Dharamshala

State – Himachal Pradesh
Best To Travel – Mid May to Mid October
STD Code - 01892
Main Attraction –Mcleodganj
Climate – Winter – 8 degree C to 18 degree C. Summer – 15 degree C to 30 degree C.

The bowls of steaming delicious thukpa , apple-cheeked children and monks dressed in maroon robes..surrender yourself to the many charms of Dharamshala.

One of the nicest things about Dharamshala is its mighty snowy mountains as they fully accept the role of our muse and prefer not to snigger at our attempts at poetry. The hill station of Dharamshala stands at the foot of Dhauladhar in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. With its snowy peaks, deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills, the hill station has become one of the ace tourist spots of India. The place these days has become the scoop of everyone because of his holiness, Dalai Lama, who has made the place his permanent residence.
Places Of Interest
Kangra Art Museum: This art museum displays an excellent collection of Kangra Valley arts and crafts. Most of them dates back to the 5th century, including miniature paintings. This treasure trove holds a rich collection of sculptures, pottery, and anthropological items.

War Memorial: Set amidst the pine groves , this monument has been raised to commemorate the war heroes of Himachal Pradesh. A web of narrow paths and landscaped lawns lead towards this monument.

St. John's Church: The church of St. John, situated in the wilderness of Dhramshala refreshes the memories of the British Raj. This charmingly dressed stone church is located just 8-kms from Dharamsala on the way to McLeod Ganj. .

Norbulinka Institute: This Institute has been named after the summer residence of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. Just 4-kms from Dharamsala, Norbulinka has bben dedicated to preserving Tibetan literature and visual crafts. The skills preserved and passed on at Norbulingka include thangka painting, aapplique, woodcarving and metal craft.

Macleodganj: Earlier home of the semi-nomadic Gaddi tribe, McLeodganj is today the residence of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. This mid 19th century place was developed as a British Garrison. The place was developed as an important administrative point for the whole Kangra valley. Today the place has developed as headquarters of the exiled Tibetan Government. The impressive monastery has larger than life size images of Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avaloketeshwara.

Accommodation
There are a number of deluxe and standard Hotels in the hill station of Dharamshala. Some of them are :

• Asia Health Resorts
• Grace Cottage
• Anand Palace
• Snow Hermitage Resorts
• Surya Resort
• Nishaad Resort
• Anupam Resort

Stomach Delight
Dharamshala is a fine place to try out the Tibetan food. The town also has great restaurants in abundance. Most of them have been perfected keeping the taste needs of the foreign travellers.

• Malabar Restarant
• Snow Lion Restaurant
• Moon Peak Coffee
• Rewa Cafe
• Nick's Italian Kitchen
• Taste of India
• Momo Cafe

Check IN-in Dharamshala
By Air : Gaggal airport is the nearest airport from Dharamshala located at a distance of 15 km. from Dharamshala.
By Rail : The nearest railhead from Dharamshala is Pathankot, which is 95 km away. A narrow gauge railway line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar passes through Kangra, 17 km. from Dharamshala.
By Road : Every part of the state of Himachal Pradesh is linked extensively by roads. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation is running its buses covering the whole state. There is huge network of HRTC to cater the needs of the people.