Dharmasala Where nature meets spirituality |
Posted: September 7, 2012 |
Dharmasala Where nature meets spirituality Situated in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley, Dharamshala is a popular tourist destination that is most famous for being home to the spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Dharamshala is synonymous with the Tibetan Government in exile and is also a much visited destination for its natural beauty and the breathtaking views of the lofty mountains and the dense forests that cover it. The region is fringed on all three sides by snow capped mountains while the fourth side overlooks a beautiful and pristine valley. The region’s name literally means ‘spiritual sanctuary’ and houses a large chunk of the Tibetan exile population. Thousands of Tibetan refugees followed their spiritual leader Dalai Lama following the 1959 Tibetan uprising and settled down in this town, which is one of the major attractions of the place. Dharamshala is divided into two parts, the Lower Dharamshala and the Upper Dharamsala, of which Lower Dharamsala is the commercial hub with a bustling civil life and Upper Dharamshala has a colonial charm to it with British styled suburbs of McLeodganj and Forsyth Ganj. Tourists coming to Dharamshala are treated to numerous attractions here, the main one being the village of McLeod Ganj which is famous all over the world for being home to the spiritual leader Dalai Lama. This village is also home to many educational and religious centre of Tibetan Buddhism. This village is home to numerous Buddhist ‘Gompas’ (which are basically monasteries and learning centres) apart from a few ancient Hindu and Jain temples, it is also fast becoming a hub for traditional Tibetan culture, handicrafts, thangkas, carpets, garments and many other interesting articles. Yet another important attraction in the region is the Triund hill that is also called the ‘Jewel of Dharamshala’. This hill is located about 9 km from the village of McLeod Ganj and is a very popular day trip destination among the adventurous tourists who enjoy the challenging and pleasant trek. Counted among the few destinations in India, from where a mere day’s trip will take you to the scenic setting of snow capped peaks set against the backdrop of the majestic Dhauladhar mountains, Dharamshala attained worldwide importance after it became the temporary headquarters of Dalai Lama. This region is popularly known as ‘The Little Lhasa in India’. Among the other popular attractions in Dharamshala are the Kangra Art museum at Kotwali bazar, War memorial, Kunal Pathri temple and plush tea gardens on the way to Kunal Pathri. One can catch a small glimpse of the town’s rich history by visiting the beautiful Kangra museum here with its display of various artifacts like miniature paintings, sculptures, pottery, coins, jewelry, royal attire and 5th century manuscripts. click for more dharamshala and hotels in Dharamshala
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