Dharamsala is the main hill station in the Kangra Valley - a fertile, undulating valley, lying between the gentle Shivalik Hills and the foothills of the mighty Dhauladhars - a valley noted for the beauty of its scenery - lush terraces, wooded hills, manicured tea gardens and sparkling streams. The Dhauladhars, "the white mountains" that rise 4,000 m above the valley floor, provide a dramatic backdrop.

Picturesque Dharamsala, built on a spur of the Dhauladhar range, commands splendid view of the surrounding country. Originally a little hill resort built by the British, Dharamsala rambles up in levels to very near the snow line. While Lower Dharamsala (1,250 m) is the busy commercial area with government buildings, the bazar and the bus stand, Upper Dharamsala (1,982 m) has suburbs with evocative names like Forsythganj and Macleodganj that are quite fascinating.

Places to see

Macleodganj
Up in Macleodganj is a charming Tibetan settlement with bustling bazaars that sell carpets, handicrafts and delicious Tibetan food. A giant prayer wheel ornaments a main street and in the monastery, a serene statue of the Lord Buddha presides over the gentle chanting of the monks.
The Dalai Lama resides in Macleodganj, which is now a major centre of Tibetan culture. It has the School of Tibetan Studies with rare manuscripts and ancient texts, the Tibetan Institute for the performing Arts and a handicrafts centre.

St.John in the wilderness
A stone church with delicate stained glass windows and a memorial to Lord Elgin.

Triund (2,975 m)
Just below the snow line is the scenic picnic spot at Triund with its Spectacular views and pleasant forest rest house.(10 Km)

Kunal Pathri
A rock temple to the local goddess is not far from the Kotwali Bazaar.(3Km)

Dal Lake
A popular picnic spot surrounded by forests of fir. An annual fair is held here, every September.(11 Km)

Dharamkot (2,100m)
Above Upper Dharamsala is the Dharmkot Hill with a panoramic view of the majestic Dhauladhars.(11Km)

Bhagsunath
Close to Dal Lake is the shrine of Bhagsunath, an easy walk from the Macleodganj Bazaar. There is a pretty waterfall not far away. (11 Km)

Machhrial and Tatwani
A beautiful waterfall at Machhrial and the hot springs at Tatwani a little beyond it, are pleasant picnic spots (25 Km).

Kareri (1,983 m)
A scenic spot with a rest house. Kareri Lake (3,250m), 13 Km away, is beautifully set among alpine meadows and forests of pine. (22 Km)

Chamunda Devi Temple
From the famous temple to Chamunda Devi there are glorious views of the mountains. (15 Km)

Around Dharamsala

Trilokpur
A natural cave temple at Trilokpur, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, has stalactite and stalagmite formations. (41 Km)

Masrur
Beautiful temples at Masrur, carved out of monolithic rocks in the style of the Kailash Temple at Ellora, date to the 8th century A.D. Masrur is just 15 Km south of Kangra. (40 Km)

Nurpur
The ruined fort and Krishna temple at Nurpur are noted for fine wood carving. Nurpur, which was named after the Mughal Empress Nurjehan, is famous for its fine pashmina shawls and textiles. (66 Km)

Getting There & Away

Air: The nearest airport is Kangra ( Gaggal , 12 Km)

Rail: The nearest narrow gauge railhead is Kangra (18 Km). The nearest broad gauge station Pathankot, (90 Km), is linked to major towns.

Road: Well connected by road. Some distances are as follows: Delhi 514 Km, Chandigarh 239 Km, Kulllu 214 Km, Shimla 332 Km, Chamba 192 Km.