About Dharamshala

 

 

Dharamshala place was found by British between 1815 and 1847. It is originated as an army subsidiary cantonment for troops.   This is a city in the upper area of the Kangra Valley which remains a low-profile mountain town. Dharamshala  is divided into lower Dharamshala which is  the commercial base and another is  residential place of  Dharamshala. which  include McLeod Ganj, Forsyth Ganj, Dharamkot, Naddi, which is Surrounded by the snowline of the Dhauladhar Mountains. Kotwali bazar is the main market of this place where you will find government and commercial offices.

The government of India allowed Dalai Lama and his followers to settle in this region at 1960.  The village McLeod Ganj in upper area is also known the presence of the Dalai Lama. India welcomed all of the Tibet with Buddhist temples, school, crafts organizations, library and medical center. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising, there was an influx of Tibetan refugees who followed the 14th Dalai Lama. His presence and the Tibetan population has made Dharamshala a popular destination for Indian and foreign tourists, including students studying Tibet.

 The main attraction of this place is Triund hills, McLeod Ganj is the main market, Hindu Temples, Buddha Temples, hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc. Triund is one day trek of 9 km from the center of the McLeod Ganj. Their are also some camping sites where you can stay near by river side which make this place more beautiful.

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Dharamshala History

 

From ancient times to British rules northern part of the area was ruled by the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra. The King is said to be the oldest serving Royal Family in the world. They still have their luxurious places in Dharamshala which is located in this district   known as 'Clouds End Villa'.
In this region people are knows as Gaddis which is a part of Hindu group in northern part of India and they lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle. Because of the British rules and Gurkhas the permanent settlements in this particular area some  Gaddis people lost their old civilization  seasonal pastures and farmland when the British and the Gurkhas arrived to settle.

 

Settlement Dharamshala by the British and the Gurkhas

 

.In 1848, some part of Dharamshala was taken by the British government. Dharamshala lies in the upper part of  Dhaola Dhar mountain range which is 16 miles north-east of Kangra. In 1849 a subsidiary cantonment was the first  troop which was  stationed at Kangra. when a Native regiment  was being raised it was required to accommodate a cantonment  in the District. A place  was found upon the side of Dhaola Dhār, which stood an old Hindu rest house The civil authorities was  following the command of the regimental officers and they where so  attracted by the nature and climate of the area that the build a houses near to the cantonment.
In 1855 the new station was formed near to headquarters of the Kangra District. In 1860 the 66th Gurkhas regiment was Light Infantry and was  moved from Kangra district A new area was found on the slope of the Dhauladhar Hills near the site of a Hindu sanctuary. The Battalion was later renamed the historic 1st Gurkhas Rifles, this was the beginning of the legend of the Gurkhas, was also known as the 'Bravest of the Brave' Gurkhas. Their was a formation of some villages which was further named.

The Gurkhas was worshipping the ancient Shiva temple. which is located in Bhagsu nag. The Gurkhas where refer to Dharamshala and named themselves as Bhagsu people. In  21st centaury Gurkhas Regiment from Dharamshala performed historic win during World War I. 
The Gurkhas cantonment reached during World War II, then battalions from Dharamshala made a history. After a war  Many places where  named  in the town to give tribute for the Gurkhas regiment In 19th century Tirah campaign was named as Tirah lines, Bharat pore Lines was  named after the 1826 Battle of Bharat pore.

The second Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India died  in 1863 and is buried in the cemetery of St. John church. Dharamshala became a popular hill station for the British workers who where working  in Delhi  offering a cool respite during the hot summer months which make them this place a tourist destination.
Before the earthquake of 1905, the upper part of the region which rises to a height of 7,112  feet contained the European house where church, officers mess and 1st Gurkhas where together in the public garden. The public offices, bazaar and a few European houses where made up the lower station at 4,500 feet. 1st battalion of the 1st Gurkhas used to be stationed here but it was moved to upper region in 1984 to 85. After this the Gurkhas rebuild the temple which todays knows as the 1st GURKHA RIFLES HERITAGE. Not only Gurkhas of Dharamshala their was many others who has supported  for the freedom and given their for the Indian national army. It was founded by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose army captain Ram Singh Thakur also that time some people form a village which was named as Khanyara and also prepared a patriotic song kadam kadam bad aye  ja recently a park was  dedicated to the memory of the late brigadier Sheer Jun Thapa. 
The church was very beautiful and it was located in the mountains. Before the earthquake their was beautiful garden, lawns, collections of indigenous and imported trees and other small plants and shrubs. Their was a beautiful building comprising a public hall, a library and reading room.

