Dharamsala

Dharamsala pronounced as Dharamsala is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, famed for its large Tibetan community centered around the Dalai Lama.Dharamsala is essentially a rest house. In some places, it also doubles as a charitable home, where, primarily, orphaned children stay and shool until they are adopted or are able to live independently.Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar mountains.Dharamsala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley.The town is divided into two distinct and widely separated sections, Upper and Lower Dharamsala, which differ almost a thousand metres in height.Today, Dharamsala has become the synonymous to the Tibetan government in exile and the home of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. Even if the Tibetan community dominates the town, still it has retained the colonial lifestyle and British fervour.



Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive.Dharamsala is a busy bazaar town and has established itself as the travellers base camp, who come to explore the nearby mountains. The Kotwali Bazaar provides the entire colour and characteristic of a small town, which is mixed with the simple life style.The colourful temple and Gompas, which reflect the culture of Tibet, adds attraction for the visitor.The Kangra museum gives an overview of the rich past of the region and on the other hand there are institutes that have been established to preserve the Tibetan art, cultures and traditions.Many Tibetan things can be bought in Dharamsala - woolen shawls, prayer flags, prayer wheels, thangka and mandala paintings, Tibetan jewelry and trinkets etc.