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Dharamsala or Dharmsāla, (literally; "Rest House") is a town in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh (हिमाचल प्रदेश) is a state in northwest India. ...

Dharamsala is located in the Kangra valley, in the Dhauladhar mountains. It became the capital of the Kangra District in 1852. Kangra Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. ... The Dhauladhar range is a southern branch of the main Himalayan chain of mountains. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Dharamsala has been connected with Buddhism for a long time, with many monasteries having been established there in the past. In the 8th century, however, these monasteries are believed to have declined, with Hinduism experiencing a revival. The local Gaddi people are now almost all Hindu. Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. ... Buddhist monastery near Tibet A monastery is the habitation of monks. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Gaddis are a tribe living on both sides of the Dhauladhar Range in the state of Himachel Pradesh, India. ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ...

In 1848, the area was annexed by the British, and a year later, a military garrison was established in the town. Dharamsala eventually became the administrative capital of Kangra District in 1852. It became a popular hill station for the British working in or near Delhi, offering a cool respite during the hot summer months. 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

However, the town was virtually destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1905, which killed an estimated 40,000 people. After this, the British moved their summer headquarters to Shimla (also written Simla) which, though not far away, is off the main fault line and, therefore, less likely to experience a serious earthquake. 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Shimla Shimla (शिमला) is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a hill station in North India. ...

When the Dalai Lama left Tibet, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered to permit him and his followers to establish a "government-in-exile" in Dharamsala. Since that point, many Tibetan exiles have settled in the town, numbering several thousand. Most of these exiles live in Upper Dharamsala, or McLeod Ganj, where they established temples and schools. The town is sometimes known as "Little Lhasa", after the Tibetan capital city. The 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935) The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lamas are a sequence of leaders, since 1391, from the Gelug (dge lugs) school. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू, Javāharlāl Nehrū) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964), also called Pandit (Teacher) Nehru, was the leader of the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress during and after Indias struggle for independence from the British Empire. ... Official language Tibetan Headquarters Dharamsala Head of State (Dalai Lama) Tenzin Gyatso The Government of Tibet in Exile (or Tibet in Exile for short) is a theocratic government-like entity that describes itself as the rightful and legitimate government of Tibet. ... Lhasa is located in the Lhasa Valley of Tibet. ...

The natural features surrounding the town are extremely beautiful and feature rich forests of pine and deodars.

View from Dharamkot: McLeod Ganj, Lower Dharamsala & Beas River. Sketch by Alfred Hallett, c. 1980

Stupa & prayer wheels. Main street, McLeod Ganj, 2004

The town is divided between Upper Dharamsala or McLeod Ganj (which retains a British colonial atmosphere), and Lower Dharamsala (the commercial centre). Upper Dharamsala (elevation about 1,700 m or 5,580 ft) is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Lower Dharmsala by road and is some 460 m (1,510 ft) higher.

McLeod Ganj, or Upper Dharamsala, is the residence of Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama. A substantial community of Tibetan exiles resides in the town. There is also a beautiful small Anglican church, St. John of the Wilderness, featuring some exceptional stained-glass windows, just a few hundred metres from McLeod Ganj. Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... The 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935) The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lamas are a sequence of leaders, since 1391, from the Gelug (dge lugs) school. ... Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: Xīzàng) is a region and former independent country in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ...

There are some excellent treks from here to Triund, (3,350 m or 10,991 ft), Inderhara Pass (4,300 m or 14,108 ft) and to other beauty spots in the Dhauladhar range.

The area covered by Dharamsala is almost 29 km². During the months of December and January, snowfall is common and the temperature ranges from 0 °C to 14.5 °C. During summers, the temperature ranges from 22 °C to 38 °C. The best times to visit are from March to June or September to November.

There is an airport about 20 km away. Rice, wheat and tea are grown around Dharmsala. Species References ITIS 41975 2002-09-22 Rice (genus Oryza) is a plant of the grass family which is a dietary staple of more than half of the worlds human population. ... Species T. boeoticum T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat (Triticum spp. ... A cup of tea A tea bush. ...

References

• Verma, V. 1996. Gaddis of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi.
• Handa, O. C. 1987. Buddhist Monasteries in Himachel Pradesh. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-85182-03-5.

External links

• 123Himachal profile
• [1] "Dharamsala Net" with lots of links about Dharamsala.

McLeod Ganj main street

Donkeys carrying locally mined slate. Dharamsala.