Origin of Buddhist religion in India: Dharamshala

Dharamshala is a city in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. It is 18 km away from kangra. The city is known for Central Tibetan administration and being the Dalai Lama’s residence. The city is completely surrounded by Deodar trees. In early days Dharamshala was ruled by Katoch dynasty of kangra and it is known to be the oldest serving royal family in the world. In the year 1860 British army marched into Dharamshala and remained there. During the World War 1 and World War 2 Gorkha regiment perform heroic acts from here. For nearly 50 years Dharamshala remained the center of British army but in the year 1905 it suffered a massive earthquake which created a huge damage. In the year 1959, Dalai Lama has to flee Tibet due to political issues and our P.M. allowed him and his followers to settle at Mc Leodganj and thus began the expansion of Buddhism and Dalai Lama in this region as well as in our country.

In the city of Dharamshala you would get to see the deep impact of Buddhist religion because of Dalai Lama and Tibetans. MCLeodganj is the major market place and you can buy carpets, handicrafts, jewellary and the other things. The handicraft items sold here are being created by the local artisans and they are the value for money. Wooden craving on the bamboo are on the top of the wish list of the people visiting here. Khanyara road is one such place where you can find these items and other woolen and silk items can also be bought from here. Thangkas are the one thing which is most sold here and they are bright cloth paintings which depict Buddhist culture and art. Now when you have shopped enough you feel hungry and Dharamshala has a lot to offer. Carpe Diem is one of the best local restaurants which serve Indian as well as international cuisines. Himalayan Restaurant, herbal tea shop, Dolma and Dorjee are some other restaurants which serve all kind of cuisines.

This place is the most desired tourist destinations of Dharamshala and it lies in the southern spur of Dhauladhar mountain range in the valley and it is the highest peak of the Dhauladhar range. This valley also has Masroor rock cut temples which is also known as Himalayan Pyramid and it is the contender for UNESCO world heritage sites. This site is a series of 15 temples carved out of a single rock.

This lake is a mid size lake 11 km away from Dharamshala. The name of this lake is being taken from Dal Lake Kashmir. This lake though not very famous is beautiful and it is surrounded by Deodar trees. The greenish water of the lake is an added beauty and the Shiva Mandir near the lake gives it a religious touch.

TIPA was founded by the 14th Dalai Lama while he was in Dharamshala during his exile from Tibet in the year 1959. This institute was set up by Dalai Lama in order to preserve Tibetan art forms and heritage like dance and music. There were performances all days in initial stages and it also served as the refugee camps for Tibetans.

This is a waterfall in Bhagsu village near Dharamshala about 2 km away from Mc Leodganj and the site has Bhagsunath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This site is a tourist attraction as well as a major place for Hindu pilgrims. The waterfalls are 20m in height and during the monsoons they look just awesome. The nearby restaurant is a great place to grab a Magee while sightseeing.

Chintpurni Devi temple is one of the most important tourist locations and it is one of the major Shaktipeeths. It is located near the city and it borders with the neighboring state Punjab. The major deity is Chhinnamastika Devi who is a form of Goddess Sati in headless state. The temple is open from 4 am to 11 pm and devotees from all over the country come here.

It is an angelic church built in the year 1852 and it is dedicated to John the Baptist. On your way to McLeodganj you would find this beautiful Church. It is being built in Neo-gothic architecture and it is known for its Belgian stained glass windows. In the year 1905 during the Earthquake it was safe however its bell got destroyed which was replaced ten year later.