Dharamsala

Dharamshala:

This magical town is the winter capital of the Indian province of Himachal Pradesh and a municipal corporation in Kangra district. It also serves as the district headquarters. It was formerly known as Bhagsu. The Dalai Lama’s residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) are in Dharamshala. Dharamshala is 18 kilometers from Kangra. This serene town has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission. On 19 January 2017, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh declared Dharamshala as the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh state Himachal Pradesh second state of India having two capitals after Jammu & Kashmir. This beautiful town has an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet), covering an area of almost 8.51 km.

This beautiful winter capital is located in the Kangra Valley, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains.The city is divided into two distinct sections. Kotwali Bazaar and the surrounding markets are referred to as “Lower Dharamshala. Further up the mountain is McLeod Ganj separated in between by the village of Ganchen Kyishong, the home of the Tibetan government-in-exile. A steep, narrow road connects McLeodGanj from Dharamshala and is only accessible to taxis and small cars, while a longer road winds around the valley for use by buses and trucks. McLeod Ganj is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, and rhododendron.The main crops grown in the valleys below are rice, wheat and tea.