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Dharamsala Travel Guide

Dharamsala: Overview

Dharmashala is the District headquarters of the Kangra District. It is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladharrange about 19 kms North-East of Kangra town. Kangra is one of the most pictresque valleys in the Himalayas. It is sheltered by the Dhahladhar. The history of Kangra valley dates back to Vedic times more than 3500 years ago. One of the oldest hill states it finds mention in the puranas in the Mahabharata and in Rajaangni. The most notable Ruler, however was Raja Sansarchand, who ruled
over Kangra much later, in the 18th Century A.D.
The Valley of Kangra it is said, was so beautiful and the temples so prosper¬ous that no invader could ignore it. The fort of Nagarkot bears the sears of several invasions, starting with Mahmud of Ghazni in 1001 A.D. happily, the valley survived all the plunder only to be flattened by the 1905 earthquake. Still it is a major centre for
piligrms.
Dharmashala is divided into two deligent parts, Lowe dharamshala and Up¬per dharamshala composed of places like Meleod Ganj. Lower Dharmashala, the Civil business area with courts and Kotwali bazar. The Dalailama residence at Macleodganj, Upper Dharmashala, Dalailama the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet. Here, too is the last
resting place of Lord Elgin.

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Fast Facts

Population 19,034 Currency Name: Indian Rupee Symbol: Rs Code: IN Languages Spoken Official: Hindi . English Essential: Pahari (Local Dialect), Hindi,

Electrical Plugs 0.8–5 HZ

Time Zones GMT 5 1/2 Country Dialing Code 91 Weights & Measures