ABOUT DHARAMSHALA:

• ‘Scotland of India’ is one of the 80 hill resorts established by the British.
• It is set elegantly set on the spur of the Dhauladhar range.
• The snow line easily accessible as compared to other hill resorts.
• McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj, the suburbs of Upper Dharamshala still retain the British flavour, while the Lower Dharamshala is a busy commercial centre.
• Known for being the headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and referred as the “Little Lhasa in India”.

 

MODE OF COMMUNICATION:

• Airport: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ), Amritsar, 210 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Rail: Nearest narrow gauge Railway Station Kangra. Nearest broad gauge Railway Station Pathankot, 85 kms away from Dharamshala.
• Road: Well connected by road.

 

SIGHTSEEING AT A GLANCE:

SCENIC SITE	Palampur
HISTORIC SITE	Kangra Nagarkot Nurpur
HOLY CENTRE	St. John’s Church McLeod Ganj Bhagsunag Chamunda Devi Temple Kangra Brajeshwari Devi Temple Jwalamukhi Temple Nurpur
MUSEUM & AUDITORIUM	Kangra Art Museum Baijnath
WATERFALL	Bhagsunag
LAKE	Dal Lake
OTHERS	War Memorial
FAIRS & FESTIVALS	Dal Fair Chaitra/ashwin navratra mela

For more information visit https://himachaltourism.gov.in/destination/dharamshala/

ATTRACTIONS OF DHARAMSHALA

 

War Memorial:

• It lies near the entry point of Dharamshala.
• It was erected in memory of the post-independence war heroes of Himachal Pradesh.

 

Kangra Art Museum:

• Exhibits rich art and crafts of the Kangra Valley.

 

St. John’s Church:

• Church on the road between McLeod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj.
• A memorial of Lord Elgin, one of the Viceroy’s of India.

 

McLeod Ganj:

• Headquarters of HH the Dalai Lama.
• Places worth seeing are the Monastery, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and Tibetan Handicraft Centre.
• There is a large presence of Tibetan community and McLeodganj teems with Tibetan restaurants, antique and curio shops.

 

Bhagsunag:

• Beautiful site 2 kms from McLeodganj has an old temple and water spring.
• About 0.5 kms from here is the spectacular Bhagsunag waterfall.

 

Dal Lake:

• Pretty Lake amidst forest of Deodar is 2 kms from McLeodganj.

 

ATTRACTIONS AROUND DHARAMSHALA

 

Chamunda Devi Temple:

• 16 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Famous temple is on the banks of river Baner with Dhauladhar in the backdrop.
• On the rear side is a sacred Shivalinga.

 

Kangra:

• 17 kms away from Dharamshala.
• Historic town set on the confluence of the Bener and Majhi streams, overlooks the torrent of Banganga River.
• This capital of the Kangra rulers attracted many invaders.
• It was conquered by the forces of Jahangir in 1620, and was re-captured by Raja Sansar Chand Katoch in the 18^th century.
• Kangra is famous for its temples, fort and paintings.

 

Brajeshwari Devi Temple:

• Shrine noted for its legendary wealth was invaded in 1009, by Mahmud of Ghazni.
• It is said that he looted the rich treasures of the temple.
• Earthquake of 1905 completely destroyed the shrine and was rebuilt in 1920.

 

Nagarkot:

• 3 kms away from Kangra.
• Fort mostly in ruins with stood the onslaught of the forces of Mahmud of Ghazni and Mughal emperor Jahangir.
• Earthquake of 1905 almost ravaged the fort.
• Splendid view from its ramparts is truly awesome.

 

Jwalamukhi Temple:

• 30 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Unique shrine of Jwalamukhi, the ‘goddess of the flaming mouth’.
• One of the most impotent pilgrim centres of northern India.
• There is no idol in the shrine and an eternal flame rising from the rocky sanctum is worshipped here.
• ‘Shaktipeeth’ is believed to be the site where the tongue of Goddess Sati, the consort of Lord Shiva fell.

 

Palampur:

• 35 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Picturesque Palampur set amidst tea plantations.
• Pine trees in endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and bracing climate.

 

Baijnath:

• 16 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Sacred shrine built in ‘Nagari’ style is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath, the ‘Lord of Physicians’.
• Shivalinga enshrined within the sanctum is said to be one of 12 jyotirlingas in India.
• A large fair is held here on Shivaratri festival.

 

Nurpur:

• 66 kms away from Dharamshala city.
• Known for an old fort, a temple of Brij and Nurpuri shawls.
• Jahangir named the town after his wife Nurjahan.