Dharmashala

The concoction of fresh mountain air, smell of pines, vibes of Buddhist prayers, colours of Tibetan people, aromas of mouth-watering delights, and changing shades of the sky.

Dharamshala, famously the home of the Dalai Lama and a large Tibetan population, is really two little towns separated by a winding 9 km road – lower Dharamshala and McLeodganj. Lower Dharamshala is not the centre of tourist attraction, being a busy hill town with sensible shops and grocery stores. It is McLeodganj that has boomed, home to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees who have fled the oppressive Chinese regime and made this Himachal town their home, adorning it with monasteries and temples, colourful thangkas and Buddhist prayer bells, cosmopolitan restaurants and funky shops. The tiny town is actually centred around the main market chowk, and lanes leading off from it, packed with shops and restaurants.

With the Dhauladhar mountains in the backdrop, Dharamshala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley. Dense pine and deodar trees blanket the slopes, and the nearby snowlines provide a constant supply of numerous streams, rapids and scattered waterfalls.

Monks in maroon can be seen strolling down the mountain roads. Although the town has a strong Tibetan flavour, one can also see hints of a colonial, English past. The colourful temples and gompas reflect a rich Tibetan culture while the Museum of Kangra Art in lower Dharamshala offers an insight into the heritage of the region. Numerous institutes work towards preserving the art, culture and traditions of Tibet as well.

Dharamshala is an altogether different world – a world you would like to know, be in and never forget.