DHARAMSALA

Dharamsala is the main hill station in the Kangra Valley - a fertile, undulating valley, lying between the gentle Shivalik Hills and the foothills of the mighty Dhauladhars - a valley noted for the beauty of its scenery - lush terraces, wooded hills, manicured tea gardens and sparkling streams. The Dhauladhars, "the white mountains" that rise 4,000 m above the valley floor, provide a dramatic backdrop.

Picturesque Dharamsala, built on a spur of the Dhauladhar range, commands splendid view of the surrounding country. Originally a little hill resort built by the British, Dharamsala rambles up in levels to very near the snow line. While Lower Dharamsala (1,250 m) is the busy commercial area with government buildings, the bazar and the bus stand, Upper Dharamsala (1,982 m) has suburbs with evocative names like Forsythganj and Macleodganj that are quite fascinating.

 

 

MCLEODGANJ

McLeodganj is best known as the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile and home of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The Tibetan settlement here is a delightful example of their agreeable nature.

The community has taken over the hospitality business and provide cheap and clean hotels and small friendly restaurants.
All this makes McLeodganj is a colorful little town, a perennial den of tourists – a place you can chill out in and do your own thing. While you stop to wonder at a Tibetan trinket or a shawl, you’ll realize that your stomach is involuntarily responding to the lovely smell of wantons wafting from a nearby joint.

McLeodganj is steeped in Buddhist culture – you can find anything from Tibetan food, good luck charms and thangkas to Enlightenment. In fact, many disenchanted foreigners come here seeking solace, meditation or to champion the Tibetan cause.

McLeodganj is best known as the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile and home of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The Tibetan settlement here is a delightful example of their agreeable nature.