DHARAMSHALA
Dharamshala is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 17 kms north- east of Kangra town. It is divided into two distinct parts Lower Dharamshala has civil offices and business establishments with courts, Kotwali bazar and Upper Dharamshala comprise of places with names which bear witness to its history like McLeod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj. Since 1960, when it became a temporary headquarter of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has risen to international fame as "The Little Lhasa in India".
Best season: January to June; September to December. July-August is rainy season.
MAJOT TOURIST ATTRACTION IN DHARMSHALA :
Also known as Little Lhasa,is the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and home to a large Tibetan population,including many monks and nuns. The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple. It has statues of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, and a statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
BHAGSUNAG TEMPLE & WATER FALLS
Bhagsunag Temple is believed to be an ancient temple where Lord Shiva had prevailed himself.
Bhagsu Waterfall, situated close to Bhagsunath Temple, is one of the beautiful streams in the destination. The waterfall has a cascade of 30 ft during monsoons. The water of the fall flows through the temple of Bhagsunath into the pools where devotees take a holy dip to get rid of their miseries. Decorated with slate graffiti, the mountain side of the fall is among the highlights of the tourist spot.
The war memorial is built near the entry point to Dharamshala to commemorate the memory of those who fought valiantly for the defense of the motherland. It is one of the major attractions of Dharamsala, the War Memorial reminds us of the post independence war heroes of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. These martyrs lost their lives in the Indo-China war of 1962, the Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971 as well as the UN peace operations.
ST. JOHN CHURCH :
It is the oldest built structure of Dharamsala. This neo-gothic church was built in 1852 and is one of the most important churches in Himachal Pradesh. Located near Dharamshala and on the way to Mcleodganj, this church was built in dedication to John the Baptist.
DHARAMSHALA CRICKET STADIUM :
Nestled in the lap of the majestic Himalayan mountain range of Dharamshala lies a quaint little cricket stadium. Located at the height of 1,457 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest sports grounds in the world.
DAL LAKE :
Quaint and clam, Dal lake is filled with greenish water. The lake is shielded by the rugged mountains and luscious forest of deodar trees. On the bank of the Dal lake, tourists can see the famous Shiva temple.
PLACES TO VISIT SURROUNDING:
TRIUND HILL & TREK
Triund is the crown jewel of Dharamshala and is at a height of 2,828 m, situated in the laps of Dhauladhar Mountains, it has the perfect view of the Dhauladhar mountains on one side and kangra valley on the other. Triund is a very popular trekking spot. Triund is a very popular trekking spot. Triund trek can be described as a tranquil trek which can be easily accomplished by almost all age groups. This stretch through the woods is known as 22 Curves, because of the 22 switchbacks one has to walk through to reach Triund.
Just 24 km from Kangra and 15 km from Dharamshala is the famous temple of goddess Chamunda Devi (Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham). At the back of the temple is a cave-like scoop where a stone "Lingam" under a boulder represents Nandikeshwar (Shiva). The temple complex is an enchanting spot with glorious view of Dhauladhar, the Baner Khad and Dadh. A vast running water pool houses the statues of Lord Shiva and Saraswati. A trek of about 16 km up in the Dhauladhar ranges is the ancient temple of Aadi Himani Chamunda
KANGRA DEVI TEMPLE ( BAJRESHWARI DEVI)
Just About 20km far from Dharmshala . Kangra Devi temple.The main deity of this temple is Bajreshwari Devi who is also known as Vajrayogini . She is also the incarnation of Parvati, the Goddess or Aadi Maya on the Earth. It is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of Devi Mata Ji. The Kangra town known to the ancients as Nagarkot, is the seat of Shri Bajreshwari Devi or vajreshwari Devi or Brajeshwari Devi. Vajreshwari Temple is dedicated to Devi Vajreshwari, the Goddess of Lightening. It has also been built as per the Shikhara style of architecture. It is believed that Vajreshwari Temple is more than 1000 years old.
This Shakti-temple is located 80 Km far from Dharmshala on Dharamshala - Hoshiarpur road on a ridge. The temple is a major pilgrimage Centre and one of the Shakti Peethas in India. The Chintpurni shakti peeth (Chhinnamastik shakti peeth) is located in Una district Himachal Pradesh state,
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.
This particularly beautiful ancient Shiv temple at Baijnath is 16 km from Palampur, on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway . Built of stone in the 9th century AD in the shikhara style, it is a fine blend of sculpture and architecture. The linga enshrined in its sanctum is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.
The town of Palampur (1219 m) is situated in a idyllic valley priding itself with tea gardens, and hills covered with pine trees. The place enjoys a year-round pleasant climate and the pine scented air is said to have curative properties.. Overlooking this town are the majestic Dhauladhars, whose tops remain covered with snow for most of the year.
Kangra is 17 km from Dharamshala, The torrential Banganga river deep in the valley forming a formidable sheer and the Kangra Fort lurking atop the flat mountain range is a scene that one encounters on nearing Kangra town when you drive from Shimla-Mataur national highway. A feeling of awe mixed with joy pervades you as you look back in time. The Kangra Fort is approximately 3 kilometer from the town and is also known as Nagarkot. The fort is historically significant; its massive size, and the beauty of its structure lend it an added charm. In Shash Fat’h-I-Kangra, it is mentioned as a lofty fort, strong, invincible and with beautiful buildings. At the entrance is a museum containing some valuable old photographs of the fort prior to the devastating earthquake of 1905 and some exquisite stone sculptures, carvings, idols and other artifacts..