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Tourist attractions in Dharamsala |
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"There are several places of tourist attractions in Dharamsala that are worth visiting. |
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Dharamsala is better known as Dalai Lama's abode and Tibet's Government-in-exile after the Chinese invasion of Lhasa in October 1959.
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A visit to Dharamsala would be considered irreverent without a peek into the various monasteries dotting the hillsides. A visit to the Namgyal Monastery, ensconcing the Center of Tibetan Studies is nothing short of mandatory. 'Tsuk-La-Khang', opposite the Dalai Lama's residence reminds one of Lhasa-it contains large gilded bronzes of the Buddha, Avalokiteshwara, and Padmasambhava.
When the Dalai Lama is in residence, he heads the prayers. For an audience with the Dalai Lama, who is also believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha, special permission needs to be taken with a proper request in writing at the security office near Hotel Tibet. The best time to see his him is after the Tibetan New Year, which falls in March. The living deity gives spiritual discourses for 10 days.
If one is into meditation, there are a number of classes held by monks for the beginners, as well as advance practitioners. Tushita Meditation Center is one such outfit, which offers clean residential accommodation as well. There are also a number of alternate medicine doctors in the little town. It is not unusual to find monks from the Western countries.
The Kangra Art Museum is located south of Lower Dharamsala tourist office. It has miniature paintings from the Kangra School of Art, which prospered in the Kangra Valley in the 17th century. It also displays some delicately embroidered Kangra costumes, along with woodcarvings and tribal jewelry.
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, housed in the Central Administration compound at the southern end of McLeod Ganj, has one of the world's most comprehensive collections of original Tibetan manuscripts. These include ancient texts and books on every possible aspect of Tibet, a heap of information on Indian culture, and a treasure trove of old photographs. It is decorated on the outside with colorful Tibetan motifs.
A short walk up the hill from the McLeod Ganj taxi stand, the Tibetan Children's Handicraft and Vocational Center instructs Tibetan refugees in the arts of thanka painting, carpet weaving, and even marketing. The Tibetan Children's Village School, with the active support of the Dalai Lama, has housed and educated more than 2,400 orphan Tibetan children since 1960.
However, the best thing about Dharamsala is the easygoing pace, the peaceful expression on everybody's face. It is a place where you would like to do the ordinary things in life, where you would like to let yourself loose, and forget about hectic schedules and maddening self-imposed deadlines
Weekend Trips/Excursions
There are several places to visit and see around Dharamsala that make excellent weekend trip and excursion options.
Three km east of McLeod Ganj is the village of Bhagsu, or Bhagsunath an excellent weekend excursion place from Dharamsala. Its main claim to fame is the Bhagsunath Temple, a quiet temple that lies beside several pools where devout Hindus and monks congregate to bathe. Dal Lake is a major disappointment, as it does no justice to its name. An annual fair is held here in the month of September. It is worthwhile walking up to Naddi, which offers a splendid view of the Dhauladhar ranges. If you are adventurous enough, the Mountaineering Institute can organize treks, rock climbing, and rappelling. They normally would like to do this for groups of 10 or above.
The Bhagsu waterfall behind the temple turns into a glorious 30-ft cascade during the monsoons. A couple of open-air cafés have taken advantage of its scenic setting to provide hungry tourists a meal with a view.
The temples at Baijnath are old, dating back to at least ad 1204. The most important, the Vaidyanatha Temple, containing one of the 12 jyotirlingas, stands in a large rectangular compound beside the Mandi-Palampur road. The temple itself is representative of the Nagari style of architecture; its walls have niches containing images of Chamunda, Surya, and Kartik, and its shikhara tower is crowned by an amalaka and pot. A life-sized figure of the Nandi bull stands guard at the entrance.
About 40 km from Dharamsala, the little town of Palampur is a favorite with trekkers. Surrounded by old British Raj-style tea plantations, it offers beautiful views of the Himalayan snows. The Neughal Khad, a 300-m-wide gorge through which the river Bundla flows, is a remarkable sight during the monsoons, when the river swells to double its normal size. The town claims to hold a record for the highest rainfall in the area.
Events and Festivals
Dharamkot is the starting point for short excursions to the high plateau at Triund (2975 m), or further over the high pass up to the Chamba Valley. Visit the nearby Tushita Retreat Center, which holds meditation courses all through the year. Alternatively, head for the murky Dal Lake that is connected to Dharamkot by a path down wooded slopes. It is the scene of an animal fair and Shaivite festival each year in September.
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