Dharamshala or Dharamsala- The Winter Capital of Himachal Pradesh. this word is mainly used for places constructed for the stay of pilgrims near some remote religious destinations. The City was declared as the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh by The Raja Virbhadra Singh in 2017, He was the Chief Minister Of Himachal Pradesh that time. It is also the site of the Tibetan Government-in-exile currently. Dharamshala is now the central administrative headquarters for the Kangra district. It was relocated from Kangra to Dharamshala in 1855.

At an average elevation of 4,780 ft, Dharamsala is located in the Dhauladhar Mountain range in Kangra Valley. Mainly the city is divided into two parts, one is the upper side Mcleodganj which is known as the home of Dalai Lama and other is Kotwali Bazaar or lower Dharamshala. The city also comes under the Flagship Development Project of Smart City Mission of Indian Central Government.

After The 14th Dalai Lama Shifted to Dharamshala many Tibetan Refugees followed him and came to the city. The Tibetan community settled here has made Dharamshala a destination to explore buddhism  for Indian and foreign scholars and tourists. There are Many Monasteries and museums in Mcleodganj and Dharamshala  showcasing important resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture.

Economy of Dharamshala is mainly dependent on agriculture and tourism. The main crops cultivated are Tea, Rice and Wheat. Tea gardens in the city are very popular among tourists and are also famous for Kangra Green Tea. According to a study it is found that Kangra Green Tea contains the highest antioxidant levels.

 With the passage of time the number of tourists visiting Dharamshala has increased significantly because of improved road connectivity, Pleasant weather, some unique places to visit and Lavish accommodations and hotels. It has also become a favorite honeymoon destination for tourists.

Dharamshala has a humid subtropical climate influenced by monsoons. Summer starts from April and is a bit hot Till the monsoons arrive in July. During these months Temperature can go high to 38 °C also.

Monsoon brings relief from heat along with a high rainfall which makes Dharamshala a wettest place in himachal. 

Winter starts from November to late February. In Upper Dharamshala places like Mcleodganj, Bhagsunag and Naddi receive a good amount of snowfall in winters. One can see the Dhauladhar range covered in snow throughout the year. Temperature in winters can be very low and the weather becomes very cold.

Dharamshala is a paradise for shopping lovers, whether you are interested in Tibetan or Himachali art, garments, carpets and woodcraft or metal souvenirs or modern international brands. You will find everything in The city. Dharamshala has two malls Maximus and The Hillside Mall and also has Gold Multiplex Cinema. These Malls have many Modern Food Joints Like KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos along with other clothing, shoes and accessories brands like Kapsons, sketchers and many others. Both are near the traditional shopping street known as kotwali bazaar. Mcleod Ganj Mall road is also a perfect place for shopping.   

Dharamshala is also famous as a starting point for many high altitude treks through Dhauladhar range. Dense forest, rivers and water streams contribute to the beauty of these treks. Most famous and easy trek is trek to Triund point which is just 9 Km from Mcleodganj. Toral Pass, Bhimghasutri Pass, Bleni Pass, Kareri Lake and Triund Thathri Trek are some other famous treks originating near Dharamshala.

Many enthusiasts from different parts of the world visit Dharamshala for rock climbing also. Steep slopes on the ridges of Dhauladhar mountain range are perfect places to test some rock climbing skills. You will find guides and travel services who provide support for these kinds of activities in Dharamshala.

Dharamshala is blessed with rich forest area making it a perfect place for nature lovers. These forests are filled with natural water sources and lush green trees making it a paradise for Bird watching and camping. Tourists and enthusiasts spend many days in these forests for bird watching and enjoying the peace and calmness. 

One of the Beautiful and Highest altitude Cricket stadiums in the world Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is a must visit place. It is home ground to Himachal’s State cricket team and is an international stadium. View of Snow covered Dhauladhar Mountain range is simply mesmerizing from the stadium.

Kangra Tea gardens near dharamshala are perfect places to visit during and after Monsoon. Lush green tea plantations and the fragrance of pants is really awesome.

Temple is just 9 km from Dharamshala, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Aganjer Mahadev Temple is believed to be more than five hundred years old.There are several idols of Lord Shiva and a Lord Hanuman statue. Lush Green Forest, mountains and a small waterfall makes this location a must visit.

 The war memorial Museum is built in the memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in line of duty to protect our country during various wars.

Known as the upper part of Dharamshala, Mcleodganj is one of the favorite tourist destinations. A perfect summer holiday destination located at an altitude of 6830 Ft surrounded by dense forest of pine and deodar trees. Weather throughout the summer is very pleasant but winters are very cold due to decent snowfall. you can also explore some places like Bhagsu Nag temple, Bhagsu waterfall, Tibet Museum and many beautiful small villages around Mcleodganj. Read More about Mcleodganj.

The Monastery is one of the most important and popular monasteries in Dharamshala. This monastery is also known as a tantric temple for meditation. Its marvelous infrastructure is simply awesome.

Newly constructed rope-way connecting Dharamshala- The Winter Capital of Himachal Pradesh and Mcleodganj by a mountain Cable Car provides a majestic view of dense forest.

Dharamshala is well connected by very good roads and state transport of many states and private operators provide service of Volvo and regular buses. Distance from Delhi is around 509 Km and from Chandigarh its 232 km. You can also reach Dharamshala by air, the nearest airport is Gaggal airport near kangra.

Nearest railway station with broad gauge is at Pathankot which is 90 Km away, you can also travel by a narrow gauge line which connects Pathankot to Joginder nagar. Picturesque views all along the route are just amazing. The nearest station is chamunda marg which is around 22 km from Dharamshala. 

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