Due to a lack of uniform observance of transliteration of languages the name of the town has been transcribed into English and various frequently local languages their was four permutations result from two variables the transcription of the word (dharma) particular the second syllable (mrr) and that of the third syllable (shh). A strict transliteration of dharma in the mordent speaking Hindi of the region, However their is a common metathesis in which the vowel and consonant sounds in the second syllable of certain words including (dharma) which changes into DHARMA TO DHARAM. Thus, if the goal of the transcription is phonetic accord with modern spoken Hindi then Dharma and Dharm are both legitimate options. The last and the third syllable, the Devanagari corresponds to the English sh sound. Thus is transcribed in English as (shala).

 

Dharamshala Local Hang Out in Hills

 

• Hang Out Sight Scene in Dharamshala Smart City Also Green Hill City (CLEAN AND GREEN CITY)

• Tea Garden Dharamsala

• International Cricket Stadium Dharamsala

• War Memorial Dharamsala

• Kotwali Bazar Dharamsala

• Maximus Shopping Mall Multiplex Cinema 

• Mcleod Ganj Market

• McLeod Ganj Monastery

• Bhagsu Nag Temple Mcleodganj

• Bhagsu Water Fall McLeod Ganj

• Dalai Lama temple McLeod Ganj

• Triund Trekking point

• Dharamkot

• Dal Lake

• Naddi

• Satobari

• Aghanjar Mahadev Dharamshala

• Chamunda Temple Dharamshala

• Kangra Temple 

• Church McLeod Ganj

• Kangra Fort

 

 

Getting to Dharamshala

 

Dharamshala town is reached by Dharamshala Gaggal Airport, Dharamshala Gaggal Airport, about 12 km to the town's south and about 10 km north of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh town. To reach Dharamshala by train, one has to reach Kangra, Himachal Pradesh town by Kangra Valley Railway line from Pathankot 94 km away and then take a bus or a taxi.

 

Pathankot is a broad gauge railway head. There is another railway line from Pathankot to Jogindernagar, a part of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, which is a narrow-gauge line. The nearest station to Dharamshala on this line is Chamunda Marg, half an hour away, where a Shaktipitha is; the town is well connected by road to other parts of the country.

 

Buses of all classes (deluxe, air-conditioned, and regular) ply daily between Dharamshala and major cities such as Chandigarh, Delhi, and Shimla. Several buses each night connect McLeodGanj with Majnu Ka Tila, the Tibetan settlement in Delhi.

 

Dharamsala Climate

 

Dharamshala has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa). Summer starts in early April, peaks in early June (when temperatures can reach 36 °C) and lasts till mid-June. From July to mid-September is the monsoon season when up to 3000 mm (120 inches) of rainfall can be experienced, making Dharamshala one of the wettest places in the state. Autumn is mild and lasts from October to the end of November.

 

Autumn temperatures average around 16–17 °C. Winter starts in December and continues until late February. Snow and sleet are common during the winter in upper Dharamshala (including McLeodganj, Bhagsu Nag, Dal Lake and Naddi). Lower Dharamshala receives little solid precipitation except for hail. The snowfall of January 7, 2012, was an exception. It was caused by deep low pressure entering the Kangra district. Winter is followed by a short, pleasant spring until April. Historically, the Dhauladhar mountains used to remain snow-covered all year long, however, in recent years they have been losing their snow blanket during dry spells. The best times to visit are the autumn and spring months.