Dharamshala City

Discussion in 'Cities in India' started by traveller, Mar 24, 2014.

  1. traveller

    traveller New Member

    Dharamshala is a famous hill station situated in the municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Earlier known as Bhagsu, it is the gateway to the Kangra valley and the headquarters of the Kangra district. It is located at a distance of 239 km from Chandigarh, 252 km from Manali, 322 km from Shimla and 514 km from New Delhi. Situated in the milieu of snow clad Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas, Dharamshala is the principal township of Kangra District. The city succumbed to a massive earthquake in the year 1905 and was reconstructed to become a health resort and a popular tourist destination.

    Geography and Climate

    Shadowed by the Dhauladhar Mountains, Dharamsala is located in the Kangra Valley at an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet), covering an area of almost 8.51 km². The city is divided into two distinct sections. Kotwali Bazaar and the surrounding markets are referred to as "Lower Dharamshala" or just "Dharamshala." Further up the mountain is McLeodGanj separated in between by the village of Ganchen Kyishong, the home of the Tibetan government-in-exile. A steep, narrow road connects McLeodGanj from Dharamshala and is only accessible to taxis and small cars, while a longer road winds around the valley for use by buses and trucks. McLeodGanj is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, and rhododendron. The main crops grown in the valleys below are rice, wheat and tea.
    Dharamshala has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with summer season starting from early April that peaks up in early June when temperatures can reach 36 °C and last till mid of June. From July to mid of September monsoon season prevails when the city receives up to 3000 mm (120 inches) of rainfall, which makes Dharamshala one of the wettest places in the state. Autumn is mild and lasts from October to the end of November. Winter season starts from December and continues until late February with snowfall and hail common during this season in upper Dharamshala.

    History of Dharamshala

    Before the British Rule, the surrounding area of present day Dharamshala was ruled by the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra, which is said to be the oldest serving Royal Family in the world. This dynasty still has a residence in Dharamshala, known as 'Clouds End Villa'. The indigenous people of the Dharamshala area are the Gaddis, who are primarily Hindus have traditionally lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle and owing to the lack of permanent settlements in the area, some Gaddis lost their seasonal pastures and farmland when the British and the Gurkhas arrived to settle in this region.

    In the year 1848, the area presently known as Dharamshala was annexed by the British and in the year the 66th Gurkha Light Infantry was moved from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh to Dharamshala, which was at first made a subsidiary cantonment. A perfect position for the new base was found on the slopes of the Dhauladhar Hills, near the site of Dharamshala and hence named the town. The Battalion was later renamed the famous 1st Gurkha Rifles, this was the beginning of the legend of the Gurkhas, also known as the 'Bravest of the Brave'. Consequently, fourteen Gurkha platoon villages grew from this settlement, and exist to this day, namely Dari, Ramnagar, Shyamnagar, Dal, Totarani, Khanyara, Sadher, Chaandmaari, Sallagarhi, Sidhbari, Yol, etc. The Gurkhas worshipped at the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunag and thus referred to Dharamshala as 'Bhagsu' and referred to themselves as Bhagsuwalas.
    The 21st Gurkha Regiment from Dharamshala performed heroic feats during World War I and the North West Frontier Province campaigns. The Gurkha cantonment then reached its zenith during World War II, when battalions from Dharamshala made history. Many place names in the town still retain their former cantonment terminologies.

    In the year 1905, a calamity struck Dharamshala when an earthquake razed it completely and after its reconstruction, the flourished as a silent health resort. The Tibetan settlement of Dharamshala began in 1959, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama had to escape from Tibet and the Prime Minister of India allowed him and his followers to settle in McLeodGanj, which is situated in Upper Dharmshala, a former colonial British summer picnic spot. There they established the "government-in-exile" in 1960. Dharamshala had been connected with Hinduism and Buddhism for a long time, many monasteries having been established there in the past, by Tibetan immigrants in the 19th century. In the yaer 1970, The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives which houses over 80,000 manuscripts and other important resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is considered one of the most important institutions for Tibetology in the world, the new director is Geshe Lahkdor, the old translator of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

    Dharamshala is the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh and the Legislative Assembly at Sidhbari, near the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram, holds the winter sessions of the Government in this city.

    Tourist Attractions

    Dharamsala known for its scenic beauty, calmness and serenity has developed into a prominent tourist destination of India. Surrounded by towering pine trees, tea gardens and timber yielding trees, this sity is an ideal holiday destination of India. With dense pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, pleasant temperature, eye-catching surroundings, Dharamshala is thronged by visitors from all over the orb. The city has a number of tourist attraction and some of travel destinations these are:


    • Pragpur
    • Taragarh Palace Hotel
    • Bir and Billing
    • Chamunda Devi temple
    • Andreta
    • Palampur
    • Baijnath Shiv Temple
    • War memorial
    • Masroor rock cut temples
    • Nurpur
    • Trilokpur
    • Dehra gopipur
    • Kareri
    • Jawalamukhi temple
    • Kunal pathri
    • Triund (2975 m)
    • Dharamkot
    • St. John's church
    • Dal lake
    • Bhagsunag falls
    • Mcleod Ganj
    • Maharana Pratap Sagar
    • Kangra Fort
    • Kangra town
    • Baijnath temple
    • Bajreshwari Devi temple

    Transportation

    The city is connected by airways, railways and roadways to major cities of the country, especially to the capital of India, Delhi. Indian Airlines flights fly thrice a week from Delhi to Gaggal Airport, which is located 11 km away from Dharamsala. The most convenient railhead for Dharamsala is Pathankot station, where The Jhelum-Jammu Express, Pathankot-Jammu, etc. halts. The journey from Pathankot station to the main city of Dharamshala can be covered by taxi or bus. Even though the Kangra Mandir Railway Station, 22 km away, is closest to Dharamsala, Pathankot is more convenient.

    Well connected by road with major towns nearby, Dharamsala is close to NH 20 and is about 85 km from Pathankot, which can be covered by taxi. McLeodganj is the ususal arrival point for luxury and deluxe buses from Manali and Delhi. State-run buses generally terminate at the bus stop at the southern end of Kotwali Bazaar.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 15, 2016


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