The Himachal hill town of Dharamshala sits on a narrow ridgeline along the Dhauladhar range. Dharamshala is roughly divided into two sections - the lower town with its traditional settlement and market areas and the upper town of McLeodganj, famous for its celebrity resident, His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The heights of the two sections vary from 1,250 metres to about 1,770 metres with a steep winding 10 km road linking the two sections. Around a 150 kms from Mandi, Dharamshala lies in the Kangra Valley of northern Himachal Pradesh and is the most important town of the district. Surrounded by pine forests, the grand Dhauladhar ranges tower like sheets of rock over Dharamshala.

Once a British hill resort, this sleepy little hill town revived with the influx of Tibetan refugees after Chinese occupation in 1959. The Dalai Lama set up his temporary residence at McLeodganj. Many western visitors have come to Dharamshala in search of spiritual guidance and an audience with the Dalai Lama. In McLeodganj, the Tibetans run most of the hotels and restaurants as well as handicrafts shops. 

The lower town of Dharamshala is crowded with shops, local houses and government offices and the Museum of Kangra Art. McLeodganj has a distinctly different character, with its brightly painted buildings, Buddhist temples, prayer flags fluttering in the air and saffron monks and nuns hurrying along the streets. The main Buddhist temple or Tsuglagkhang is a five-minute walk from the bazaar. 

The residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is surrounded by high walls and sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley. The Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery nearby stands out with its golden roof amidst tall pine forests. The Library, open from Monday till Friday, has an exhaustive collection of books, manuscripts, and archival photographs on Tibet. Besides the overpowering Tibetan presence, a few remaining Raj edifices like the Church of St. John in the Wilderness are worth visiting. And if you want to make excursions out of Dharamshala, visit the pretty Kangra towns of Palampur, Naddi and Andretta.

Getting to Dharamshala
The nearest rail station for Dharamshala is at Pathankot, 150 km. From Dharamshala and McLeodganj there are regular bus services to Dalhousie, Chamba, Manali, Shimla and further down to Delhi. You could drive in by rented car from any of these towns as well.

Best time to visit Dharamshala
The winters are cold and Dharamshala is quiet and empty, perfect for that peaceful vacation away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The best time to visit Dharamshala is between October and December or from March to June. Carry heavy woollens, rain protection and walking shoes.

Accommodation in Dharamshala
Besides the Himachal Tourism hotels in Dharamshala and McLeodganj, there are several private hotels and tourist lodges in both areas. Most hotels run by the Tibetan refugee community have clean rooms and good service along with interesting Tibetan meals.