here |
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| Masroor |
Known for its monolithic rock temples, Masroor is 15kms south of Kangra. There are 15 rock cut temples in Indo-Aryan style and richly carved. The temples partly ruined now are profusely decorated with sculptural ornamentations, conceived in the same manner as the great temple of Kailash at Elora in Maharashtra with which they bear a striking resemblance. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita. |
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| St.John's Church |
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.
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